The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have launched a new “Story Adventures” trail at Wilson State Park, adding to an already popular initiative aimed at promoting early childhood literacy through outdoor activities.
The program, which first debuted in May 2023 at Clinton, El Dorado, and Milford State Parks, encourages families to engage in shared reading experiences while exploring nature.
On October 10, Story Adventures made its debut at Wilson State Park’s Cedar Trail, featuring the children’s storybook “One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me!” by John Micklos Jr. and Clive Farland. The trail, with its educational story panels, invites visitors to reflect on seasonal changes through a counting narrative that integrates outdoor exploration with reading.
Wilson State Park, located near Sylvan Grove, Kansas, has joined other parks as part of this growing initiative. The program is part of the Imagination Library of Kansas, which provides families with children from birth to age five the opportunity to receive free, age-appropriate books each month.
The Story Adventures trails offer families the chance to combine physical activity with literary engagement, creating an enriching environment for young readers to develop their literacy skills while enjoying the outdoors.
According to a press release, Representative Troy Waymaster, who represents Kansas’ House District 109, emphasized the program’s significance in fostering a connection between nature and literacy.
“With the addition of Wilson State Park, we now have four state parks that host and facilitate early shared reading experiences and encourage families to explore a literary adventure together,” Waymaster said.
Riston Landwehr, grant coordinator for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, also expressed enthusiasm for the program’s continued expansion. “We are always plotting new opportunities for families to engage themselves in outdoor recreation while visiting the parks,” he said.
The expansion to Wilson State Park marks a significant milestone for the Story Adventures initiative, which continues to thrive at Clinton, El Dorado, and Milford State Parks. Alongside the launch of the Wilson location, the program also introduced a new rotation of storybooks at the original three parks.