Wasilla Library holding outdoor Story Walk

WASILLA — The Wasilla Public Library is introducing a new youth oriented series to be held outdoors. It’s called the Fall Story Walk, and starting this weekend, families can bring their children to enjoy a story while walking around the building.

“As a parent, I can tell you that we’re always looking for new ways to get our kids outside and get them engaging with the world around them, and thinking about where we live in a meaningful way,” Sara Saxton, youth services librarian, said.

Saxton said this particular event has been done several times across the Valley in conjunction with the Mat-Su Imagination Library, but this occasion marks the first time at the Wasilla Library.

She said it’s been made possible thanks to their partnership with Best Beginnings, a Alaska’s Early Childhood Investment nonprofit based out of Anchorage. She said their Fall Story Walk series falls under Best Beginnings’ Story Tracks program, who laminated pages of a book that can be posted around the library’s exterior.

“This is our way of just trying something new and give people a fun activity on a beautiful day,” Saxton said.

She said the chosen book is “Time to Sleep” by Denise Fleming and there will be accompanying activity sheets for a fun and engaging experience that can be enjoyed with social distance at every family’s own pace.

“It’s definitely a self-led, independent program,” Saxton said.

“Time to Sleep” is a story about animals preparing for winter, an appropriate theme for the season.

“Nothing here is by accident,” Saxton said with a laugh.

According to Sacton, the Story Walk is one of numerous ways the Wasilla Library is working to promote early childhood literature while engaging the community with “reading, writing and the arts.”

With surrounding conditions, the library has had to come up with creative ways to keep engaging the community with socially distant safety measures in place. Saxton said they shifted to an “outreach focus” with numerous remote activities for families, including virtual storytimes every Wednesday.

“I think if anything these times are the perfect time to try new things and get creative,” Saxston said.

Local children had the chance to participate in a Bookmark contest with the library in September with results posting soon.

“We want to remind people, the library’s here. We’re ready to help you out with whatever your informational needs are; and we’re ready to support your kids and their literacy,” Saxston said.

The Story Walk runs every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 17, weather permitting.

“I posted this on Facebook, and I’ve already got a lot of nice feedback,” Saxton said.

There’s additional activities happening later this month, including a Spooky Story Writing Contest and statewide youth election education program.

The writing contest is open to local students grade 1 through 12. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 20

“It’s always wonderfully entertaining,” Saxton said. “We’ve got a lot of clever and creative kids and were excited to see what they come up with.”

For more information, call 907-376-5913.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com