Winchester Community StoryWalk® Initiative

StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Read a children's book as you stroll down a path or trail. The whole family can get fresh air, a little exercise, and read an interactive story together. Promoting movement literacy and outdoor exploration in the Winchester community, StoryWalks® allow for families to build literacy skills and further sensory engagement.

StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont in 2007 with a grant for $250 and a brilliant idea. Since then, StoryWalks® have been installed in 50 states and 13 countries including, Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and South Korea.

In our community, we have four StoryWalk® locations where stories change every three months. 

1. The first location at The Handley Library allows you to walk around the small, paved Mike Foreman Rotary Reading Garden, while enjoying various seating with room for strollers and wheelchairs. Sponsored by Winchester Campaign for Grade Level Reading.
2. The second location at The Bowman Library is set along the Bowman Lake Trail, which is a path designed for pedestrians that is 6 feet wide. The trail is a loop that starts and ends at the library and borders a local community. There are often ducks and other wildlife found on the trail that is ½ mile in length and good for strollers and wheelchairs. Sponsored by Frederick County Parks and Recreation.
3. The third location at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum  on Cork Street in Winchester can enjoy a StoryWalk® on the open-air 4th floor, as well as get an amazing bird’s eye view of downtown Winchester. This is the only location where the entrance to the StoryWalk® requires admission.
4. The fourth location at Rose Hill Park on Jones Road in Winchester is set along part of a 1.2-mile interpretive hiking trail. There are also bathrooms, a picnic shelter, and a small playground for public use, not to mention ample parking. Sponsored by Frederick County Parks and Recreation and Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

Each location is a slightly different experience, and you can make a day out of visiting a StoryWalk® at any of our locations by bringing a picnic lunch, meeting up with friends, and visiting other area attractions at the same time. Enjoy the educational prompts paired with some of our stories that encourage developmental skill-building and family engagement, too. More locations will be coming soon!

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.