The Berlin “StoryWalk” is a community project that aims to boost literacy and vocabulary beyond the classroom, which is crucial for academic success.
With the focus of engaging children’s creative literacy, the Community Active Mountaineers (CAM) launched the StoryWalk project as part of the Berlin Elementary Nature Trail. This community service is in collaboration with the Berlin Free Town Library and led by CAM advisor Elisa Hammersmith.
Community Active Mountaineers Levi Sroka, Trent Hastings, Brandon Kinnon, Connor Sciacco, and Jamie Halpin spent the last half of the school year working to create a StoryWalk with the support of the Berlin Free Town Library.
“The StoryWalk is not only a wonderful addition to our community, but also a valuable asset to our school and students,” said Mrs. Hammersmith.
The StoryWalk is under a quarter mile and features post along the path each featuring a page spread from the selected book. This will allow for books to be swapped out from time to time.
CAM members Levi Sroka and Trent Hastings presented their ideas to the Community Partnership Committee, and parent and business owner Rebekah Lamphere jumped on board, volunteering to install about 16 trail posts along with members of her Hartland Designs staff, Greg Woodcock and Josh Gundrum.
Trent and Levi presented the plan to the Berlin Board of Education at the monthly meeting and received an enthusiastic stamp of approval from Berlin CSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Maureen Long and the board members.
“The Story Walk has the potential to significantly boost literacy skills among our students and bonding time with their family. Research shows that activities like the StoryWalk are immensely beneficial for children.”
The highlight of the project is that it brings about community engagement and support, which is the main goal of the extracurricular BMHS CAM club.
Volunteers and support came from BCSD’s administration, the Board of Education, CAM members, 2024 Berlin graduate and Berlin Free Town Library volunteer Joseph Schoeffel, the Berlin Free Town Library’s director, Sara Rogers, Hartland Designs’ Ms. Lamphere, Mr. Woodcock and Mr. Gundrum.
Especially appreciated were Raymond and James Hammersmith, who walked the nature trail several times with their mom to find the best spots for all of the posts. They also raked and cleaned up the trail and posted the story pages.
“Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life,” said Mrs. Hammersmith at a ribbon cutting earlier this month. “Your dedication and support are truly appreciated.”
The StoryWalk ribbon was cut by Mountaineer Raymond Hammersmith, the ceremony followed by taking the StoryWalk featuring the book, How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?, by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Hudson Valley illustrator Mark Teague.
Unfortunately, some pages had been vandalized before the ceremony. Mrs. Hammersmith encouraged the community to respect the trail. Those who do not are damaging a wonderful community space for literacy and community engagement.
Despite the vandalism, the StoryWalk is now open to the community. It starts from the left side of the Berlin Elementary School playground. CAM and the library invite everyone to enjoy the trail, help to keep it clear, and continue supporting this initiative.
“The StoryWalk is not only a wonderful addition to our community but also a valuable asset to our school and students,” said Mrs. Hammersmith.
Feel free to share a photo from your walk on the BES StoryWalk by emailing rturetsky@berlincentral.org.