You can take a space walk while staying firmly planted on the ground this summer in Innisfil.
As part of the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library’s TD Summer Reading Club initiative, staff have set up their next Storywalk adventure along the portion of the Rotary Trail just east of the Innisfil Recreational Complex — a self-guided, outdoor reading adventure featuring The Darkest Dark by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield.
This story, available in English or French, winds through a forested area with a paved pathway, features 22 storyboards and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
It’s an excellent way for families to stay literate and active over the summer months, library communications and events manager Wendy Ricciardi said.
“The purpose was to have an educational activity along a walking route to read with your family and get outside and have a different way to engage with literacy,” she said. "It's a great story ... from a Canadian astronaut. Read as you go. Each sign has a different page of the story. The trail itself almost takes you to a different place; it lets your imagination soar."
And this is an initiative Hadfield fully supports.
“(It) aims to engage children in science and literacy by combining storytelling with the awe-inspiring backdrop of space,” Hadfield told Village Media in an emailed statement. “The book not only entertains but also inspires curiosity about space exploration and science among young readers by encouraging children to read and learn about the wonders of the universe, fostering a love for learning and exploration.”
As a child, Hadfield says he dreamt of flying spaceships and becoming an astronaut.
“But I didn’t know how yet,” he said. “So, I read books about it, and wrote letters to ask questions of the experts. I studied the Moon and stars and satellites and learned all of the things I’d need to do to make my dreams come true. Amazingly, I flew in space three times, did spacewalks, and commanded a spaceship.”
Hadfield encouraged young residents to stay “curious and exploring the world around you.”
“You can make your dreams come true too,” he said.
The outdoor adventure is free and will be available until Sept. 2.
Ricciardi says the Storywalk changes seasonally and instead of books it can sometimes feature games like Snowman Says or I Spy.
Children throughout Innisfil can drop by a local library branch, register for the TD program and pick up a notebook to keep track of their summer reading. They’ll be eligible to win prizes until Aug. 31.
For more on the library’s summer schedule, visit innisfilidealab.ca.
The library is also seeking sponsorships for the Storywalk program. To help, contact Ricciardi at [email protected].
