Book Hike with the North Smithfield Land Trust

We all know the benefits of reading, but there are particular benefits to reading outdoors: stress reduction, reduces anxiety and eye strain, can improve mood, focus and concentration. Being outdoors can also give your brain a boost and promote better sleep. But there had to be a better program that just storytime outdoors. We wanted kids to active and excited about reading outdoors, and thus the Book Hike was born.

For the last 2 years, the library has been partnering with the North Smithfield Land Trust on events that promote reading outside. When the concept of the book hike was born, we knew the Land Trust was place to go.

Last year we held our 1st book hike at the Land Trust's Book Pond Conservation Area and paired it with the classic story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. As we walked the trail marked with Tinker Bell we visited some of the special places in Neverland - the lost boy's tree house, pirate's cove, skull rock, the mermaid's lagoon and at each location the youth librarian shared an excerpt from the story. It was fun to watch families explore the trail, enjoy the story and run ahead to find the next Tinkerbell.

It was a wonderful combination of reading and exploring the outdoors. This year we will be partnering with the North Smithfield Land Trust again, visiting the Rocky Hill Conservation Area and exploring the world of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne.

If you are interested in joining us to walk the Rocky Hill Conservation Area and explore the characters' stories from Winnie the Pooh, then please register for our book hike on Monday, September 30 at 4:30 by visiting our events calendar here.

We hope to see you there.