Take a walk in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park and enjoy a children’s book along the way. Newfields and The Indianapolis Public Library partnered to bring a permanent StoryWalk to the Park this spring. 

StoryWalks have emerged in several parks in central Indiana recently, as part of a growing effort to improve childhood literacy. StoryWalks are a unique tool in this effort as they connect reading to outdoor activities and enhance the learning process for many individuals. 

Newfields is excited to have partnered with lots of friends and partners to open our permanent StoryWalk. The first book featured is an 18-page children’s book titled Wake Up, Woods by Mike Homoya and Shane Gibson.  
 
Wake, Up Woods tells the story and importance of native early spring ephemeral plants which pop up early in the spring for a short time before they die back entirely and are unseen for the remainder of the year.  These plants are important for native pollinators, as they provide an important food source during a time when not much else is in bloom. 

Each page of the book is surrounded by plantings that match the species featured on that page, thanks to a grant by The Indianapolis Garden Club. The Indiana Native Plant Society helped plant the spring ephemerals and spring-blooming shrubs around the StoryWalk at a planting party on April 14.  
 
The StoryWalk will feature many other books throughout the year, but it will return to Wake Up, Woods each spring. The goal is to partner with The Indianapolis Public Library to feature other books that encourage scientific literacy and nature education, as well as the potential for collaboration with book selection for certain exhibitions inside the museum.   
 
Join us on Family Day: Earth Day on Saturday, April 19 in the Stout Reference Library at Newfields to meet the authors of Wake Up, Woods.  

When the weather cooperates, take a hike out to the Ruth Lilly Visitor’s Pavilion in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park to enjoy reading in the great outdoors.