Caribou’s new Story Walk blends nature and reading

Caribou Public Library and Caribou Parks and Recreation staff gathered on Aug. 6 to officially open a Story Walk by Collins Pond. Present to celebrate are, from left, front row: Hope Rumpca-Shafer, previous library director; Alice Doody, library volunteer; and Peter Baldwin, library director. Back row: Kathryn Olmstead, Maine author and library Board of Trustees member; Shannon of Islandport Press; Kim Ezzy, reference librarian; Gail Hagelstein, Board of Trustees president; Penny Thompson, Caribou city manager; Wwes Herbert (hidden), library assistant; and from the recreation department, Gary Marquis, superintendent, and Nate Germain, who helped design and install the walk. (Courtesy of Caribou Public Library)

CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Public Library and the Friends of the Caribou Public Library have installed a Story Walk at Collins Pond as a gift to the community.

The Story Walk was made possible in part by the library’s receipt of an American Rescue Plan Act grant and by a donation from the Friends of the Caribou Public Library. 

In a Story Walk, panels of a children’s book are placed along the path, so participants can read as they walk. The project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.  

With the help of Gary Marquis and Nate Germain of the Caribou Recreation Department, the Story Walk was designed the weeks of July 12 and 19 and installed on July 28. The path begins at the Collins Pond picnic area and proceeds down to the Dragon World Playground. 

Families and Friends can begin their story journey at the parking area, follow along to the playground for some fun (and to sign the guest book), then proceed back to the picnic area for lunch or snacks.

The first book featured in the Story Walk is “Hold This!,” written by Carolyn Cory Scoppettone and illustrated by Priscilla Alpaugh. The book follows a girl and her father on a walk as they experience the sights, sounds, smells and feel of the woods. She asks her father to hold each of the treasures she finds. 

“With every step and stumble, Mika finds both the wonders and treasures of nature, and the ability to pick herself up after a fall. But the true discovery for both daughter and parent comes at the end, when they both realize a true treasure is a hand to hold,” said Hope Rumpca-Shafer, former director of the Caribou Public Library.

“Miss Erin, our children’s librarian, chose “Hold This!” as our first Story Walk book because it showcases the wonders of nature and the simple joy it holds, especially for children,”she said. “Experiencing nature with family and friends, that is the real magic! We are so excited to offer this book as the first of many in the years to come.”

The library hopes to offer at least two new Story Walk books a year – one in the spring, around May/June, the other in late summer, August/September. 

“We want to grow our collection each year and offer something for people return to time and again. We are hoping the community will be as excited about our Story Walk as we are,” Rumpca-Shafer said.