If you take a walk on one of Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust’s nature trails in Huntingdon Valley, you might find yourself in the middle of a story, literally. The Trust’s Story Stroll invites visitors to follow laminated pages of a children’s book displayed along a half-mile trail, turning each bend into a new chapter. As you walk, you read the book page-by-page, with nature as the backdrop.
The newest story, available starting September 1, is “Scoot!” by Cathryn Falwell. It tells the tale of six turtles who sit perfectly still, like stones, while other pond creatures, frogs, beetles, finches, dragonflies, and more, move busily around them. When a strong wind blows, the turtles are startled into action and “scoot” away. The story encourages children to notice both stillness and activity in the natural world.
“Every book we choose has a connection to the environment and the kinds of plants and animals you might find here,” said Kevin Roth, Director of Education, Outreach, and Volunteering at the Trust. “We try to keep the stories seasonal, and Scoot! fits well for early fall.”
The Story Stroll began about a year ago, when Roth was brainstorming ways to connect families with the Trust’s 11 miles of trails. “When we were working on our new head of trails concept, we wanted a fun way to get people to know more about the preserve and learn about our trails,” Roth explained. “I looked around and saw that the Southampton Free Library offered Story Strolls for other places, like Tyler State Park. When they found out we were interested, we started our partnership.”
Working with librarian Elizabeth Griswold, Roth coordinates monthly story swaps. On the first of each month, he replaces the old story with a new one, typically 17 to 24 laminated pages posted along a smaller trail, about a half-mile walk. The stroll starts at the Trust’s head of trails, winds past a meadow, and ends at the Bird Blind, where visitors can watch birds at the feeders.
While the stroll is fun, it’s also educational. “The purpose of the Story Stroll is to enhance environmental literacy while getting people outside in nature,” Roth said. “All of our books have an environmental message, whether it’s about local wildlife, ecosystems, or conservation.”
The stroll is geared toward early childhood through about second grade, but the whole family can enjoy it. Along the way, pages often include simple activities, such as hopping like a frog to the next page, that keep children engaged and moving.
Pennypack also uses the Story Stroll for school field trips, where it helps meet Pennsylvania’s new STEELS standards; Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy, and Sustainability. “Environmental literacy and sustainability are very important,” Roth said. “We’re trying to fill that gap for schools while making it fun for kids to be outside.”
For many visitors, the Story Stroll is their introduction to Pennypack’s trails. “The idea is to get young families to know we’re here and make them comfortable taking the trails,” Roth said. “They might come for the story, but while walking they’ll see the meadow, interpretive signs, and other trails they might want to explore later.”
The stroll is also a station on Pennypack’s Preschool Nature Club, offered twice a month for children ages 0–5. “We do the same hike each month so kids get used to being on the trail,” Roth said. “Parents learn, too; what poison ivy looks like, how to keep kids safe outdoors. Month after month, you see both kids and parents getting more confident outside.”
The Story Stroll has even been adapted for events. At Pennypack’s spring 5K, there was a one-mile Story Stroll loop for families with younger children, featuring “The Tortoise and the Hare.” This fall, the Trust plans to use the stroll as a supplemental activity for upcoming programs.
The Story Stroll runs from March through December, weather permitting. “The cold weather in January and February is tough on the pages,” Roth explained. “So we take a break in the winter and bring it back in early spring.”
For Roth, the stroll’s benefits go far beyond literacy. “There are so many positives to getting people out in nature, from physical health to raising the next generation of environmental stewards,” he said. “The Story Stroll gives parents an easy, safe, comfortable activity to do with their kids. The more often they come, the more comfortable the kids get, until they can lead the way themselves.”
Interactive stories like these, Roth added, capture children’s attention in a way that sitting and reading indoors might not. “It’s a perfect way to get kids moving while still getting the literacy in there,” he said. “It gives them a different way to learn and connect with nature.”
And while the focus is on young families, the Trust benefits too. “We’re a member-supported organization,” Roth noted. “When local families come here, interact with the preserve, and see what we do, some become members or volunteers. Caring about the local environment is our overall goal.”
The Story Stroll is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Visitors can enjoy it at their own pace, spending about 30 minutes if they read and interact with each page. While there’s no charge, the Trust encourages donations to support its mission of protecting and restoring native habitats.
Parents and children who complete the stroll leave not only with a good story but also with a deeper understanding of local wildlife and conservation. “Hopefully, they’ll take some of that knowledge home,” Roth said.
For more information on the Story Stroll, the Preschool Nature Club, or upcoming fall events, visit pennypacktrust.org.
