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StoryWalk Grand Opening at Oakland Mills Nature Center

By Virginia Ekstrand

Nov. 20, 2025 12:36 pm

The Rotary Club not only provided money for the display windows, they provide manpower building Leopold benches. The benches will be distributed along the stroll after concrete pads have been placed.
The Rotary Club not only provided money for the display windows, they provide manpower building Leopold benches. The benches will be distributed along the stroll after concrete pads have been placed.
The stroll begins as the crowd disperses. Although it is late fall, one can still imagine how the StoryWalk will look when the prairie begins to bloom.
The stroll begins as the crowd disperses. Although it is late fall, one can still imagine how the StoryWalk will look when the prairie begins to bloom.
Children gather with Caleb and Kaleigh to cut the ribbon open the StoryWalk at the Oakland Mills Nature Center.
Children gather with Caleb and Kaleigh to cut the ribbon open the StoryWalk at the Oakland Mills Nature Center.

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

On Saturday, Nov. 15 a substantial group gathered at the Nature Center at Oakland Mills. Caleb Waters, Director of the Henry County Conservation Department and Kayleigh Septer, Director of the Mount Pleasant Public Library, welcomed everyone and made special note of the presence of the Mount Pleasant Rotary group.

The purpose of the gathering was to dedicate the new StoryWalk section of the Nature Center. The Grand Opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony as well. The weather cooperated. After the ribbon cutting, families strolled around the newly restored prairie area to enjoy the first story stroll.

A StoryWalk (no space) places the pages of a children's book along an outdoor path. Anne Ferguson and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library created the program. The activity is now a worldwide movement to promote early literacy, physical activity, and family time outdoors. New London and Winfield libraries have also participated in promoting StoryWalk.

The project is a perfect example of the benefit collaboration from many sources. Cleaning up the southwest corner of the conservation site began as a way to make the Nature Center grounds more inviting. This also improved the access and appearance of the educational area with live animals. The idea of a StoryWalk was presented. The need was weatherproof display windows for the storybook pages, posts (and postholes) and expertise in selecting proper library material. The Rotary Club stepped in with money, manpower and encouragement. The conservation staff is stretched thin and appreciates all help. The library and assistant naturalist joined forces and “voila.”

The groups redefined the meaning of multitasking. Now instead of working on several tasks at once for workplace accomplishment, it is combine several activities for more fun!!! Why not promote early literacy, encourage outdoor physical activity and foster family togetherness and fun all at once.

StoryWalk does it all. It also brings many community organizations together working toward a common goal. Not usually found in mission statements, it is clear that the underlying objective is making Henry County Iowa a better place to live for all.
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