The magic of fireflies on a summer night will light up Buttonwood Nature Center’s August StoryWalk® with an evening journey along the story trail.
The event, on Sunday, Aug. 10 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, is free and open to the public.
“Buttonwood’s new quarterly StoryWalk® events mark the season in a meaningful way with extra fun and special activities,” said Mary Claire King, Buttonwood’s community science coordinator and the event organizer.
“The August event is the first held in the evening, and celebrates summer nights and the glimmering of fireflies,” King said.
The story book is “Fireflies, Fireflies, Light my Way” by Jonathan London, illustrated by Linda Messier. Guided by lantern light, participants will read the book as they travel the story trail.
Inspired by a Native American lullaby, the book’s lyrical story invites children to follow the fireflies to a magical nighttime place where turtles play, bullfrogs leap and animals swim. Beavers, catfish – and even an alligator – are part of the group.
The illustrations and rhymes entertain young readers while creating an appreciation of the interconnectedness of life.
“After the story, we will convene at the fire pit to enjoy another summer tradition, s’mores,” King said.
All families are welcome, but activities are geared for preschool and elementary age kids.
For more information, readers may visit buttonwoodnaturecenter.org, email to: [email protected] or call 717-762-0373.
Buttonwood story walks are supported by lead sponsor, Julia S. Dawson. Other sponsors include Kathy Helfrick, with additional support from Today’s Horizon Fund contributors: The Nora Roberts Foundation; Marge Kiersz; APX Enclosures; Don Gibe and Nancy Erlanson; and the family of the late Carolyn Terry Eddy, with daughters Connie Fleagle & Kim Larkin. Facility support courtesy of Washington Township.
Pine Hill’s StoryWalk® trail was a Buttonwood Nature Center/Institute project, funded in part by WellSpan Summit Endowment, Marge Kiersz and Rouzerville Business Association, with in-kind support from Washington Township, Hopewell Manufacturing, Waynesboro Area School District “Be the Village,” and Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ferguson.
