The pandemic has prompted some more creativity from local community organizations to celebrate Family Literacy Week, which this year runs from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31.
The week is usually brimming with indoor events, aimed at promoting children’s reading and families reading together. The potential of spreading COVID-19 has kiboshed those traditional gatherings in 2021.
“It has been our habit to sponsor two family concerts at the Roberts Creek Hall in the years gone by, but given the current state of affairs, we are going in another direction,” Sunshine Coast Literacy Coalition chair Trudi Diening told Coast Reporter. “Each community is kind of doing their own take on it.”
The Sechelt Library and School District No. 46 Early Learning said in a news release they have joined forces “to create a literacy event for young families to celebrate good books, our beautiful Sunshine Coast, and the joy of community and family.” From Monday, Jan. 25 to Friday, Jan. 29 families are invited to join Words in the Woods Story Walks.
“Sechelt Library staff will prepare a beautiful walk, starting at the library, with pages of exciting, inspiring and delightful children’s books posted along the way.”
You can pick up your daily story-walk map from the library between 10:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. “Your map will guide you through that day’s story and you can come again each day for a new outdoor literacy experience. There will also be prizes!”
Gibsons and District Public Library said it is hosting a similar outdoor reading walk. “Starting just outside the library doors, each page of Monique Gray Smith’s picture book When We Are Kind will be displayed on signs wrapping their way around the library grounds.” Families are invited to follow the signs and read the book while enjoying the view of Gibsons Harbour. The event runs from Jan. 25 to 31.
The Pender Harbour Literacy Crawl is taking a slightly different tack on Words in the Woods, said Diening. “They’re setting up laminated letters in a number of locations. It’s like a scavenger hunt, and you find the letter, and then unscramble the letters into a phrase and submit them. And there are prizes.” You can send your family’s submissions to phcs@dccnet.com.
The Pender Harbour event started Jan. 11 and ends Jan. 29.
Halfmoon Bay Community School’s 1st Annual Amazing HMB Word Race begins on Jan. 25. Find details in the Halfmoon Bay Happenings column on page 24.
