The weather may have been less than ideal on December 18. In fact, all other planned outdoor activities such as tree lightings and caroling were either postponed or cancelled due to cold, rainy conditions. But when you are a land trust and a library in partnership using the woodlands as the backdrop, well then, it’s a rain or shine event.
So on that cold, dark afternoon, cheerful voices coming from underneath canopies could be heard as a hearty group of Rochester Land Trust members and the Plumb Corner Library’s Youth Services assistant Lisa Fuller gathered to demonstrate how to make winter treats for woodland animals.
The RLT site located on Marion Road and known as the Church Wildlife Preserve was the location selected for the preholiday event. Also located at this recently opened public space is a Trail Tale, a half-mile trail hike lined with weather-resistant pages from the popular children’s story “Time to Sleep.”
The children and their grown-up counterparts were studding apples with sunflower seeds, stringing cranberries and even unflavored cereal bits, objects that would be hung throughout the trail and enjoyed by the unseen animals once their human benefactors departed.
This outdoor learning experience brought together two important assets in the Town of Rochester. Fuller explained the importance of not only offering children new opportunities to explore outdoor spaces but also the importance of giving the library new ways to engage a public increasingly drawn away from brick-and-mortar libraries.
It was also noted that not just children would enjoy the Trail Tale but also those older folks seeking a bit of fresh air and the renewing qualities of being outdoors. Thus, young and old alike are encouraged to come and read the story-trail pages.
What they will find is the gentle story of animals preparing to hibernate for the winter. While the story itself does not use the word hibernation, it gives the small children a new understanding of just what many animals are doing during the long, cold winter months – sleeping.
In Denise Fleming’s story, she has bear smelling the air which “smells like winter is coming.” Bear wants to help her friend Snail so she tells Snail that winter is coming. What proceeds is a chain going from Snail to Skunk to Turtle to Woodchuck to Lady Bug and then back to Bear, who is slightly annoyed by Lady Bug when she awakens her to declare, “Winter is coming, Bear!”
The book notes the signs of spring as well, deepening for small children the understanding of how the seasons change. Through the animals who see leaves change color and fall to the ground, geese migrating overhead and days getting shorter, youngsters get the message of seasons in transition.
It is a uniquely interactive experience with a bit of the surprise along the Trail Tale and perfectly suited for all ages. It will be up through January 3.
To learn more about events planned by the Rochester Land Trust, visit rochesterlandtrust.org, and to learn more about Plumb Corner Library, visit plumblibrary.com.
The Rochester Land Trust and Plumb Library
By Marilou Newell