Yogi Squad & Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Present the Run Wild StoryWalk®
A Unique Literacy and Movement Experience in
Fort Worth
Yogi Squad is thrilled to partner with the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to bring families a unique and engaging literacy adventure—the Run Wild StoryWalk®, featuring the beloved children's book Run Wild by David Covell.
This immersive outdoor experience blends reading, movement, and nature, creating a dynamic way for children and families to enjoy storytelling while exploring the great outdoors. 🌱📚🌞
What is a StoryWalk®?
A StoryWalk® is an innovative way to promote early literacy, physical activity, and family engagement.
Pages from a carefully selected children's book are displayed along a scenic walking path, allowing families to follow the story page by page while moving through nature.
This interactive experience fosters a love for books, encourages movement, and strengthens family bonds. 📚🚶♂️💚
Benefits of a StoryWalk®:
This activity encourages early literacy by making reading a hands-on, interactive experience that helps children develop a lifelong love of books.
It also promotes physical activity, as combining movement with reading supports children's well-being and active learning.
Moreover, it fosters family time by offering a fun and educational activity for everyone to enjoy together.
It boosts nature awareness by inspiring kids to observe and appreciate their natural surroundings while exploring the story.
How the Run Wild StoryWalk® Works:
Laminated pages from Run Wild are displayed on posts along the Botanic Garden's Pollinator Path.
As families walk along the trail, they read each page and move with the story.
Some posts include QR codes that link to short videos demonstrating yoga poses and movement activities inspired by the book, and a full video version with guided movements is available online so families can preview the experience before their visit. 🎥🧘♂️📚
Run Wild StoryWalk® time
The History of StoryWalk®
Created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, StoryWalks® have now been installed worldwide, bringing stories to life through movement and outdoor exploration. 🌎📖✨
What Makes the Run Wild StoryWalk® Special?
The Run Wild StoryWalk® at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens takes the traditional concept further by incorporating yoga and movement-based literacy activities! Each page is paired with a corresponding yoga pose or movement exercise, encouraging children to engage physically and mindfully with the story. 🌿💃📖
🌿 Integrates yoga and movement into the reading experience.
🎥 QR codes link to short instructional videos for each movement.
📖 Full video of the book with guided movements available online.
🌼 Located on the Pollinator Path, connecting literacy with nature.
Blending reading, movement, and mindfulness, this experience helps children develop cognitive, emotional, and physical skills in a fun, interactive way. 🌱🤸♀️🧠
Celebrating the Run Wild StoryWalk® With a Special Yoga Class!
To kick off this incredible literacy initiative, Yogi Squad hosted a special yoga class on February 5th at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Over 25 families joined in a morning of movement, mindfulness, and storytelling, enjoying guided yoga poses inspired by Run Wild. 🌿👨👩👧👦📚
Seeing children and parents move, stretch, and connect with nature meaningfully was a beautiful reminder of the power of literacy, movement, and mindfulness in early childhood development. 🌍💛📖
Why Movement-Based Literacy Matters
Research shows that combining movement with reading offers multiple benefits for children:
✅ Enhances comprehension and retention – Physical engagement helps reinforce learning.
✅ Encourages active reading – Children interact with stories beyond just reading words.
✅ Boosts vocabulary and language skills – Supports brain development and literacy growth.
✅ Develops mindfulness and body awareness – Helps children connect with their emotions and surroundings.
By integrating movement and yoga into storytelling, Yogi Squad and the Fort Worth Botanics Garden offer children a multi-sensory learning experience that strengthens mind and body. 🧠📖🧘♂️
A Free & Family-Friendly Outdoor Adventure
This free StoryWalk® experience is available anytime, making it the perfect weekend activity or after-school adventure!
Whether you want to introduce your child to reading, encourage more outdoor play, or spend quality family time together, the Run Wild StoryWalk® is an adventure you won't want to miss! 🌳📚💛
This unique literacy and movement experience is made possible by:
🌿 Fort Worth Botanic Garden – A living museum, educational institution, and research center dedicated to connecting people with nature.
🧘 Yogi Squad – A youth-focused organization dedicated to bringing mindfulness, movement, and literacy to children in Fort Worth.
Plan Your Visit to the Run Wild StoryWalk®!
📍 Location: Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Pollinator Path
📆 Availability: Ongoing – Visit anytime!
🎥 Watch the preview video online before visiting!
We invite you to walk, read, move, and explore the magic of Run Wild in this unique outdoor literacy adventure.
Whether experiencing a StoryWalk® for the first time or returning for another round of movement and reading, we can't wait for you to join the fun! 🌳📖✨
