The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension Service built a coalition of multiple community agencies to participate in the Bullitt County Story Path committee. The goal for the committee was to partner together to provide opportunities for families to spend valuable time together, through an educational, healthy experience. With a total of eight different agencies, including city and county government participating as part of the committee, the first Story Path was offered in downtown Mt. Washington. The City of Mt. Washington worked with downtown businesses to allow display of pages from a story book to be posted in their storefront windows. In 2020 Covid19 changed family traditions, social customs and holiday schedules.  After months of social distancing, families were looking for a way to safely spend some time out of the house.  Our Story Path project was the perfect solution. Due to popularity, the week-long event turned into a month long event. 

The Story Path provided families the opportunity to walk along Main Street, enjoy the holiday decorations, and spend valuable time together as they read a story page by page. Activity bags were available for “porch pick up” at the local library branch at the end of the walk. Over 200 activity bags were claimed by children who participated.

Social media posts regarding the Story Path were very popular and received a great deal of traffic with over 300 shares in one night. Comments made at the conclusion of the walk, through an online evaluation, all participants rated the Story Path experience a 10/10 and reported they would be interested in attending another walk in the future.

Overall, the walk encouraged a COVID friendly, safe way to get outside as a family, increase physical activity, and promote literacy development, to over 200 families.

The Story Path has grown substantially. Each Bullitt County Public Library branch purchased displays for story paths to occur throughout the year at all 5 locations within Bullitt County. The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension Service coordinated a Story Path with Parks & Recreation in Mt. Washington to operate along-side the Shakespeare in the Park event at the park's amphitheater to promote the arts.  Extension also provided a Story Path during a school outdoor field day about gardening.  

As the Story Paths gain visibility more requests are coming in to hold “paths” during other community events throughout the year. The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension Service and the Story Path Committee plan to continue to develop this program and offer additional Story Path experiences throughout Bullitt County.

Story Path during pandemic Holidays in Mt Washington    Nichols Field Day Story Path about Gardening