Description
iREAD Outside: Stories in the Garden
Bayer Farm
Thursday June 20th, 12:30pm-2:30pm
Please scroll down to register
iRead Outside: Stories in the Garden provides opportunities for families to combine a love of reading with a love of being outdoors. Our goal is to increase the percentage of family members reading to children daily, while at the same time encouraging children and families to explore nature and get outside together. This summer, LandPaths brings to you a series of consistent weekly reading events outside, anchored at Bayer Farm, that models reading out loud to children. Starting Thursday, June 13th through Thursday, August 1st (with the exception of Thursday, July 4th) we will be at Bayer Farm from 12:30pm-2:30pm reading, playing and learning together. Activities include nature exploration in the garden, modeling techniques for reading out loud and a raffle/book give away! These reading sessions are best suited for infants ages 0-6 years old but, older siblings and family is welcomed to join us.
Experts agree that reading aloud to children is the single most important thing a parent can do to help a child enter kindergarten ready to succeed. An expanding body of scientific evidence also suggest that spending time outdoors contributes to the increase in short term memory, releases endorphins for happier children and adults, improves focus, boosts the imune system and so much more! All the reading sessions at Bayer Farm have a specific theme, such as planting seeds or healthy eating, to help the children unite the material and make personal connections to the stories. According to the Department of Education, the more children read and are read to, the more success they will have in their academic trajectory. iREAD Outside story times offer an ongoing opportunity to model reading out loud to children, explore new places and foster a love of books and nature!
iRead Outside: Stories in the Garden are a part of the Summer at Bayer experience. To learn more about other activities for children/youth at Bayer Farm please click here or call our Garden Coordinator, Jonathan Bravo, at 707-703-3321.
For other resources and articles on early childhood literacy, visit the following sites:
Summer Reading Program through Sonoma County Library
Reading Rockets-Tips for Parents of Preschoolers
Colorín Colorado- A Bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners
Top 10 Resources on Early Childhood Literacy Development (Reading Rockets)
Location: Bayer Farm Park & Garden, 1550 West Ave. Santa Rosa CA 95407
Bayer Farm is located in the hearth of Roseland on West Ave. infront of Sheppard Elementary School. Our reading sessions take place on the garden side, underneath the walnut tree--a perfect setting for reading and nature exploration!
What to bring:
-your own reusable water bottle
-comfortable shoes
-sun hat and weather appropriate clothing
-snacks and a day pack
Details and what to expect:
-You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival
-There is no charge for these reading sessions however, donations are welcomed--new/used books or monitary donations welcomed!
-Bayer Farm is an organic community garden, please leave your pets at home.
-These reading sessions are brought to you in partnership with Cradle to Career Sonoma County's iREAD campaign, and with generous funding through the Sonoma County Communtiy Foundation's iREAD grant program.
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What if its raining? We will continue in a light rain but will cancel in case of heavy rain. If in doubt, please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 10am on the day of the reading session. If there is no special message, the event is on!
Contact: For more information or questions, please contact Guadalupe Casco, Bilingual Field Specialist, at 707-544-7284 ext. 111.
LandPaths mission is to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County. LandPaths creates ways for people to experience the beauty, understand the value, and assist in taking care of the land and each other.