Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Middlesex County, the Clinton Land Conservation Trust (CLCT) has been awarded $5,000 for educational opportunities.

CLCT president Dana Skidmore said that the grant specifically came from the Mary Janvrin and Natalie Janvrin Wiggins Fund for Birds, Other Animals, and Nature. Skidmore said, "This endowment was created by two sisters who put forth this goal of providing for conservation causes."

Skidmore said that the trust applied for the grant in the summer and recently heard back that the trust had been approved. In the CLCT application, Skidmore explained that the trust would be partnering with the Henry Carter Hull Library to increase outreach efforts.

Specifically, Skidmore said that the CLCT and library would be collaborating on expanding the story hike program.

Coralie Williams, the Head of Children's Services at the library, explained that while the library has a story walk in the library parking lot, two years ago, a similar concept was added to hiking trails in Clinton.

"A story walk is a picture book that has been taken apart, and each page is laminated and attached to wooden posts. The posts are arranged in the ground in front of the library, and families can walk down our sidewalk to read each page," Williams said.

A story hike is the same concept, but Williams and Skidmore explained that the stories are posted on stakes in the woods on hiking trails in Clinton. This way, the readers are able to not only read and learn new facts but also get outside and experience new portions of their town. The books are natures themed and encourage kids and their families to get outside and explore the natural beauty found in Clinton's hiking trials. "When a family stops and reads the story, they're not just reading, but they're encouraged to all take in the environment and look around," Skidmore said, noting that the story hike pages are placed near scenic portions of the trail.

Right now, story walks are on trails in Peter's Woods and Kenilworth Forest. "The hope is that with this grant, we can do more and on more of the trails," said Skidmore.

Williams said that the story walk at the library and the story hike pages are changed seasonally to encourage families to come back and read the next book featured.

"The opportunities for collaboration are really endless. We definitely have seen more interest since we started working together," Williams said.

Skidmore pointed out that the partnership goes both ways. While some kids may be motivated by reading to go out and start hiking with the story hike, a kid who is more into hiking may see the story hike and request to come to the library to check out similar books and discover an interest in reading.

Skidmore said that the CLCT is still figuring out details for when to proceed with their projects. She also reiterated that the CLCT is open to all interested volunteers and has more information on its website about activities around Clinton.

"We have new items on the website, and we are always looking for volunteers," said Skidmore.

For more information about CLCT, visit clintonlandtrust.org.