Reading Outside the Lines: Book Harvest's StoryWalk at Heritage, A Gathering Place

What if a walk through the woods could also be a story?

That's exactly what visitors to Heritage, A Gathering Place in Roxboro will find when they head out on the new trail behind the building. Thanks to a partnership between Book Harvest and the JES Avanti Foundation, a StoryWalk now winds along a 0.25 mile stretch of wooded trail behind Heritage, inviting families to read together as they move through nature, one page at a time.

A Partner Invested in Person County

The JES Avanti Foundation has been building something meaningful in Person County for years. Their new Roxboro location, Heritage, A Gathering Place, is exactly what the name suggests — a community hub offering social,

educational, and recreational opportunities to local families, partnering with organizations across the community to bring resources directly to the people who live here.

Literacy has long been part of that mission. Through their "Books for a Better Tomorrow" initiative, JES Avanti works to put free books into the hands of children and families who need them most, with a particular focus on communities where access to books at home is limited. Their partnership with Book Harvest, including sponsoring Books on Break at schools across Person County, reflects that same commitment to making sure every child in the community has what they need to arrive at kindergarten ready to read.

The StoryWalk is the newest expression of that vision: literacy woven into the fabric of everyday life in the community.

What Is a StoryWalk?

A StoryWalk takes the pages of a children's book and displays them along an outdoor path, so families can read the story together as they walk. It's a simple idea with a powerful effect — connecting books with movement, fresh air, and shared time outdoors.

The StoryWalk at Heritage runs along the new trail behind the building, through the woods, for approximately 0.25 miles with a total of 12 posts. 

Literacy Where Families Already Are

One of the things that makes this partnership so meaningful is the philosophy behind it: that building a culture of literacy means meeting families where they already are — in their schools, in their neighborhoods, and now, on a walking trail through the woods.

Between Books on Break at elementary schools in Person county and the StoryWalk at Heritage, JES Avanti and Book Harvest are helping to build something bigger than any single program: a community-wide culture where books are everywhere, accessible to everyone, and part of daily life in Person County.

We're proud to be part of that work, and grateful for a partner who shares the belief that every child deserves a love of reading.

Visit Heritage, A Gathering Place at 4431 Durham Rd, Roxboro, NC to walk the StoryWalk. Learn more about the JES Avanti Foundation at jesavantifoundation.org.