[books, science] Reading in the Great Outdoors
READING IN GREAT OUTDOORS:
Munn Park Is Site of New Place to Cozy Up to Books
Aurora Rodriguez
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610110409
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The sun shone brightly as eager youngsters sat crossed-legged on mats, their brows furrowed while they intently listened to stories or read books under shady trees at Thursday's opening of the outdoor reading room in Lakeland's Munn Park.
David Grisham, who works at the downtown law firm Peterson & Myers, said the new reading room meant he could spend some time with his 3-year-old daughter, Capri, who sat next to him, her blue eyes riveted on a picture book that daddy read out loud to her.
"I think this is a great idea," said Grisham. "You're hard pressed to find something to do at lunch unless you just go downtown to a restaurant. And now, since I have lunch with my wife, Karen, twice a week, I get to see my daughter."
Monti Summer, an employee of the after-school kids program AMI Lakeland, agreed as he lay down on a mat reading to his 20-month-old twins Ella and Anna.
"It's an advantage for me," he said. "The nanny can bring the girls over, and I see them during lunch."
The reading room is a collaboration between Lakeland Vision, the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Verizon, and Citrus and Chemical Bank, which all helped provide money for the project. The effort is aimed at helping the community read, relax and connect with each other while promoting general literacy in a park atmosphere.
Michelle Githens, executive director of Lakeland Vision and part of the Junior League community advisory board, came up with the idea while visiting New York City with family and seeing the way the outdoor reading room in Bryant Park attracted visitors of all ages.
"I thought this would work great in Lakeland," said Githens. "My husband told me to stop just wishing for it to happen and to just go ahead and do it. I'm happy it's finally happened."
Verizon provided a grant of $5,000 for the carts and material, such as mats for visitors to lay on, books, magazines and additional metal tables and chairs.
Stephanie McLean, president of the Junior League, said the group expects at least 50 to 75 visitors to come each week.
"Our plan is to work with the local businesses so that their customers can enjoy this as well," she said. "It's a great place for people to come spend some time during lunch, and downtown workers can come here to relax."
Sheila Law, 31, whose son Tehran, 5, checked out the first book "101 Dalmations", said she was excited to see this happening in Lakeland.
"I think it's great," she said "I had never heard of the concept before."
And for adult busy bees, the park also provides free WiFi Internet access, meaning they can bring their laptops.
Karen Grisham, Junior League chairwoman and David's wife, said a lot of local workers don't know this wireless Internet access is provided in Munn Park
"We want an old-fashioned community feel here where people actually come to talk and connect with each other," she said. "I envision people coming here, grabbing a book and relaxing and parents meeting their children during lunchtime."
The outdoor library currently holds more than 50 recent magazines and 300 books that cater to everyone from toddlers to adults. Citrus and Chemical Bank will help store the material, and the Junior League of Greater Lakeland will provide volunteers who will help visitors check out the books to enjoy while visiting the park.
The Junior League is accepting volunteers for the reading room, which is operating 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
McKeel Elementary, located near the park, will benefit from the reading room. Teachers bring their students to enjoy the outdoors during reading class one to two times a week.
"It makes reading more fun," said Jackie Yarbrough, a first-grade teacher at McKeel. "And it gets the children out of the classroom."
Kylie Bridges, 6, a McKeel first-grader, said the park is good for her and her classmates, who enjoyed the room's first day by listening in on book readings, filling in coloring books and listening to music by the Sleepy Hill Middle School Jazz Band.
Munn Park Is Site of New Place to Cozy Up to Books
Aurora Rodriguez
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610110409
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The sun shone brightly as eager youngsters sat crossed-legged on mats, their brows furrowed while they intently listened to stories or read books under shady trees at Thursday's opening of the outdoor reading room in Lakeland's Munn Park.
David Grisham, who works at the downtown law firm Peterson & Myers, said the new reading room meant he could spend some time with his 3-year-old daughter, Capri, who sat next to him, her blue eyes riveted on a picture book that daddy read out loud to her.
"I think this is a great idea," said Grisham. "You're hard pressed to find something to do at lunch unless you just go downtown to a restaurant. And now, since I have lunch with my wife, Karen, twice a week, I get to see my daughter."
Monti Summer, an employee of the after-school kids program AMI Lakeland, agreed as he lay down on a mat reading to his 20-month-old twins Ella and Anna.
"It's an advantage for me," he said. "The nanny can bring the girls over, and I see them during lunch."
The reading room is a collaboration between Lakeland Vision, the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Verizon, and Citrus and Chemical Bank, which all helped provide money for the project. The effort is aimed at helping the community read, relax and connect with each other while promoting general literacy in a park atmosphere.
Michelle Githens, executive director of Lakeland Vision and part of the Junior League community advisory board, came up with the idea while visiting New York City with family and seeing the way the outdoor reading room in Bryant Park attracted visitors of all ages.
"I thought this would work great in Lakeland," said Githens. "My husband told me to stop just wishing for it to happen and to just go ahead and do it. I'm happy it's finally happened."
Verizon provided a grant of $5,000 for the carts and material, such as mats for visitors to lay on, books, magazines and additional metal tables and chairs.
Stephanie McLean, president of the Junior League, said the group expects at least 50 to 75 visitors to come each week.
"Our plan is to work with the local businesses so that their customers can enjoy this as well," she said. "It's a great place for people to come spend some time during lunch, and downtown workers can come here to relax."
Sheila Law, 31, whose son Tehran, 5, checked out the first book "101 Dalmations", said she was excited to see this happening in Lakeland.
"I think it's great," she said "I had never heard of the concept before."
And for adult busy bees, the park also provides free WiFi Internet access, meaning they can bring their laptops.
Karen Grisham, Junior League chairwoman and David's wife, said a lot of local workers don't know this wireless Internet access is provided in Munn Park
"We want an old-fashioned community feel here where people actually come to talk and connect with each other," she said. "I envision people coming here, grabbing a book and relaxing and parents meeting their children during lunchtime."
The outdoor library currently holds more than 50 recent magazines and 300 books that cater to everyone from toddlers to adults. Citrus and Chemical Bank will help store the material, and the Junior League of Greater Lakeland will provide volunteers who will help visitors check out the books to enjoy while visiting the park.
The Junior League is accepting volunteers for the reading room, which is operating 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
McKeel Elementary, located near the park, will benefit from the reading room. Teachers bring their students to enjoy the outdoors during reading class one to two times a week.
"It makes reading more fun," said Jackie Yarbrough, a first-grade teacher at McKeel. "And it gets the children out of the classroom."
Kylie Bridges, 6, a McKeel first-grader, said the park is good for her and her classmates, who enjoyed the room's first day by listening in on book readings, filling in coloring books and listening to music by the Sleepy Hill Middle School Jazz Band.