Summer shines a little different down by Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center, where in the middle of the week you can find families stretched out in the shade of the willow tree. “Reading in the Wild” may be geared toward kids ages 3 to 6, but it’s more than just story time on the lawn — it’s a multigenerational, interactive nature learning experience. A place where families are inspired not just by literature, but by the world of adventure teeming in nature all around us.
Outdoor Reading Program in Vancouver
With 10 years under its belt, the program has come a long way. First dreamed up by interns tasked with connecting preschool-aged kids with their environment, they sought to plant the seeds of curiosity and watch them grow through the tender care of weekly stories in their park-like setting.
“We didn’t really have anything for the littles, so we created a program to connect children to nature,” says Suzanne Hebert, educator at the Water Center. It’s now carried through by an AmeriCorps member volunteering at the center. Every year it gets a new perspective through the changing of volunteers, ensuring there are always fresh materials and loads of new experiences to enjoy.
The storybook setting doesn’t hurt either. Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center sits along the Columbia River Gorge. Their garden is a wild reserve of native trees, bushes and grasses. Out on the lawn, pillows and blankets create a tapestry of mismatched colors and kitschy charm for families to cozy up on during story time. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the grounds, and if you walk down to the water, you’ll find a five-mile trail beckoning you further.
“We invite folks to get comfortable on the lawn, and find a nice spot underneath our willow tree,” Hebert shares. You’ll hear stories of all kinds, from dinosaurs to the life of a single drop of water. It’s hard not to be inspired by the excitement of the educators as they ignite curiosity within the little ones.
Children’s Activities Near Vancouver Create Community
While “Reading in the Wild” is specifically geared for younger kids, it brings families together and creates learning opportunities that span generations. Here kids get more than a weekly reading routine for summer break – they get inspired to learn. Whether it’s the crafts, scavenger hunts or exploring the gardens, both kids and grownups get their hands dirty and experience nature in a new way.
“It’s not just the kids, the adults reconnect with their sense of wonder too,” Hebert explains. In fact, they’ve seen the adults resonate with their mission and lessons so well, they’ve transformed some of the kids’ activities into adult events as well. Because at every age, there’s something magical about connecting with art and nature.
This inspiration doesn’t have to end at the Water Center. The educators hope to inspire families and the community at large to get outside and read. “And then explore the area around their place, where they live,” Hebert says. They see the program as a model families can follow anywhere – because even in the city, nature is all around us.
“Reading in the Wild” is a drop-in event, but many share that they’ve created a weekly routine out of the program, never missing a Wednesday in July. Every summer, families of Vancouver and all of Clark County get to connect and become enchanted again with the art of story.
‘Reading in the Wild’ Looks to the Future
While the program, as of its 10th anniversary, only runs through July, the educators at the Water Center have bigger dreams. They see a day where Reading in the Wild lasts all summer long. And beyond that, kids and adults alike show such marvel exploring the gardens and connecting through story time, Hebert sees a day where the program runs all year long.
Hosting the weekly story time throughout the year would create an opportunity to see the garden change with the seasons and to experience the life cycle of plants and animals firsthand. “You see different things throughout the year, like amphibians in the rain,” Hebert says. Observing the transformation from brittle branches to little buds and then the lush green abundance of the Pacific Northwest gives families a deeper connection to the natural world.
Water Resource Education Center Activities
The Water Resources Education Center is open all year with a myriad of interactive and exciting experiences, but there’s something special about that time of summer when Reading in the Wild takes over the garden. It’s an open invitation for kids to look under logs and find bugs – a time when it’s okay to get a little dirty in the name of exploration and art.
Take a break and make sculptures from found objects in the center’s gardens. Wander down to the river and expose your kids to a safe and easy trail. “We would just love to have people come out and spend time in the garden with us,” Hebert says.
Whether it’s your first time or your 10th summer joining in, “Reading in the Wild” offers something timeless: a moment to pause, explore and share the joy of learning together.
