The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) and Walton County’s Coastal Branch Library will kick off their “From Shelves to Shores: Winter Reading Challenge” on January 23, with the start of a 5-month service-learning project for local children.
Once a month, CBA will host an activity for children at the Coastal Branch Library in South Walton. The activities will include growing Spartina alterniflora in salt marsh nurseries and learning about the Choctawhatchee Bay through hands-on experiences. In addition to the monthly activities, the library will also provide books and resources that children can read to enhance their understanding of the bay, their environment, and community service.
The project coincides with the library’s Winter Reading Challenge. Kids who visit the library will be encouraged to read books throughout the winter months. If a child reads 10 books between January and May, they will have the opportunity to design a marine animal to add to the oyster reef design that will be on display at the library.
“We are very excited about starting this partnership,” said CBA’s Education Coordinator Brittany Tate, “The project encourages children to become invested in this project through literacy and service.
The project is free and open to the public. Children are encouraged to come participate each month to learn something new about the Choctawhatchee Bay and the local environment. Monthly activities will occur at 2:00 and 3:30 on the following dates:
Jan. 23 (Introduction to Salt Marshes)
Feb. 20 (Recycling Oysters)
March 20 (Rain Barrel Fun)
April 24 (Observation Tanks)
May 22 (Project Celebration)
For more information about “From Shelves to the Shores,” or to schedule an interview, please contact Brittany Tate at (850) 217-5382 or tateb@nwfsc.edu.