POTSDAM -- Going for a walk and reading a book at the same time might not sound like the best idea, but a trademarked program called StoryWalk does just that, placing posters of children’s book pages in sequence along a walkway, for exercise while reading.

St. Lawrence Health Initiative's Creating Healthy Places – St. Lawrence County is partnering with North County Library System to enhance the StoryWalk program already in place at public libraries, and introduce StoryWalk to school libraries.

Combining physical activity with literacy may seem like an odd mix, but it’s an innovative way to get people of all ages out walking while reading children’s picture books. Pages of a book are transformed into signs that are then laid out on a trail inviting families, children, caregivers, teachers and others to follow the path of pages.

Anne Ferguson and Rachel Senechal of Montpelier, Vt, the creators of StoryWalk, will lead a workshop 9:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 16 at Potsdam Public Library, and will include a sample StoryWalk. This free workshop is open to school libraries, public libraries, recreation departments, and any community group interested in promoting this healthy, family-friendly activity.

Workshop participants from libraries within St. Lawrence County can win one of several StoryWalks being given away at the training.

Register for the free workshop at the North County Library System website http://ncls.northcountrylibraries.org/ and click on Continuing Education, then Class Registration.

For more information about StoryWalk or the workshop, contact Emily Owen at 782-5540 or Karen Bage at 261-4760 x. 224 or karen@gethealthyslc.org.