Learning Along the Trails: Early Literacy, Nature, and Community

I have been working in the Early Learning field for 32 years. My training was completed in Williams Lake at Cariboo College, with a group of inspirational classmates! Through my experience as an Educator, I have worked with many wonderful families and co-workers and have made many lasting friendships. Throughout these years, continued learning opportunities have kept me inspired and passionate about the Early Learning world.​

Currently, I have the pleasure of working with adults and their children 0-5 years of age when they attend Tales and Trails. This is a weekly outdoor learning program of Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy, and it is offered at Scout Island. Through songs, stories and trail exploration, Tales and Trails provides families with opportunities to spend time together, connect with nature, make new friends and develop beginner literacy and physical literacy skills. Counting the steps down to the Otter Point bridge, reading the maps and trail signs around the island and singing about bats sleeping in the bat box were some of our activities this past fall. 

    As the seasons started to change, we searched for abandoned bird nests, checked on the once active ant hill and listened for honking geese before they left for the winter. Through the winter months, discovering animal tracks and following where they go has us developing our beginner mapping skills. 

     I feel grateful to be a part of these Early Learning experiences with families and their children. Watching their growth and development happen as they first attend as infants and leave as ready-to-go kindergarteners is a true highlight. I want to thank all of the incredible families that have come out to support the program and share their amazing children with me. And most importantly I want to let these wonderful people know how incredible they are for being an active part of their child’s beginning years!

Tara Flanagan
Family Literacy Coordinator/Facilitator
Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy