The New York State Office of Children and Family Services launched the second year of its outdoor Literacy Trail on June 29.
The Literacy Trail was first announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul in her 2025 State of the State as part of her Unplug and Play initiative to promote children’s mental and physical health.
“OCFS is proud to support a second year of the New York state Literacy Trail. We thank Governor Hochul for supporting innovative programs that prioritize learning during the summer months when children are prone to educational backsliding,” OCFS Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said in a press release.
“We are excited to have expanded the initiative to include the Department of Environmental Conservation and continue to partner with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to ensure accessibility to our wonderful state parks and environmental centers.”
The Literacy Trail this year pairs children’s books with 10 parks in the state parks system and four DEC environmental education centers that all feature opportunities to run, jump, splash, explore and engage with the outdoors.
Each selected park and environmental education center on the expanded Literacy Trail will be distributing a limited number of books free to families on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Children who have access to the outdoors experience positive educational and health benefits, as well as enhanced social, emotional and mental well-being,” Harris-Madden said. “The Literacy Trail is an excellent addition to Governor Hochul’s ongoing Unplug and Play initiative, which encourages families to create a healthy and physically active lifestyle.”
Books were carefully selected by childhood experts, who reviewed over 100 classic and recently published picture books, and were matched to the parks and environmental centers based on the topic of the book. Five of the books are available in Spanish and English.
The North Country’s Literacy Trail is hosted by Point Au Roche State Park and features the book “Gather Round” by David Covell. It’s a story about a girl and her father who build a campfire together to keep the cold at bay, but as they welcome passing travelers, they create a community, fostered by a crackling fire and its comforting warmth, according to publisher Penguin Random House.
Anyone who doesn’t live near a Literacy Trail parks or environmental center is encouraged to check out the books from their local library and explore a park, environmental center or historic site in their own community.
For more information, including the complete list of books, a map of parks and environmental centers to visit and additional educational resources, visit ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/literacy.