FHSU student and library to present story walks to Larned families

By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post

A Fort Hays State University student is bringing an interactive story walk to Larned this spring, combining story time and health.

The story walk will feature approximately 10 podiums managed by the Jordaan Memorial Library. These will provide a place for stories and promote physical and mental health.

Ryssa Schlaefli is a student at FHSU and previously had Assistant Professor Jessica Phelan as her instructor. She also served as a mentor for Phelan’s class as part of an internship.

“We started working through a grant, Phelan asked me if I would write a story for the walk,” Schlaefli said.

Schlaefli said working on the Golden Belt Community Foundation grant and writing the first story for the project is not related to extra credits or his internships.

Schlaefli’s story follows a blue flower who feels sad and struggles to accept herself. With the help of supportive flowers in the flower bed, she learns to embrace and love herself despite her imperfections.

“The flowers are very different, but they are all beautiful. That’s what the story is about,” she said.

Each podium will display a page from the story along with self-reflection questions and prompts, guiding readers along the narrative walk while encouraging them to explore their emotions.

“Health isn’t just about physical health. It’s mental health too. We need these conversations between parents and children,” Schlaefli said.

The Jordaan Memorial Library, in collaboration with Schlaefli and Phelan, received a $3,000 grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation.

Phelan said there were two possible locations for the story walk, but no official decision has been made because the town of Larned has expressed support.

The Story Walk project is designed primarily for families and children in the Larned area. It aims to encourage families to be physically active together.

“A big part of this is having a support system, resources and a goal to conduct the activity,” Phelan said.

The podiums will feature stories that can be updated regularly and used for promotional events.

The podiums, designed to be at hip height and diagonal for easy access for children, will be mounted on metal supports with a protective barrier. The final design is still in development.

While Schlaefli writes the initial story, the mission is for local fourth grade classes to create their own stories to feature in the story walk.

“It’s so much more than just a regular internship,” Phelan said.

Schlaefli specializes in health promotion and fitness education, with an emphasis on community health. During winter break, she plans to finalize her story and finish her illustrations.

Schlaefli said if the opportunity presented itself, she would also like to offer a story walk in Hays.

“If a grant would allow us to do something like that, then definitely yes,” she said.

Phelan, a health promotion and fitness instructor at FHSU in Larned, said Sunflower Electric in Great Bend will install the podiums for the story walk.