It’s that time of year again. Literacy in Community (LINC), a leading early literacy nonprofit, will hold its 12th annual Reading on the Rails event on August 13 with all roads leading to Central Park, “the place to be.” Over 400 families from all five boroughs will travel in groups with LINC on public transit, reading and engaging in literacy-rich activities as they go.
With the support of lovino Enterprises, this city-wide reading adventure demonstrates in real time how literacy can take place anywhere and everywhere, inspiring all parents and caregivers of young children to embrace how they can promote learning and literacy in ordinary places throughout the summer months.
Families are scheduled to arrive at Central Park at 11am where they will enjoy a picnic lunch, followed by a parade to Bethesda Fountain. After lunch and photos, they will scout the park for special locations described in Tish Rabe’s new book, Central Park, You Can See Why It’s the Best Place to Be. Tish Rabe, children’s author and dear friend of LINC will do a read aloud at the park and has generously donated books for all families in attendance. Books in hand, the families will explore hotspots in the story including the Bow Bridge, Hans Christian Andersen Statue, and the Alice in Wonderland Statue.
Each July, Reading on the Rails shines a light on the vital role that summer learning plays for our youngest pre-readers. Little kids’ brains keep growing during the summer and they need continued stimulation to support healthy brain development. But unstructured time spent away from learning leads to a well-documented “summer slide” and a loss of proficiency as children enter school age; the impact is gravest for low-income children. LINC’s community literacy model is an antidote. LINC creates community around reading, connecting families with each other and with educational resources that are already present in their communities. Children experience reading and literacy-rich activities as fun at the same time they build skills and routines that will help them be “school-ready.” This is reading that can take place anywhere – on the subway or bus; in bodegas and markets; at the laundromat and in waiting rooms; in local parks and playgrounds; and on the way to those destinations.
* Departures will take place bright and early on Thursday, August 13.
| Neighborhood | Subway Stop | Train Line | Meeting Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Harlem | 103rd St | 6 | 8:30am |
| East New York | Liberty Ave | C | 9:00am |
| Fordham | Kingsbridge Rd | D | 8:00am |
| Washington Heights | 168th St | A | 8:45am |
| Inwood | Dyckman St | A | 8:30am |
| Kingsbridge | 231st & Broadway | 1 | 7:30am |
| South Jamaica | Sutphin Blvd, Archer Ave | E | 8:30am |
| Staten Island | St George Ferry Terminal | 8:30am | |
Join the ride that keeps kids engaged, safe, and healthy. Reading on the Rails: LINC Scouts Explore Central Park will meet up according to the schedule below* and provide opportunities for photos, videos, and interviews with participants. Reporters wishing to accompany families on this trip or at Central Park should contact Virginia Taddoni, Associate Director of Communications at vtaddoni@lincnyc.org or 212-620-5462, ext. 133.
Parents and caregivers interested in participating in Reading on the Rails: LINC Scouts Explore Central Park may contact Karen Rogel, Director of Strategic Initiatives at krogel@lincnyc.org or 212-620-5462, ext. 122 to register.
