Port St. Lucie's free Tales on the Trails story walks start Saturday, Nov. 14, at Woodstork Trail. Six sessions to April, a free book per household and how to sign up.

The City of Port St. Lucie is starting a free series of story walks in its parks. The first session is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Woodstork Trail, 1957 SE Hillmoor Drive.

Tales on the Trails: Story Walks in Nature runs to six Saturday sessions through April. Each one pairs a picture book, read by volunteer storytellers, with an outdoor activity. The city announced the series Oct. 28.

The activities were designed with University of Florida IFAS experts. They include forest bathing, nature journaling and litter cleanups. A Trust for Public Land grant, from its On Common Ground program, pays for the series, according to the city.

The six sessions

Every session runs 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Date Place Book and activity
Saturday, Nov. 14 Woodstork Trail, 1957 SE Hillmoor Drive Leaf Man; community and gratitude; forest bathing
Saturday, Dec. 12 Pioneer Park Preserve Trail, 2454 SE Westmoreland Blvd. At Home with the Gopher Tortoise; nature journaling; river litter pickup
Saturday, Jan. 9 Woodland Trails Park, 1485 SW Calmar Ave. The Pinecone Walk; health and well-being; forest bathing and trail cleanup
Saturday, Feb. 13 Veterans Park at Rivergate, 2200 SE Veterans Memorial Parkway Over in a River; bird feeders or recycled-material art
Saturday, March 13 Oak Hammock Park, 1982 SW Villanova Road Owl Babies; a community mural and nature journaling
Saturday, April 24 Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Blvd. Closing celebration and breakfast

At the first session, families can bring nonperishable food. The city said donations will go to local seniors.

What families get

According to the city, each registered household receives at every session:

  • a book
  • a badge
  • refreshments

Households that come to all six sessions and collect all six badges are entered in a drawing. The prize is a hiking gear and adventure backpack package.

What it means for you

  • It is free. The series is open to all ages and abilities.
  • Sign up first. The city encourages preregistration, for one session or the whole series, on its Tales on the Trails registration form. One registration covers your whole household.
  • Children need an adult. Anyone under 18 must come with a registered adult.
  • Save the dates. The Nov. 14 walk falls on the same Saturday as the free student heart screenings on NW Milner Drive. The story walk ends at 11 a.m., and screening appointments run until 4:30 p.m.

For more on the trails themselves, including the Woodstork loop, see our walking and biking trails guide and our parks guide. The city’s other outdoor programs are listed on its Naturally PSL page. For more weekend ideas, see things to do.