Jenni Larchar, co-founder of Storytime and Hike, and friends at Rogers Storytime and Hike. Celebrate the activity's ten-year anniversary from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 8 with snacks, stories, songs, and opportunities for attendees to share their favorite memories from the last ten years together. (Submitted photo)

SHERBURNE — Join Jenni Larchar as Rogers Center commemorates a decade of Storytime and Hike on Saturday, July 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be snacks, stories, songs, and opportunities for people to share their favorite memories of their ten years together!

Storytime and Hike began on May 8, 2013. A group of mothers with small children, including Myra Scott and Jenni Larchar, envisioned a Storytime activity at Rogers Center while enjoying nature. Jenni, a Friends of Rogers Board member, approached the new Executive Director at the time, Simon Solomon, with the idea, and Storytime and Hike was born.

“It makes me so happy to be part of Storytime and Hike. I love getting outside with the children! I love sharing with them the things that I notice and hearing them explain what they notice,” said Jenni Larchar, Children’s Program Coordinator at Rogers Center and co-founder of Storytime and Hike. “Rogers Storytime is an established tradition, a way for young people and their families to connect socially and in nature.”

Every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., families enjoy reading books, singing songs, and hiking the trails. Everyone comes prepared for the weather as this program runs rain or shine unless conditions are unsafe. Many families remain on the property for picnics and socialization after the program, creating bonds that have lasted as long as this program.

Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers environmental education programs for people of all ages and abilities. The Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, other times by appointment.

The mission of the Friends of Rogers is to provide outstanding educational opportunities that excite, inspire, and motivate people of all ages to enjoy, understand, appreciate, and protect our natural environment.

-Information provided by Friends of Rogers