NYSOCFS Expands Summer Literacy Trail with Partnerships
Program Supports Early Literacy and Governor Hochul’s Unplug and Play Initiative Encouraging Families to Pursue Outdoor Activities
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) launched the second year of its outdoor Lit eracy Trail program in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the New York State Depart ment of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Literacy Trail was first announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in her 2025 State of the State Address as part of her Unplug and Play initiative to promote children’s mental and physical health.
“OCFS is proud to sup port 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,” said OCFS Com missioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden. “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 New York 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. Today’s announcement was made as leaders from the three state agencies joined together at the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center at Thacher State Park, one of the locations included in the Literacy Trail.
“Children who have access to the outdoors experience positive educational and health benefits as well as enhanced social, emotional and mental well-being,” Dr. 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 pic ture 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 as well as English.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “We are proud to partner with OCFS and DEC to launch the second New York State Literacy Trail, encouraging families to discover new adventures through books and the outdoors. This initiative is another example of Governor Hochul’s commitment to providing healthy, enriching opportunities and activities for children and families. By combining engaging stories with some of New York’s most beautiful parks and natural spaces, we hope to inspire a lifelong love of reading, learning and outdoor exploration.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is committed to ensuring all New York ers, regardless of income or education, ability or experience, have the opportunity to interact with and enjoy the natu ral world around us. DEC is proud to partner with the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on the New York State Literacy Trail to help encourage young readers and their families to grab a book, get out side, and check out some of the inclusive program ing available at one of our environmental education centers.”
The featured parks in the 2026 Literacy Trail include Allegany State Park, Letchworth State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, Green Lakes State Park, Point Au Roche State Park, Mine Kill State Park, Thacher State Park, Taconic State Park, Marsha P. Johnson State Park, and Sunken Mead ow State Park. The featured DEC environmental education centers are Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve and Environ mental Education Center, Rogers Environmental Education Center, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, and Stony Kill Farm Environ mental Education Center.
“Young children learn by exploring, imagining, sensing, and moving!” said OCFS Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Child Care Services Nora Yates. “The Literacy Trail initiative encourages families and child care providers to explore the world with children by reading these amazing books and get ting outside into New York’s beautiful state parks and environmental centers. Each book will not only help promote early literacy but will also inspire children’s imagination through stories and art that express the connection between childhood and the out doors.”
Anyone who doesn’t live near one of the featured parks or envi ronmental centers is encouraged to check out the books from their local library and explore a park, environmental cen ter or historic site in their own community.