StoryTrails and the Summer Reading Challenge help children explore technology and immersive storytelling this summer.

The Reading Agency's annual Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages over 700,000 children to read for pleasure over the summer holidays has teamed up with StoryTrails, the unique immersive storytelling experience which is part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK. The collaboration will bring the power of immersive storytelling to children and families this summer. A free activity pack for librarians, teaching staff and community youth leads will be available to download on the 25th May and includes resources, recommended apps, tools, suggested activities, session plans including activities which require no technology to access. This invaluable resource will give children and young people the opportunity to explore the themes of innovation, technology and immersive storytelling through the fun Summer Reading Challenge STEM theme of Gadgeteers. Download the pack

The activity pack is supported by two, free online events in partnership with The British Library's Living Knowledge Network. The first event, taking place on 1st June at 1pm, will be an introduction to immersive storytelling with experts from StoryFutures Academy (the National Centre for Immersive Storytelling and the team behind StoryTrails), exploring some of the accessible and affordable ways to incorporate immersive storytelling in a library setting. The second, which will take place on 16 June at 1pm, is a deep dive into the 'Get Immersive with the Gadgeteers Activity Pack' with a focus on engaging children aged 4 to 11 in immersive storytelling through the Summer Reading Challenge.

Booking Information

Demystifying Immersive Storytelling with StoryTrails 1 June, 1-2pm REGISTER

Summer Reading Challenge x StoryTrails Pack 16 June, 1-2pm REGISTER

The collaboration between StoryTrails and the Summer Reading Challenge aims to share the power of immersive storytelling with children and failies across the nation as well as championing libraries, celebrating their position as centres of innovation in the community.

Professor James Bennett StoryTrails Director said: "Reading and storytelling go hand-in-hand. By offering accessible immersive storytelling activities to libraries to accompany this year's Summer Reading Challenge, we can inspire the creativity and innovation of future generations."

Chief Executive, Karen Napier MBE of The Reading Agency said: "This is an exciting opportunity to weave together the cutting-edge technology used in StoryTrails, the creativity of Unboxed and the celebration of reading which the Summer Reading Challenge has been providing to children all over the UK for over 20 years. We hope that this free activity pack will spark the curiosity of young people and we can't wait to see how our library partners bring the activities to life this summer."

For further details on StoryTrails visit story-trails.com and via Facebook and Instagram @StoryTrailsProject and Twitter @StoryFuturesA

For further details on this year's Summer Reading Challenge visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk and via Facebook

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Alexander Turton: alexander.turton@readingagency.org.uk