QUALITY STORYTENTS
A resource for family, early childhood and community literacy workers
The fact that the program runs outdoors can provide a significant challenge. Apart from the weather, the program is vulnerable to things like lawn mowers, construction, animals, and ball playing. Unexpected visitors may show up with unsuitable snacks or wanting to volunteer; media may wander by wanting to take photos. We take the view that workers need to be diplomatic but firm in all these circumstances.
Parents need to be informed if there are media or guests coming to the program; and media need to be informed that workers obtain parent's permission before allowing interviews or photographs with children. Explaining the program's snack policy and offering other ways volunteers can help is one suggestion to deal with unexpected arrivals of food. Construction or lawn maintenance may force a temporary relocation of the storytent. The goal is to preserve the program's environment while remaining welcomed guests in the community.