The Story Trail is a story writing/public art collaboration initiative for students, grades 3rd-8th to be published on an accessible public art path.

Submit A Story

Submit a Story!

Details:

Who Can Submit:

Any student in grades 4th-7th

How To Submit:

Review the Criteria and then click the "Submit A Story" Button Above

Accepted Topics:

Stories that draw inspiration from the character of Jeffrey! Check out "Meet Jeffrey" in the resources section below to see images of Jeffrey and read about his origins and see Jeffrey-themed writing prompts to draw inspiration from.

Suggested Length:

The story should be less than 500 words in length. The original story was 350 words in length.

Judging Criteria and Process:

Demonstrating the ability to write creatively using an introduction, action, and conclusion.
Demonstrating creativity or unique thought in terms of the story arc.
Overall wow factor or interest of the submitted story to the audience of a young family.
Overall benefit to the area of the NoCo district as a family-friendly space.
Special consideration will be given to stories submitted with illustration.
Judging will be conducted by a panel, the panel will be chosen by Jeffersonville Public Art Commission (JPAC).
The panel will choose 3 stories for recognition. The 1st place story will be converted into panels for the trail while the 2nd and 3rd place story will receive recognition on our social media page. All three students will be invited to be honored at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new story.

Meet Jeffrey

Walk the Trail

Previously Selected Stories

Meet Jeffrey

Lesson Plans

Resources

The Story of the

Story Trail

What is it?

The Story Trail is a combination of an accessible, walkable path with a uniquely written story/activities for path-walkers to enjoy. The story is separated into 12 segments, mounted throughout the path on vinyl storyboard panels. The storyboards are elevated to "children's eye level" by vertical PVC pipes which have been secured into the ground and follow the perimeter of the walking path. The storyboards display the author's story on the front of the board and host participatory questions/activities on the back of each board, to encourage guests to engage with the story in various ways!

How Did It Start?

The Jeffersonville Public Arts Commission (JPAC) initiated the story trail out of a need to edit the public art program of 2020. The commissioners wanted something unique and authentic to the arts in our area with an eye towards an experience for families that was socially distanced and safe, free, and easily accessible to all.

JPAC commissioner, Rosy Callahan, brought forth the idea of the story trail as one she had stumbled upon in another community. The commission felt that the NoCo Arts District was the perfect place to create an intimate story trail, tucked away within it's whimsical surroundings.

JPAC commissioned a local student writer, Ava Gleitz, to be the first contributing writer for the trail. Ava was chosen because of the flavor of her winning submission during the spring "Creative Creatures Writing Contest". Ava created a NEW story just for the 12 panels within the NoCo Story Trail area inspired by the surrounding artwork of the area. In 2021 Avi Orcutt, a local student contained the proud tradition of story trail contributions through winning the local writing competition run through JPAC. His story "Being Different is Good" has been displayed during the 2021 year.

This whimsical and enchanting trail needed something extra special to alert participants that they have arrived! SO, JPAC commissioned two local mosaic artists - Deborah Hartmann Brownstein and Rhonda Snyder Sedam - to create a custom 3' by 8' mosaic threshold to walk atop as guests enter the trail.