Seguin Township celebrated the grand opening of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Interactive Storybook Trail on Friday, October 16 at the Humphrey Barn and Nature Trails

The ribbon-cutting event marked the opening of a new family-friendly interactive, literacy experience inspired by the classic 1969 children’s picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, written and illustrated by Eric Carle.

Located along Rabbit Run—the smallest loop within the Humphrey Nature Trails 8-kilometre system—the installation combines storytelling, physical activity, and discovery. Participants follow the story while engaging with interactive elements placed throughout the trail. Stations include braille versions of the experience.

The opening celebration included a campfire, face painting and a magician, all themed around the beloved children’s book. Attendees included Seguin staff, Mayor Ann MacDiarmid, children from the local EarlyON program, kindergarten students from Humphrey Public School along with children from the broader community.

“We are proud to be the first municipality in North America to have this type of trail,” said Dominique O’Brien, Seguin Township’s Director of Community Services. “This experience provides families with a fun way to get active and celebrate literacy while enjoying nature.”

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Interactive Storybook Trail is available for the public to enjoy at any time as part of the Humphrey Nature Trails, located at 115 Highway 141. Parking is free.

The installation was created by CRCS Recreation, providers of innovative outdoor recreation solutions of all sizes to Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alaska in partnership with Little Tikes Commercial and Penguin Random House, licensors of The World of Eric Carle, a dedicated publishing line and preschool brand centered around the iconic author’s work