How to Start

Digital Storybook

Make the forest part of your story with our new interactive digital storybook experience.

Step 1

Build your family’s own custom story as you explore, experience, and enjoy your local parks and forests together. To get started, find a local park or forest near you using our zip code search.

Step 2

Take your family on a visit for a day of adventure! To prepare to use the digital storybook, make sure you capture some photos of the landscape and your family enjoying the experience.

Step 3

Using the storybook webapp select a story to create from one of our templates.

Step 4

Build your personalized story by adding your own photos. You can do this in real time as you explore or later once you get home.

Step 5

Once you’ve added your own photos to the story, you’ll receive a custom URL that you can share on social or save as a memory of your family’s forest experience.

You can create your digital storybook anywhere. Want to see places nearby where you can start creating your Digital Storybook?
Enter your location.

Resources

What to Bring

Plenty of water, even for short hikes — a gallon per person per day is a good guide

Snacks such as fruit or trail mix and empty bags to collect any garbage

Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen

Insect repellent

Lightweight rain jacket

Safety Tips

Before you get on the trail make sure you have the local Forest Service Ranger District’s or Supervisor’s Office phone number with you. If someone gets hurt this should be the first number you call.

Always let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to be back.

Avoid going if a thunderstorm is in the forecast. Seek shelter in a car or house if you’re caught in a thunderstorm. If you're caught outside, the safest place to be is crouching in a cluster of trees — not in a clearing, out on water, or next to a lone tree.

Be mindful of the sun. Use sunscreen, seek shade, and drink plenty of water — even in the winter.

Animals have their own natural food supply so please don’t feed them.

Fruits and mushrooms can look tasty, but some are poisonous. To be safe, do not eat anything you find growing in the forest.

Railroad tracks are for trains only. Keep to the side and stay off the tracks.

Set a turnaround time when heading out that gives you plenty of time to get back before it gets dark. Expect to spend at least the same amount of time hiking back as you did hiking out.

Bring a small flashlight or another source of light with you if you'll be out close to sunset.