The Dictionary Project: Dexter third graders gifted books from Valley Grange which began its “Words for Thirds” program in 2004

Walter Boomsma of the Valley Grange in Guilford has spent decades fostering community connections, notably through supporting The Dictionary Project, which provides free dictionaries to third graders. Since 2004, the Valley Grange has distributed over 4,000 dictionaries across five schools in four districts, including Ridge View Community School in Dexter.

The project aims to inspire students to read, write, and explore language, giving many children their first personal dictionary. Students expressed excitement about discovering new words, while teachers and administrators praised the value of a physical learning tool in a digital age.