Building Bridges To Connect Students with Their Community
Deep in the Heart of Denton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit after-school enrichment program connecting students to their community through meaningful experiences and a love of reading.
Deep in the Heart of Denton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit after-school enrichment program connecting students to their community through meaningful experiences and a love of reading.
Deep in the Heart of Denton is a nonprofit after-school enrichment program that extends literacy beyond the classroom.
Our mission is to foster meaningful engagement with the city, help students build a mental map of downtown Denton, and nurture a lifelong love of reading.
We collaborate with school administrators, teachers, families, and local businesses and organizations to offer free, meaningful experiences that connect students to the heart of their city. This also helps local businesses and organizations get to know the students and families in their neighborhood and build lasting relationships that strengthen our entire community.
Local Organizations and Businesses Partnered
Involve Multiple Title 1 Schools
Students Participated
Free for Students
Deep in the Heart of Denton was created by Gary Barnhart and Ethan Bell to give Title I students access to experiences in their own city that they might not otherwise have.
What started as a simple idea has grown into a program that brings third through fifth grade students downtown for an afternoon of connection and discovery. Each trip includes a StoryWalk® around the Square, a shared meal at a local restaurant, and time to experience Denton as a welcoming place where they belong.
For many students, this is their first time exploring downtown in this way. It is not just a field trip. It is an opportunity to build memories, feel included, and see themselves as part of the community.
By connecting students, families, local businesses, and community partners, the program continues to strengthen the relationships that make Denton special.
Click here to read more about our work.
Watch our story in action:
Deep in the Heart of Denton has partnered with the Denton Public Library to celebrate literacy and community connection through Denton’s StoryWalk® experience. Our team created a user-friendly map and worksheet to accompany the StoryWalk® books curated each quarter by Haley Phillips, Outreach Librarian for Denton Public Library.
Printed copies of the map and worksheet are available at all three branches of the Denton Public Library and at the Discover Denton Visitor Center, where the StoryWalk® begins. Families can use the worksheet to guide discussion, spark curiosity, and extend their StoryWalk® adventure beyond each story page.
This initiative supports Deep in the Heart of Denton’s mission to engage students on after school field trips and connect them with the people, stories, and landmarks of their downtown community.
Turn in completed worksheets to one of the three branches of the Denton Public Library or the Discover Denton Visitor Center for a prize.
Students explore downtown Denton through guided field trips, building a mental map of their community while visiting local businesses, museums, and cultural sites.
Interactive reading sessions that bring stories to life through visits to relevant locations, connecting literature to real-world experiences in our community.
Building lasting relationships between students, families, and local organizations through collaborative events and meaningful interactions.
We're grateful for the support of our community partners who make our programs possible.
Denton ISD Communications Department
Olive Stephens Elementary School
Tomas Rivera Elementary School
4 Winds Ranch
Aaron's Air Conditioning & Heating
Antero Group
Atomic Candy
Barnhart's Barbershop
Beth Marie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream & Soda Fountain
Cartwright's Ranch House
Chestnut Tree Teahouse & Bistro
d20 Tavern
Denton Police Department
Denton Public Library
Denton Rotary Club
El Taco H
Fin Press Publications
First United Methodist Church of Denton
Hometown Real Estate
Mexican Oak
Patchouli Joe's Books & Indulgences
Recycled Books, Records & CDs
Record Coffee Co.
Ryan Everett Insurance Agency
Salvage Secondhand Shoppe
Scott Brown Group
Sunago Bell
Aquapony Innovations, LLC
TB Winds
Three Wishes Gifts & Home Accents
UNT CoLab
Wells Fargo
West Oak Coffee Bar
Parents, guardians, and volunteers who dedicate their time to enriching our students' experiences
Join us in creating meaningful experiences for Denton's students
(903) 830-1329
Donate through this site or contact us to volunteer.
As a nonprofit organization, your tax-deductible donation helps us provide free enrichment programs to students in our community.
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