'Read With The REDS' Returns To Prominence

(FREDERICTON, NB) At one time ‘Read With The REDS’ was one of the most popular and active community outreach programs run by the UNB REDS.

The program, which sees REDS student-athletes visiting Fredericton-area elementary schools to read to children, promotes reading as well as, hopefully, generating an interest in sport and the REDS.

But the pandemic all but shut the program down.

After a couple of years of no program it re-started but with limited participation.

The 2025-2026 academic year saw the program roar back to life.

“It went dormant during Covid,” said Katie Butts, a member of the REDS’ Atlantic University Sport champion women’s basketball team and the outgoing co-president of UNB’s Athletes’ Council. “It’s been growing again, increasingly each year, with this past year being our best.”

The student-athletes participating in the program come from almost every athletic program, and the book they read during their visit, ‘SU And RED Try-Out For The Team,’ was written specifically for the program.

‘SU And RED Try-Out For The Team’ was written in 2010 and updated recently.

“Speedy (REDS’ Athletic Director Jeff Speedy) brought back an updated version of the book, so that’s made things a bit more relevant, at least to the student-athletes who are participating.”

‘SU And RED Try-Out For The Team’ is a story about two squirrels getting ready for soccer and basketball tryouts at their school. It features lessons on preparedness and perseverance.

“This program appeals to me and other student-athletes as it’s a great way to directly get into the community and allow kids to get to know you and know the REDS,” said Butts. “The goal of this program is to inspire the next generation. My dream would be that in 10 or 15 years we have some REDS student-athletes say “I had some REDS come to my classroom and I remember wanting to be just like them, and now I am.”

“We love seeing our student-athletes giving back to our community,” said Speedy. “What better way than to encourage children to read. Reading is a life-long skill with so many benefits. If each REDS visit lights a spark for even one child to start reading or read more, it was well worth it.”

For Butts, who has exhausted her U SPORTS eligibility and will graduate in 2026, the resurrection of ‘Reading With The REDS’ has been a personal goal. Butts leaves a legacy of athletic and academic excellence coupled with strong work with a number of charitable and community efforts.

“It’s been a great way to provide an educational book, about how to prepare for try-outs and perform your best in sport, to a lot of kids and a great way to get into the community and hopefully get some new little fans.”

“I truly hope our student-athletes realize, like Katie, that these visits leave a lasting impact,” added Speedy. “I know our REDS leave classrooms with smiles on their faces, so from my perspective, these ‘Read With The REDS’ sessions are a win-win.”

Butts is hopeful that, even without her, the program will continue to thrive.

“I hope this program continues to grow,” she said. “I know the next Athletes’ Council presidents will treat it well and, hopefully, bring some new ideas and ways to grow it even bigger.”

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS

PHOTO BY: UNB REDS