New Activity Trails Engage Middlesex Early Learners

Kindergarten students at Goodwin Elementary School in Old Saybrook were already watching the trail installation from their school windows-and eagerly asking when they'd get their turn on the new activity trail-before the paint on the courtyard trail's A, B, and C were even dry. The new Born Learning trail was installed as part of a Middlesex United Way initiative designed to provide schools and families with a new tool to support learning through fun hands-on activities that are designed to engage students.

Each Born Learning trail includes 10 hands-on learning and activity stations targeted for pre-school and kindergarten students. As they progress through each station, the students are asked to use their powers of observation, of physical coordination, and even their emotions (one station asks them to laugh) to both learn and have fun.

"One goal [of the Born Learning trails] is to get families engaged with their children and in sharing in a learning activity," said Matt Plourde of United Way.

The trails are designed as an early learning tool-and fun activity-for students, teachers, parents, and caregivers to share together.

As part of Middlesex United Way's annual Day of Caring last week, volunteers from Comcast and Liberty Bank installed a Born Learning trail in the courtyard of Goodwin Elementary School. Another Born Learning trail was installed by volunteers from Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Inc., at Daisy Ingraham Elementary in Westbrook. The project initiative was supported by the Middlesex United Way, which provided project support as well as a $1,250 grant and $100 worth of donated materials for each trail built last week.

"The new learning trail will be used actively in the pre-school and early learning programs at Goodwin School," said Goodwin School Principal Sheila Brown. "The teachers are thrilled. It's really great-and perfect for pre-school and early learners. The kids can't wait-they're watching out their windows today."

The trail installation at Westbrook's Daisy Ingraham School was coordinated with the help of Seana Nygard, the district's Early Childhood Council coordinator. At Daisy, as at other schools where the trail is installed, it will be used by children during the school day, but be available after school and on weekends for families to enjoy with their children.

"The most important things about the new trail is that it encourages children to build their readiness to learn before school entry [and also] encourages quality family time," said Nygard. "It's a new educational resource for the community."

By the close of last Wednesday's annual Day of Caring, United Way and its volunteer teams had installed a total of nine Born Learning trails at schools, playgrounds, and parks throughout the county.