United Way MV Hosts Annual Days of Action
Creating “Born Learning” trails for early childhood education and development in four local parks.
Utica, NY-
United Way of the Mohawk Valley (United Way MV) was joined by local companies and volunteers over four days to install “Born Learning” trails in local parks in Rome, Utica, Sylvan Beach, and Dolgeville. “Born Learning” trail signs encourage early childhood education and learning, supporting one of United Way MV’s core initiatives, R4K (Ready for Kindergarten.)
“Born Learning” trails are a series of 6 to 10 interactive signs that offer fun, dynamic learning activities for young children and their families. Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts, United Way’s “Born Learning” trails are designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning in outdoor everyday moments.
“Research tells us children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of education takes place before they ever enter kindergarten,” stated Erin Gutierrez Matt, CEO of United Way MV. “We know what happens in a child’s early years matters – for success in life and for school readiness. Installing the “Born Learning” trails in our community is a great outlet to help boost school readiness. The trail signs create valuable community resources with innovative and fun tools for early childhood learning.”
Each trail was installed thanks to the coordination of United Way MV, their sponsors, and dozens of volunteers throughout three days in June. Community members can enjoy the four new “Born Learning” trails at the following locations:
· Van Der Linde park in Sylvan Beach sponsored by Carello’s Arcade and Carousel, Eddie’s Restaurant, and the Carbone Family.
· Kemble Park in Utica, sponsored by MVCC PA.
· Guyer Field in Rome, sponsored by Berkshire Bank.
· Dodgeville Park and Playground, sponsored by First Source FCU.
These four trails join two already existing trails installed by United Way MV in 2020 at Pinti Field in Rome and Quinn Park in Utica. Check out the full list of locations for United Way “Born Learning” trails here.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley’s partnership with local businesses made the project possible. Stone Age Landscaping, AJB Property Maintenance, and Horander’s Construction dug the needed holes to install the signs, while Jay-K Lumber donated wood and cement needed for the installation. Other sponsors that made the projects possible include MV Builders Exchange & Homebuilders Association, Empower FCU, CNY Labor Council, IBEW Local 43, and McQuade & Bannigan.
United Way Day of Action projects is a great way to help create fun interactive outdoor space for the community to enjoy. For information on how you can sponsor a United Way ‘Born Learning’ Trail contact Kristyn at KristynB@unitedwaymv.org.
