Born Learning Trail opens at West Shoshone Park
Newly placed signs highlight different parts of the new Born Learning Trail inside Pinehurst's West Shoshone Park. The trail is part of a partnership between the Avista Foundation, United Way of North Idaho, and Shoshone County to promote healthy learning for families.
Courtesy photo
PINEHURST — Learning happens everywhere a child goes, but parents, grandparents, and caregivers may not always know how to support that learning in everyday situations.
That won’t be the case at West Shoshone Park. When Mom and Dad, Aunt and Grandpa take their little one to this neighborhood park, they’ll be able to play fun games together that will help the child come to school ready to succeed. Community partners United Way of North Idaho, The Avista Foundation, and Shoshone County Parks have collaborated to create an outdoor early learning experience called the Born Learning Trail.
The Born Learning Trail is a series of ten signs along a path that helps parents, grandparents, and caregivers turn excursions into fun learning moments. Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts through United Way Worldwide, the Born Learning Trail is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning. The ten signs guide children and their grown-up through activities like storytelling, hopscotch, number and letter games, and more.
“The Born Learning Trail promotes fun and games—important components of early childhood learning,” said Jen Reynolds, development manager at United Way of North Idaho. “Research tells us that children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. We want to help all families support that learning.”
The Avista Foundation is a strong local supporter of youth and education.
“I wish I had access to a Born Learning Trail when I was a young parent to give me ideas for activities with my child. These are so much fun! We hope the Born Learning Trail will make it easy for our community to get kids off to the right start,” said Kristine Meyer, Executive Director of the Avista Foundation.
A grand opening was held recently where two dozen family activity packs were distributed to the first lucky visitors. Be sure to stop by West Shoshone Park at 903 N. Division St. in Pinehurst to enjoy the trail! For more information, visit www.uwnorthidaho.org.