TRAIL PROJECT BRINGS BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER TO HONOR A SPECIAL LITTLE BOY AND PROMOTE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING
United Way of Chester County will dedicate it’s 10th Born Learning Trail at Struble Trail near Kardon Park in Downingtown on June 16th at 9:30 am. The Struble Trail-Born Learning Trail and Little Free Library is special because it was inspired by the death of little Scotty McMillan, the young boy that was tragically killed in West Caln back in November 2014 that received national attention.
Unsettled by this tragic event, United Way of Chester County was contacted by members of the local community inquiring about what could be done to leave a positive legacy for Scotty. As a result, Siemens Caring Hands Foundation, Meridian Bank, and Home Depot – Downingtown stepped forward with financial support for the trail and library. Recently, volunteers from VOYA and Chester County Department of Facilities and Parks provided the manpower to complete the installation.
Born Learning Trails are part of United Way of Chester County’s Early Childhood Education
Initiative and are designed to assist parents and other caregivers in engaging their young children in early learning activities. The Trails are composed of a series of signs and stencils prompting parents or other caregivers and young children through language development activities. Studies show that when adults interact with young children –talking, singing, playing rhyming games – they stimulate language and vocabulary development and build important foundations for learning to read.
Since 2009 the United Way of Chester County has been building community awareness about the value of early learning through installation of trails in sites throughout the county-Phoenixville, West Grove, West Chester, East Goshen, Honey Brook, Coatesville, Downingtown and Parkesburg. Many businesses, municipalities, nonprofit service providers, corporate and civic volunteers have joined the United Way in their initiative efforts. Many of the Born Learning Trails now include Little Free Libraries, which function as free lending sites for pre-k level books. The child-sized libraries are designed to promote reading with a “take one, leave one” approach at the outdoor activity locations.
United Way of Chester County CEO, Claudia Hellebush noted “Research tells us children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. Early learning is essential to success in school, which is essential to success in life. We’re thankful to all of our partners who help us bring these trails to communities across Chester County- we want to help parents, grandparents and other caregivers use everyday outings like trips to Struble Trail to support that learning.”
For more information about Born Learning Trails or the Struble Trail installation, contact United Way at 610- 429-9400.
