Born Learning Trail Installed at Seamster Park

Middlesex United Way’s annual Day of Caring was held on Sept. 28 and a team of volunteers from Aetna installed a Born Learning Trail at Seamster Park in East Hampton. The trails are an early learning tool featuring a series of signs on posts with fun, physical activities for parents and caregivers to do with their children. They are installed in a public setting for everyone in the community to enjoy.

Volunteers cemented posts into the ground, attached signs to the posts, and painted stencils with letters, numbers and shapes.

“Aetna employees help build their communities by making them healthier in so many different ways” said Lynn Ferdman of Aetna in a press release. “During the Aetna Giving Campaign, employees were proud to support Middlesex United Way through volunteering with the East Hampton Early Childhood Council – Born Learning Trail project.”

Said Marc Lenart of Aetna, who was the team captain on the project: “When I saw the opportunity to give back and especially to give back to help children I got excited and knew this is a group of people that could benefit the most from the work that would be performed. During the volunteering effort, I became more grateful for what was provided to me by the special people that sacrificed their time to help children.”

The Trail installation was coordinated with the help of Lauren Kasperowski, East Hampton Early Links Coordinator.

“Learning should be fun! The Born Learning Trail does just that. It turns everyday activities into enjoyable, fun activities that create learning opportunities for young children.” Kasperowski said. “Learning happens in many ways in many places.  Having so many volunteers come together for the installation of the trail proved that the community is dedicated and committed to the education of East Hampton's youngest learners.”  

One of Middlesex United Way’s goals is to increase children’s readiness to learn by school entry. This focused Day of Caring project is one way in which United Way is achieving this goal and provide an early learning tool for communities in Middlesex County. Day of Caring is an annual event that matches groups of volunteer from local companies with projects at non-profit organizations.

Teams of volunteers from other local organizations installed trails in Clinton, Cromwell, Old Saybrook and Westbrook and the communities of Durham-Middlefield and Haddam-Killingworth. Trails already exist in the towns of Middletown and Portland. A special thanks to employees from Lowe’s Home Improvement in Cromwell who donated their time to pre-build all of the wood posts and cement footings for the trails.

To learn more about Born Learning Trails; as well as view photos and videos from all of the Day of Caring 2011 trail projects visit www.middlesexunitedway.org/day-caring-2011 or ‘Like’ us on Facebook www.facebook.com/middlesexunitedway