Born Learning Trail opens in Medford

Saturday morning rain kept potential trail walkers away, but Steele County United Way and members of Women United still cut the ribbon to officially open the Born Learning Trail behind the Medford Elementary School.

The Medford location is the third Born Learning Trail the United Way has opened in Steele County.

Born Learning is a set of tools that equip parents, caregivers and communities to create early learning opportunities for young children. It is designed to support parents in their critical role as a child’s first teachers.

There is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families as they walk the trails.

“The Born Learning Trail promotes fun and games, important components of early learning,” said Annette Duncan of the United Way. “Research tells us children are literally born learning. That means five years of education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. We know that what happens in a child’s early years matters, for success in life and for school readiness. And we want to help parents, grandparents and caregivers use everyday outings including trips to the park to support that learning.”

There are two other Born Learning Trails in Steele County, one at Lincoln Elementary School and one at Morehouse Park.

Women United in Owatonna, a group dedicated to Early Childhood education in Steele County, helped with the project.

Rachel Peterson of Women United said that the group had worked with fundraising for the project and will help the school with the upkeep. The group also does the annual Power of the Purse event in Owatonna and helps the United Way with the shipping costs involved in getting books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to youngsters in Steele County, she said.

Born Learning is a long-standing resource used across the United Way network.

The signs located along the trail will offer suggestions for learning along the way.