The Born Learning Trail officially opened Aug. 11 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the CLC YMCA in Damariscotta. The trail is the brainchild of United Way of Mid Coast Maine and is part of their Success By 6 program. The CLC Y trail is the second Born Learning Trail in Maine, the first is at the Bath YMCA.
The Born Learning Trail at the CLC Y was made possible by a bequest from Capt. Lawrence Caney, who gave the money to the United Way “for the people of Lincoln County. He was another great patron and longtime supporter,” United Way volunteer George Reichert said.
“It is part of the YMCA’s greater trail network. It was specifically built off our playground to encourage kids to explore. At the end of the trail is a giant fairy village. Y campers have been busy at work on it. We want to encourage the community to add to it and build onto it,” CLC YMCA Executive Director Craig Wilson said.
The Born Learning Trail is an interactive trail for children aged 3-5. There are 10 stations, some are physical, and some require thought and creativity. The brightly colored station signs give prompts for fun activities parents and caregivers can do with young children.
The activities are designed to help caregivers interact with young children in healthy activities that promote literacy, language development, and movement. The stations help caregivers turn an ordinary walk into an enriching experience that will help lay the foundation for healthy brain development, and help support early childhood development. The trail is open dawn to dusk, free of charge.
After the ribbon was cut by Will Farrell, a drove of children rushed forward to check out the new interactive trail. Along the path they stopped to tell a story, discover something in nature, walk like an animal, play hopscotch, listen to the world around them, compare images, or find something interesting in nature.
After completing the course, the youngsters gravitated to the fairy village and went to work collecting twigs, sticks, moss and leaves to create their very own fairy house in the cool of the shade.
United Way representatives on hand for the ribbon-cutting of the new Born Learning Trail were Peter Lindsay, volunteer George Reichert, and Success by 6 Coordinator Jessica Kundrat, who is an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.
The Born Learning Trail is sponsored by Damariscotta Bank & Trust, represented by Success by 6 Board Member and DB&T Human Resource officer Marcia Benner, and President Scott Conant.
“This is a great collaborative effort with United Way and Damariscotta Bank & Trust,” Wilson commented.
“On behalf of the [United Way] council I would like to welcome everyone to our second Born Learning Trail in Maine. The challenge of Born Learning is to turn every day activities into learning activities. We are so happy to open a new one in Damariscotta at the CLC YMCA. We hope it entices young families to come down and have fun,” Reichert said.
Reichert thanked trail sponsors DB&T, the CLC Y staff for hosting and building the trail, and Hannaford for donating refreshments for the grand opening.
DB&T Bank President Conant praised the United Way, saying they are a “hard working group dedicated to making lives better for people.”
“This is the beginning of a larger trail network to get the community outdoors,” Wilson said.
Currently the Y has a one and a half mile trail connecting with the GSB School trail. Future plans call to extend the trail to the other side of the power lines on property that extends to the Colby & Gale property on Biscay Road.
