New trail sparks early childhood education
Panhandle Kiwanis Jeri Kilburg and Ashleigh Hathaway planned out stencils for the Born Learning Trail at Shadduck Lane Park Wednesday. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
Vicki Campbell and Jeri Kilburg painted shapes on the Born Learning Trail, an early childhood education initiative of the Panhandle Kiwanis Club, United Way of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene High School Key Club, and city parks and recreation department. The trail formally opens this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Shadduck Lane Park. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — United Way of North Idaho, the Idaho Panhandle Kiwanis Club, the Key Club at Coeur d’Alene High School, and the city of Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Department are bringing the Born Learning Trail experience to Shadduck Lane Park. The trail is “a series of 10 signs along a paved path that helps parents, grandparents, and caregivers turn excursions into fun learning moments,” said United Way of North Idaho Director of Community Impact Keri Stark.
Stark said the city parks and rec crew have provided in-kind support by installing the signs, a local signmaker made in-kind donations, and the CHS Key Club has adopted the trail as an ongoing service project. Ashleigh
Hathaway, Youth Services Chair for the Idaho Panhandle Kiwanis Club, said the Kiwanis covered half of the expenses, and the Key Club raised funds to cover the other half.
“We hope the Born Learning Trail will help our community do even more to get kids off to the right start,” Hathaway said.
Early childhood years are important for achieving literacy, said Stark. She also expressed her hope that it would bring neighbors in the community together in outdoors activities. More than 750 of these United Way-sponsored trails have been set up across the United States, according to bornlearning.org.
A grand opening with snacks, games, and a free book giveaway will take place at Shadduck Lane Park Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact United Way of North Idaho at 208-667-8112.