United Way Worldwide has an initiative to help children and families engage in our local parks through installation of a “Born Learning Trail”. The Born Learning Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or visiting a local playground. Here is the website if you’re interested in learning more: https://bornlearning.org/trails/overview
United Way of South Hampton Roads successfully installed Born Learning Trails in 2 parks in Suffolk, VA in April 2023, and one in Smithfield, VA in November 2023. We provided the materials, partnered with the park staff for installation, and volunteers provided the muscle. With this, we have a new opportunity to install a Born Learning Trail at Plum Point Park in Norfolk, in partnership with the Elizabeth River Trail!
Volunteers would work with the park staff and complete the following:
- Digging post holes
- Securing posts
- Drilling signs onto posts
- Using stencils to paint on the pavement paths
Volunteers are asked to bring:
- Work gloves
- Shovels (if you have them)
- Post hole diggers (if you have them)
Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and have mobile ability to:
- lift up to 25 pounds
- crouch, sit and stand
- use body to hold up posts and carry equipment
Volunteers who sign up will receive more details over email as the date gets closer!
We hope you can join us in this awesome volunteer opportunity!
