Preschoolers Christen Newest Outdoor Born Learning Trail

Two dozen preschoolers joined the mayor and folks from the Middlesex County United Way and Comcast in a cute factor overload ribbon-cutting Wednesday in Middletown.

The Born Learning Trail at Macdonough Elementary School and Chester Donovan Park is a series of signs that offer fun, physical learning prompts for parents to complete with children.

Macdonough Principal Jon Romeo, Superintendent Patricia Charles, state Sen. Paul Doyle (D-9th), Middlesex United Way Executive Director Kevin Wilhelm and Mayor Dan Drew joined parents who use the school's early resource center on this sunny morning.

Twenty-three energetic tots corralled their energies for a short spell — just enough time for the most studious of them to stand beside a kneeling mayor who carefully cut the Comcast ribbon. The task came natural to Drew, himself the father of three little ones.

As a part of the United Way’s focus on early childhood education and school readiness, the trail is a tool that helps parents and caregivers provide opportunities for everyday learning in fun and relaxed environments.

The trail offers a variety of activities that encourage children to talk, listen, read, think, imagine and create, helping to lay the foundation for developing problem solving, critical thinking, leadership and team building skills.

Comcast employees and their family and friends, along with United Way and North End Action Team volunteers, installed the Born Learning Trail at Macdonough School on April 27 during the 12th Comcast Cares Day, the company’s annual day of community service. This is the second Born Learning Trail in the City of Middletown and the 10th in Middlesex County.

Comcast employees have now installed six Born Learning Trails in Connecticut during Comcast Cares Day over the past six years, including: the Portland Library, Conte West Hills School in New Haven (2008), Burns Elementary School in Hartford (2009), Wilbert Snow Elementary School in Middletown (2010), Foote Memorial Park in Branford & Fulton Park in Waterbury (2012) and now Macdonough School.