EASLEY — The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Born Learning Trail at the JB “Red” Owens Sports Complex in Easley will be held on Thursday, April 18, at 10 a.m.  The Trail is a service project of the Leadership Pickens County class of 2013.  The Trail is being opened during the national “Week of the Young Child”, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. 

The Born Learning Trail is an interactive, playful and educational community resource designed to help parents, caregivers and communities support early learning in children.  The Trail helps boost children’s language and literacy skills and encourages families to get active.  The Trail consists of ten fun outdoor learning games and activities that children participate in with their parents or caregivers.

Born Learning Trails are part of United Way Worldwide’s public engagement campaign to foster early childhood education and create early learning opportunities for young children.  The Trail’s learning games help build pre-literacy skills that are critical to school readiness.  Children are constantly learning, right from birth. Their early years are the foundation for growth and development, and what they learn during those years depends on the experiences they have each and every day.

Born Learning Trails are being built across the country at parks, museums, libraries and corporate campuses.  The Easley Born Learning trail will be the first of its kind in Pickens County.

The general public is invited to attend the opening.  Representatives from the Hampton Memorial Library, Pickens County First Steps, Pickens County YMCA, Safe Kids Upstate, and United Way of Pickens County, will be on hand to answer questions and give out information.  There will be giveaways for both children and adults and guides will be available to walk children through the trail.