Born Learning Trail Installed at Snow School

Standing by one of the signs on the Born Learning Trail at Snow Elementary School are: Kristen Roberts, Comcast VP of Public Relations and Community Investment and Middlesex United Way Board member; Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano; Doug Guthrie, Comcast Senior Vice President of Comcast's Western New England Region; Jill Davoll, Middlesex United Way Director of Communications.

 From the Middlesex United Way

More than 650 local Comcast Connecticut employees and their families and friends volunteered to improve Snow Elementary School in Middletown and six other sites in the state as part of Comcast’s ninth “Comcast Cares Day” on April 24, 2010. More than 55,000 Comcast volunteers participated in this annual day of service across the country. 


Comcast employees partnered with Middlesex United Way in honor of the organization’s 75^th anniversary to install Middletown’s first “Born Learning Trail” at Snow Elementary School. Volunteers also performed other outdoor landscaping duties. A Born Learning Trail is a set of fun, physical learning activities that parents or caregivers can play with young children in an outdoor setting, arranged on a walking trail. Volunteers painted stencils on the trail and posted signs along the way with activities for caregivers and children to do together.


Born Learning is a United Way public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities. Tools include educational materials, activity ideas, and the Born Learning Trails which take advantage of the critical early years when children are still developing. Comcast is sponsoring and installing this trail in honor of Middlesex United Way’s 75^th anniversary in 2010. The trail at Snow Elementary School is the fourth Born Learning Trail in Connecticut.
 
“We’re so honored to partner with Middlesex United Way and Snow Elementary School to work together to improve our community,” said Doug Guthrie, Comcast Senior Vice President of the Western New England Region, which includes Connecticut.  “I’m grateful to the 650 Comcast Cares Day volunteers in Connecticut who donated their time to help to help make such a big difference today.”


“Many thanks to Comcast and its employees for installing the first Born Learning Trail in Middletown,” said Kevin Wilhelm, Middlesex United Way Executive Director. “This early learning tool is a wonderful addition to the community and will help parents and caregivers engage children in critical but fun developmental activities. The Born Learning Trail will help to ensure school readiness for children.”

“Snow School is very appreciative of the time and efforts put forth by the many volunteers from Comcast today. The hard work that Comcast employees, their families, and Snow School volunteers demonstrated will be enjoyed for years to come by the Middletown community,” said Jim Gaudreau, Principal of Wilbert Snow Elementary School.  “By working together, we were able to not only build a family learning trail that will be enjoyed for decades by families in Middletown, but we were able to clean up our school's grounds and make them even more inviting and welcoming to families.”