Born Learning Trail Opens at the Cape May County Park and Zoo

COURT HOUSE – A ribbon cutting by the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders officially opened the new Born Learning Trail today at the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
The Born Learning Trail is a collaboration between Cape May County and the United Ways of both Atlantic and Cape May counties. The interactive trail contains 9 signs with instructions for simple games that adults can play with their children. The 0.32 mile trail begins at the playground and loops around the playing field. The trail is open to the public during normal park hours.
Freeholder Gerald Thornton said, “Learning happens everywhere a child goes and it’s important to help parents and caregivers find ways to support that learning. We are pleased to be able to give parents and caregivers effective tools to teach their children with this trail.”
Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts, the Born Learning Trail is designed to use outdoor activities to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how best to support early learning in everyday outdoor moments.
“The Born Learning Trail promotes fun and games which are important components of early childhood learning,” said John Emge, Executive Director of the United Way. “We know that what happens in a child’s early years impacts school readiness and success in life. We want to help parents and caregivers use everyday outings, including trips to the park and zoo to support that learning,” added Emge.
The Born Learning Trail features activities such as Watch! Stop! Learn! Play! This game encourages the caregiver to follow the child’s lead, building the child’s curiosity and confidence and reinforcing the learning already underway. The Born Learning Trail is part of a larger United Way public engagement campaign, which consists of informational materials and an online resource site at bornlearninghub.org, designed to provide families with information about how to turn everyday activities, from running errands to doing laundry, into learning opportunities for young children.
“The Cape May County Park and Zoo is a perfect place for this trail,” said Freeholder Director Beyel. The park consists of more than 230 acres of land, including the 85-acre free zoo, with many forested areas maintained in its natural state.
There are picnic areas, fishing ponds, picnic shelters, a disc golf course, playgrounds, tennis courts, a baseball field and more than 3 miles of walking trails. Director Beyel added, “The Cape May County Parks System is also a proud member of the New Jersey Delaware Bayshore Birding and Wildlife Trails Program and we are very pleased to add this new walking trail designed especially for children at our park.”