United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s second Born Learning Trail on the Iron Range was installed along Silver Lake this summer, and on October 2nd the supporters who made the trail possible united for a ribbon cutting to officially recognize the new community resource.
United Way organizations across the United States utilize Born Learning Trails – a series of 10 interactive signs that transform everyday moments into fun and engaging learning opportunities for young children – as community engagement and improvement tools.
Until recently, there were no such trails north of Cloquet. UWNEMN’s first Born Learning Trail was installed last summer in Baudette, and the second was installed in Chisholm during UWNEMN’s Day of Action in June.
“It’s so fun to see these trails taking off in our region,” said UWNEMN Youth Opportunity Coordinator Sarah Fetzik. “From the community spirit when volunteers paint the trails, to the colors themselves, to seeing young children enjoy them – they bring such a brightness.”
Financial support for the Virginia trail was provided by the Virginia Community Foundation and Virginia Chisholm Credit Union (VCCU).
"VCCU is so proud to take part in such a fun and interactive addition to our local community,” said VCCU Vice President Ashley Fish. “We recognize the need for more family activities in our area, and anything to get families outside and taking advantage of one of our beautiful lakes is something we are excited to support.”
The trail aligned with Virginia Community Foundation’s mission to commitment to enhancing quality of life and investing in the future of our community, said Executive Director Maija Biondich.
“We are honored to provide grant funding for a project that promotes early learning, family engagement, and healthy outdoor activity for children in the Virginia area,” she said.
Trail designs were painted using stencils by volunteers from VCCU, North Star Credit Union, and the Unhjem family, and signs were installed by the City of Virginia.
“The location of this trail is particularly important as we continue to invest in and redevelop this area,” said City Park & Recreation Director Brian Silber, noting the incoming splash pad and other improvements coming to the Silver Lake area. “Having the Born Learning Trail here adds another meaningful activity for families and helps turn a simple walk through the park into an opportunity for children to explore, ask questions, be active, and learn alongside their families.
We are grateful for the partnership with the United Way that made this possible and excited to see this area continue to grow into a destination for families in our community.”