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09.02.2011 - Centier Sponsors Wicker Park Born Learning Trail

The Lake Area United Way, in partnership with Centier Bank, hosted a ribbon cutting for the Born Learning Trail at Wicker Memorial Park, on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. The new activity trail is part of the United Way’s “Success by 6” program, an initiative that promotes physical, educational, emotional, social, and cognitive activities for children under the age of six so that they are better prepared to enter school and be successful in the years that follow.

This interactive trail contains signs with instructions for games that parents can play with their children to turn a regular stroll through the park into entertaining learning moments. According to Jennifer Wright, Ph.D. and United Way Northwest Indiana Success by 6 Coordinator, the Born Learning Trails are based on the latest early childhood development research. It is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning in everyday, teachable moments.

“Children are learning right from birth, and continue to learn through every day moments and daily interactions. Their early years are the foundation for growth and development, and experiences they have each day with their parents and caregivers are very important. By simply playing and exploring, parents can help shape young children and get them ready for success in school and life,” Wright said.

The Wicker Park Born Learning Trail is one of 14 trails in Northwest Indiana. Born Learning Trails have been installed at Bella Boo’s Child Development Center in Lake Station, Woodland Park in Portage, and Purdue University North Central in Westville. Additional trails will be built in communities across Northwest Indiana.

Centier has a strong presence in Lake, Porter, and La Porte Counties,” stated Jeremy Miller, Centier Regional Manager and board member of the United Way. “Collaborating with Success by 6 was a natural fit for our community involvement as Centier is firmly committed to improving our communities and enhancing the educational experience of young children.”

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