Born Learning

Look. Laugh. Play. Learn. Introducing the Born Learning Play Path at Clear Creek Trail.

The Born Learning Play Path officially opened on Friday, July 15 in a kid-friendly ceremony. United Way of Monroe County, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, and Monroe Smart Start partnered to bring Born Learning to the Clear Creek Trail.

The Born Learning Play Path is part of the United Way's Born Learning initiative, designed to help parents, caregivers and communities support early childhood development. Born Learning provides research-based ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for young children. 

The Born Learning Play Path features 10 fun, outdoor games on signs that will engage children and their families. The Play Path is approximately 300 feet long and begins just past the footbridge, immediately south of the That Road trailhead on the Clear Creek Trail.

Use of the Clear Creek Trail and the Born Learning Play Path is free. The Clear Creek Trail is open daily from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. and is wheelchair accessible, so parents and caregivers on foot, with strollers, or out for a family bicycle ride can take part in the Born Learning Play Path activities.  

Click these images to see samples of the Born Learning games

Born Learning Materials

The first few years of life are critical to a child's development.  Born Learning brings solid, useful information about how family and friends can make this a time of growth for the children in their lives. You can download materials free... click what you'd like below!

Other partners are working with us to distribute Born Learning Materials:

• Bloomington Hospital places DVDs in all maternity rooms, and distributes materials for grandparents who are caring for young children
• Bloomington Area Birth Services distributes materials in all prenatal classes
• Southern Indiana Pediatrics displays posters in all exam rooms
• We are also working with WonderLab to make the Birth-5 series available in the pre-school learning area
• The Monroe County Public Library Children's Department distributes Born Learning materials along with their many other services