The fast pace of today’s family life can make it easy to forget that simply just spending time together is really important. Quality family time strengthens bonds, improves communication, and enhances self-esteem of children. To promote togetherness, learning, and physical activity, the Clinton County Extension Office hosted a Pumpkin Walk event for families. The event encouraged families to participate in literacy and enrichment activities, be active, and learn more about health and safety resources available in the community. 375 individuals participated in the event. Families walked over a mile together as they participated in activities at four adjacent community agencies. 

It was important that walking from place to place promoted learning as well as increased physical activity. Data from the 2017 Early Childhood Profile indicates that only 34.3% of children in Clinton County are ready to enter kindergarten. Since many families with young children attend events such as the Pumpkin Walk, the Community Early Childhood Council purchased a portable United Way Born Learning Trail. The trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families while outdoors such as letter, shape, and color recognition, hopscotch, literacy activities, etc. Overall, the trail encourages interaction which promotes language and literacy development. The trail guided families as they visited the four community agencies. 

Social media comments revealed that parents enjoyed all the interactive learning opportunities, being reminded of how simple it is to promote learning while spending time outside together, and that their kids had the best time with their buddies at the event.