Project Background

We teamed up with the Rotary Club of Galveston, Texas to install Galveston’s FIFTH Born Learning Trail at the new Austin Elementary School on Saturday, February 8, 2025! Club President Barbara Winburn wanted to submit this project for funding from Rotary District 5910 for match funding to install a Born Learning Trail in partnership with United Way of Galveston at GISD’s newest school, Austin Elementary.

This partnership was born from Rotary Club of Galveston Club President Barbara Winburn’s desire to do a project that would make an immediate and lasting difference. She also wanted the project to be something that their club members could help install as a volunteer project. Once she saw news covering the GISD Give Back Day Born Learning Trail installations, she reached out to Galveston United Way leader Lindsey White to schedule a meeting.

Not only did the project get selected for funding, the Club matched funding covering the entire cost of supplies and signage for this project! In addition to the Born Learning Trail, United Way of Galveston and Galveston Rotary Club will team up to install engaging artwork that correlates to the signage. Legendary artist Kathy Van Dewalli will serve as Art Director for the installation, and Club volunteers will work with Galveston United Way to bring her vision to life with big art to immerse and engage little learners.

It was definitely destiny that brought these two groups together, but it is with full intentionality that they pursued this project. United Way Born Learning expert Jennifer Jameson was brought in, and a committee was formed. They worked with Dr. Julia Ramirez, Principal of Austin Elementary, to determine where to place the public trail so that both students and neighborhood residents could enjoy the park.