Born Learning

Galveston will be a city where every infant born is born learning.

Galveston Born Learning is a partnership between United Way of Galveston, Nia Cultural Center, and Better Parks for Galveston.

Born Learning Galveston was “born on the island” in 2022 with an idea from Cindy Roberts-Gray, Sue Johnson, and June Collins-Pulliam. United Way has been installing Born Learning Trails across the USA for over a decade, but, like everything, we do things a little bit differently on the island. We are pairing the UWG Born Learning Trails with an educational quiz for caregivers called the Are You “Baby Smart?” Quiz because we want to measure the impact of our program. Galveston Born Learning came to fruition in 2023 and continues to expand in 2025 with more Trails and more Partners. Keep reading for locations and photographs. Find the trails on Google Maps here.

Here’s your fast track to becoming Baby Smart in two hours:

  1. Take the Are You Baby Smart? Quiz? We have it in English and in Spanish!
  2. Visit one (or ALL) of Galveston’s 6 Born Learning Trails!
    • Bonus points if you send us a selfie at one (or more) of the Trails! tag @uwgalv or include #BornLearningGalveston so we can see it

Galveston has SIX Born Learning Trails, as of April 18, 2026

Visit them at Adoue Park, Austin Elementary School, East End Preschool, Moody Early Childhood Center, Parker Elementary, and Walter Norris, Jr., Community Center and find them on the map below.

Austin Elementary School Born Learning Trail

Location

The trail is on the East side of the school, facing 15th Street. Find all of the trails here.

Sponsor

Rotary Club of Galveston – Learn more about our partnership here

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at Austin Elementary School was installed on Saturday, February 8, 2025 by volunteers from Rotary Club of Galveston, United Way of Galveston, Trinity Episcopal School, and Clear Brook High School.

Adoue Park Born Learning Trail

Location

The trail begins at Adoue Park entrance, on 12th St., between Avenue H and Winnie Street and continues towards the North and then East onto Winnie towards the former Rosenberg Elementary School building.

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at Adoue Park was installed on Tuesday, March 16, 2023, by volunteers from United Way of Galveston, Nia Cultural Center, Better Parks for Galveston (who also paid for the trail signs in English and in Spanish), City of Galveston’s Families, Children, and Youth Board, and Galveston City Council.

East End Preschool Born Learning Trail

Location

The trail begins at the corner of 19th & Church Street, then continues East on Church St. to 18th Streer

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at East End Preschool was installed on Saturday, April 18, 2026, by volunteers from Galveston Independent School District and United Way of Galveston. The special caterpillar was designed by Neil Murphy, former UWG Board Member.

Moody Early Childhood Center Born Learning Trail

Location

The trail begins at the corner of 21st Street & Avenue K, then continues South on 21st Street, and then East on Avenue L.

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at Moody Early Childhood Center was installed on Saturday, April 13, 2024, by volunteers from Galveston Independent School District, Moody Early Childhood Center, and United Way of Galveston.

Parker Elementary School Born Learning Trail

Location

6802 Jones Drive, Galveston, Texas

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at Parker Elementary was installed on Saturday, May 11, 2024, by volunteers from Galveston Independent School District’s Parker Elementary School and United Way of Galveston.

Walter Norris Jr. Community Center INDOOR Born Learning Trail

Location

4700 Broadway, Galveston, Texas

Partners

Installation Information

The Born Learning Trail at WNJCC was installed on Saturday, April 13, 2024, by volunteers from Galveston Independent School District and United Way of Galveston.

 

Born Learning Galveston
Site Visit and Planning Meeting on 12-15-22
Lindsey White, Omer Ahmed, Cindy Roberts Gray, Araminta Sorrell, Mary Cooper, Sue Johnson, and Kathy Tiernan

A Born Learning community takes all of us, and it takes several steps! Here are a few quick ones you can take today!

  1. Read the report (below) from our Spring 2023 Galveston Community Survey: Are You Baby Smart?
    1. Haven’t taken it yet? Find out now: Are You Baby Smart?
  2. Visit any or all of Galveston’s Born Learning Trails (at Adoue Park, Moody Early Childhood Center, Parker Elementary School, and inside the Community Center at 4700 Broadway) with one or more of your little ones! If you post a selfie, please be sure to tag @uwgalv on Instagram or Facebook
  3. Visit the following links (provided by Nia Cultural Center) to learn more about how YOU can shape your baby’s brain development:
    1. Talking Counts
    2. Activities to encourage speech
    3. Activities and Ideas for RIGHT NOW to learn and grow together with your baby
    4. Brain Builders Meet-Up Registration
    5. Galveston Community Resources
      1. Baby Talk Class @ Rosenberg Library – Every Tuesday at 9:00 am
      2. Baby & Me @ The Galveston Children’s Museum – Every Thursday @ 9:00 am
      3. SMART Family Literacy @ The Spot – Last Tuesday of Every Month @ 5:30 pm