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The Born Learning Trail sign behind Dr. Lisa Solinas notes it was funded in her honor by an anonymous donor to laud her as “A caring physician who has committed her life to healthy children, families and mothers in Santa Paula.” Solinas is a family practitioner at the Ventura County Healthcare Agency’s Santa Paula West Clinic.
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Dr. Lisa Solinas: Youngsters will find
a role model on Born Learning Trail
December 16, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Youngsters are sure to find not only knowledge but also a role model on the newly dedication Born Learning Trail that in a surprise ceremony was dedicated in honor of a community doctor.
According to Interim Recreation Director Ed Mount the trail, located at Las Piedras Park, was dedicated November 7 in honor of Dr. Lisa Solinas, a physician with the Ventura County Healthcare Agency.
The signage at the trail notes Solinas is “A caring physician who has committed her life to healthy children, families and mothers in Santa Paula.”
Staff from the Santa Paula West Medical Clinic where Solinas practices joined with family and community members to surprise the family practitioner with the trail’s unveiling in her honor.
Said Mount, “It was neat see Dr. Solinas’ family and friends and co-workers get together…she was real happy and surprised!”
The trail provides an engaging series of “stops” with learning activities that provide colorful prompts and interactive games that help parents of toddlers and preschoolers promote language, pre-literacy and physical activity skills.
The selection of Las Piedras Park for the project, a joint effort of First Five Ventura County, United Way and the City of Santa Paula, “Probably started in August 2014,” when Mount said he was approached by First Five.
“They said they had a donor who wanted to put the Born Learning Trail in Santa Paula in one of our parks,” to honor Solinas.
After studying the city’s parks Mount said the decision was made the trail would most benefit the Las Piedras Park area.
After the Recreation Commission approved the plan it was presented to the council, which approved the Learning Trail May 18, 2015.
“What was really neat is we installed the posts and the signs for the trail with United Way of Ventura County and Wells Fargo Bank volunteers…First Five was instrumental in purchasing the trail,” and Mount said he and Luis Salazar, the city’s facility maintenance lead, also took part.
“We all worked together on the project,” without Solinas being the wiser.
According to Robin Godfrey of First Five, the Las Piedras Park Learning Trail is the sixth installed in Ventura County; there is also one at Rodney Fernandez Garden Apartments.
“All sites,” according to Godfrey’s statement, “are adjacent to playgrounds and close to centers serving young children and families.”
Mount said the Born Learning Trail encourages “communication between parents and young children 3 to 5 years old. Each sign opens interaction,” whether to wiggle and play or sing or to use their imagination and express what they are thinking.
“It really brings out a child’s thought process and helps them prepare for school…it’s great,” he noted.
And, Mount added, the trail is “On the walking path that will go towards the new playground when it’s finished,” now being rebuilt after the original area for very young children was destroyed by arson.
Because the first 5 years impact a lifetime, First 5 Ventura County promotes school readiness through partnership-based investments in health, early learning and family strengthening. Their Neighborhoods for Learning and their 25 Family Resource Centers located throughout the county are designed by and for their communities to provide high-quality resources for young children and families — close to home.
United Way of Ventura County believes that the building blocks for a good life are a quality education, stable income, and good health. A community partner since 1945, UW has helped Ventura County residents achieve these building blocks through various programs and services. Born Learning is a pubic engagement campaign helping parents, caregivers and communities create early learning opportunities for young children.
