The partnership of nature with early childhood education brought results to a community project Saturday at Bartlett Park.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph, Missouri Western State University students and other volunteers gathered at the park to create a Success by Six Play Path. Success by Six is a United Way program that fosters education during early childhood years. The initiative receives assistance from Heartland Health and the St. Joseph School District.

The year-round path features a stenciled alphabet sidewalk and cowbells to promote young learning, according to Bobbie Cronk, director of United Way children’s initiatives.

“This project is a combination of the best minds our community has to offer,” she said. “It’s meant to be enjoyed multiple times. We hope parents will take the ideas and expand on them.”

Parents and their children will be able to walk the path and participate at various activity stations along the way.

“Our assignment to parents is read, sing, play,” Ms. Cronk said.

LuAn Cadden volunteered her time to help prepare the stations.

“We’re hoping to show them different ways to connect with nature,” she said of the path.

For instance, Ms. Cadden said a child and parent can pause to explore the different types of insects and birds that can easily be discovered living in the park.

United Way 2008 campaign Chairman Curt Kretzinger said the Day of Caring project is the first of its kind for St. Joseph.

“There’s just lots of different things to help kids to grow,” he said.

Families may come to the park Sept. 22 for guided tours of the path and how it can be used to teach children, Ms. Cronk said.

Other parts of the city will be similarly developed to further Success by Six goals, she said.

The Missouri Western students were volunteering as part of Scanlon Service Day. They also volunteered at other locations.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.