Logan (left) and Ian McNeary setting up their solar trail project in Bridgewater, NS.
Those venturing along the Centennial Trail in Bridgewater can now learn a little bit about our solar system while on their trek.
The McNeary family recently set out to set up a 1-to-1-billion km scale model of the solar system on the trail. Along the trail currently, you will be able to see posters containing information on the planets of the solar system and the sun.
Bob McNeary says he and his wife Juanita started homeschooling their two children Liam and Logan last year at the start of the pandemic and this was one of their children’s projects.
“We’ve tried to come up with unique ways for the boys to learn outside of the standard academic methods,” he said.
The McNeary family made the decision to pull their children out of school over concerns surrounding COVID-19. They felt they were up to the challenge of homeschooling and thought it might offer some respite to overcrowded classrooms if their kids stayed home.
Last week, the family set out with a measuring device to help them ensure the planets were spaced out accurately. Once the planets were plotted along the trail the boys set out to put up information posters at the appropriate points.
“My wife got the idea in Hubbards where they were doing something similar and she suggested we could do something like it close to home,” McNeary says.
By installing posters along the trail they hope more people will go out and enjoy the trails while learning a little bit about the solar system.
They are also suggesting that if people do decide to go and check out the trail that you take a small bag with you so you can help clean up some litter along the way.
You can learn more about the project by visiting its Facebook page.
