Kids' Safari Learning Center
Adventures in Learning
Mission
It is our mission to ensure that all children in our care are educated and nurtured in a safe and loving environment that supports their healthy growth and maturity in all developmental domains.
- Application of Creative Curriculum: Effective developmentally appropriate curriculum and assessment that meets and supports the needs of every child. Specialized program including physical education, literacy program, and infant/toddler sign language.
- Nurturing and Professional Staff: Experienced and knowledgeable teachers that enhance and nurture individual development through the acknowledgment of diversity and individuality of every child. The relation between caregiver and child provides consistency, sense of worth, security, and a feeling of belonging for the child. Supporting the needs of 275 children, including 40 infants and toddlers.
- Inviting and Secure Learning Environment: State-of-the-art learning environment with access-control, closed-circuit monitoring system, and multimedia capabilities. Outdoor play areas with top-rated safety tiles and developmentally appropriate equipment.
Vision
Kids’ Safari Learning Center is the visionary leader that sets standards, advocates for quality, and enriches children’s and family’s lives. Our outcomes inspire policy makers, community leaders, and early childhood professionals to advocate for and support high quality early childhood experiences for all children.
Need
There are more than 850,000 children ages birth through age eleven in the state of Wisconsin.
- There are 736,000 mothers in the workforce.
- 300,000 children need child care outside of the home while their parents work.
There are 8,873 licensed child care group center and family care providers in the state of Wisconsin.
- There are 137,122 total enrollment spots available.
- 59% of enrollment demand is for infant and toddler care.
- 25% of enrollment demand is for pre-school age
- 15% of enrollment demand is for school-age care
With so many young children participating in early care outside of the home, we feel it is our professional responsibility to advocate for best practice, support early childhood professionals and lead by example a high quality educational and nurturing program for young children.
Approach- Relationships, Education, and Support
- Building positive and lasting relationships with children and families that enhances lives through trust, care, and affirmation.
- Developing and implementing educational experiences that engage children in learning and social interactions.
- Supporting early childhood professionals with opportunities to gain knowledge, experience, and skill that will support their professional goals.
Programs
Our comprehensive program for early childhood begins with infants and toddlers and continues through fourth grade. We have developed and implemented programs that support developmental appropriateness, individual growth, and community outreach.
- Infants and Toddlers: Our nurturing caregivers provide a loving environment and routines that are individualized to the needs and interests of each child and are coordinated with the existing child’s home schedule of development and care. Our infant rooms feature in-floor heating, shoeless entry, and clean-air filtration that promote healthy, safe growth and development.
- Preschool: Our educational program provides experiences that enhance a child’s natural growth and development. Our teachers provide a balance of teacher and child initiated activities that are supportive of social/emotional, physical, language and cognitive development. Our classrooms offer eight distinctive learning centers including math, science and discovery, toys and games, language and literacy, dramatic play, blocks and construction, technology, and sensory. Our outdoor play area invites children to climb, run, jump, and slide over walls, through tunnels, and under bridges; it even offers summer fun in the water!
- School Age: Our program for school age children offers before and after school care as well as options for early release, no school, and summer vacation attendance. This program offers a variety of opportunities to engage children in social recreation as well as real-world experience. Outdoor activity is engaging with basketball courts, four square, hopscotch, rock climber, tether ball, twirling bars, and a large field to play team activities.
- Monona Grove T4K- We are proud to partner with the Monona Grove School District to offer “Together with Kids”; Children that attend this program will have experiences in the curriculum and enriched programming of Kids’ Safari Learning Center as well Monona Grove 4K.
Achievements
- Served over 300 families and 1000 children since founding in 2005.
- 95% of our staff have at least three years early childhood experience
- 50% of our staff have an associate degree or higher; remaining staff are participating in higher education opportunities
- 100% of our staff have qualified training in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Child Abuse and Neglect, and CPR with AED
- Cottage Grove child care center of the year 2007, 2008
- Raised nearly $1000 for the local food pantry with the holiday meal “Breakfast with Santa”
- Proud sponsor of U8 MGSC soccer team and Cottage Grove Recreational T-Ball team
2010 Goals
- Engage in and achieve national accreditation through NAC
- Develop and create an educational outdoor nature area with gardens, bird sanctuary, walking paths, and gazebo shelter
- Provide merit increases and/or bonuses for quality-performance staff
- Provide opportunity for two staff to attend local ECE conference with full compensation
- Paint hallway, gym and classroom walls complete with safari murals
How You Can Help
- Make a financial contribution to help achieve our outdoor nature area and/or teacher development opportunity
- Donate time or materials to help achieve our outdoor nature area and/or painting of interior building
- Share your personal experiences and quality moments of Kids’ Safari and your family