The Waitsfield Children's Center (WCC) is a licensed child care center with a home-like environment nestled between a working farm and forests, that offers space for active exploration. WCC is a 3 STARS program caring for infants, toddlers, and preschool aged children on a year round basis. Our program is divided into three classrooms, Saplings, Sprouts and Maples.
Each classroom offers a loving nurturing environment with a high teacher to children ratio, allowing children and teachers to build strong bonds and dig deep into our play and nature based curriculum. Our goal is to help children develop a positive self-image through the mastery of intellectual, physical, emotional, and social skills, in accordance with their stage of development. Small class sizes allow us to be creative thinkers and provide children with many opportunities to explore the world around them.
Each classroom offers a loving nurturing environment with a high teacher to children ratio, allowing children and teachers to build strong bonds and dig deep into our play and nature based curriculum. Our goal is to help children develop a positive self-image through the mastery of intellectual, physical, emotional, and social skills, in accordance with their stage of development. Small class sizes allow us to be creative thinkers and provide children with many opportunities to explore the world around them.
Saplings
The Saplings class currently cares for our youngest children, 6 weeks of age through 12 months. With a 1:3 teacher to children ratio and a classroom size of 3, the teacher is able to offer ample one on one time with the children. The daily routine is focused on the individual child's needs and changes as the children grow and develop. The Saplings class provides a developmentally stimulating hands-on learning environment, focusing on learning from the ground up. Infants are provided endless opportunities to explore their world on their own level with tummy time and freedom of movement. The classroom is designed to feel like home, providing a cozy and loving atmosphere.
Sprouts
The Sprouts class currently cares for toddlers between the ages of 12 to 24 months. With a 1:4 teacher to children ratio and a classroom size of 8. The Sprouts curriculum provides a hands-on learning curriculum, regularly incorporating play, nature, art, music and movement into their daily rhythm. Their daily routine is focused on the children’s needs, and changes as the class grows and develops, preparing them for their transition into the Maples classroom.
Maples
Providing a hands-on, play-based curriculum for children ages 2 years and up. The Maples class is filled with active explorers and learners. Following a 1:5 teacher to child ratio, with a group size of 10. The Maple class is a fun filled, sometimes mud covered classroom, incorporating play, nature, art, music movement, science, early math, pre-reading and pre-writing skills into the curriculum. Circle and group learning activities are designed to promote creativity, self-esteem and foster a love for learning.