On June 9, North Central Michigan College’s Early Learning Center will begin operations, providing full-time childcare for 12 young children.
North Central Michigan College recently announced the opening of its new Early Learning Center. The start of operations is slated for June 9, 2025. The school hopes that the Early Learning Center will set a new standard for high quality, full time childcare to the families of Emmet County, Michigan.
The new Early Learning Center will be located at 1421 Howard Street, in the Pre-K Education Building on the Petoskey campus of North Central Michigan College. The center will be able to serve up to 12 children from infants and toddlers to young preschoolers in its multi-age classroom. The operations of the Early Learning Center will be rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which is a child focused approach that uses play to encourage collaboration, creativity, and exploration.
The hours of operation for the Early Learning Center will be 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The center aims to offer families an educational, nurturing, and safe environment for their children, run by a team of experienced early childhood professionals.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the center is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10. The community is invited to attend the ceremony, and a tour of the facility will be held immediately following.
In an article posted on North Central Michigan College’s website, Dr. David Roland Finley, the school’s president, was quoted about the facility, saying, “The need for quality childcare is high in our community. The Early Learning Center will fill a much-needed gap for our students as well as families in Emmet County.”
The Early Learning Center is one of the pillars of the second phase of North Central Michigan College’s Child Care Initiative. The CCI is an effort by the school to create a community focused and sustainable childcare system in the Northern part of Michigan. The Early Learning Center follows a true-cost business model which allows for the living wage and benefits of its staff, while also ensuring for the center to provide high quality childcare.
Early Childhood Education program coordinator and instructor, Jen Wixson, was also quoted about the center, saying, “This center represents the heart of our mission—to elevate early childhood education as both a career and a community cornerstone. We’re not only nurturing children; we’re building a stronger, more equitable future for families and the early care workforce in Northern Michigan.”
Along with its Reggio Emilia focused program curriculum, the Early Learning Center also features a completely new nature inspired playground that has been designed to encourage outdoor play among the children every day, as well as nature based learning. These things are core features for the center’s philosophy of fostering inquiry.
The North Central Michigan College Early Learning Center is fully licensed by the State of Michigan, and meets every requirement for safety, health, and quality care.
Anne Thornton spoke about her role with the learning center, saying, “As the Program Director, I am thrilled to see our team’s vision come to life with the opening of the Early Learning Center. Working side by side with a team of dedicated and passionate teachers, we are crafting a unique and enriching environment that embodies the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The commitment to our shared values will be reflected in every aspect of the program, from how we document children’s learning to creating environmental stewards on our natural playground.”
Families who are interested in enrolling their children can visit the Early Learning Center’s website for more information.
More information about other resources and programs offered at North Central Michigan College can be found on the school’s website.