WRELC Celebrates Providers with Recognition Awards and More
Subject: Wood River Early Learning Collaborative Celebrates Providers with Gatherings, Recognition Awards, and Active Learning Kits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wood River Valley, Idaho – The Wood River Early Learning Collaborative, supported by Idaho AEYC and the Wood River Women's Foundation, is excited to announce several significant initiatives this month, underscoring our commitment to supporting early learning providers and educators in our community.
Provider Gathering – Building Community and Addressing Challenges Together: On November 16, we successfully hosted a gathering of 25 providers from 10 different programs. This event, held at The Advocates, offered our dedicated educators a chance to enjoy dinner, share experiences, and offer mutual support in a relaxed and jovial setting. We are thrilled to announce that such gatherings will be organized quarterly, with our next one planned for February.
Recognition Awards – Supporting Our Providers’ End-of-Year Needs: In an effort to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our providers, we are offering recognition awards to 17 licensed programs in our community. These awards, totaling over $35,000, are designed to assist with end-of-year expenses, be it bonuses, supplies, or operating costs. This initiative is a testament to our ongoing commitment to support the backbone of early childhood education in our region.
Active Learning Kits – Enhancing Learning Experiences for Families: In addition to the provider support, we are delighted to distribute 339 Active Learning Kits, valued at over $95,000, to families through 12 providers and community partners – a number we anticipate will grow. These kits were provided by Idaho AEYC in partnership with Lakeshore Learning and are an investment in the foundational learning experiences of our youngest community members, reinforcing our belief in the power of quality early education. Each Active Learning Kit contains materials that promote open-ended, exploratory experiences that support developmental skills and foster a love of learning.
These actions, taken together, represent a significant investment in the early education sector in Wood River Valley. They reflect our unwavering dedication to enhancing the quality of early childhood education and the well-being of educators, children, and their families.
We look forward to the continued growth and success of our early learning community and remain committed to supporting the invaluable work of our early education providers.
For more information, please contact Project Director Kathryn Ivers.
About Wood River Early Learning Collaborative: The Wood River Early Learning Collaborative, supported by Idaho AEYC and the Wood River Women's Foundation, is dedicated to fostering the development of high-quality early childhood education and care in the Wood River Valley. Our collaborative brings together community stakeholders, including Blaine County School District as a key partner and our fiscal agent, and works to build strong connections between providers, educators, and families, ensuring every child has access to the best possible start in life.
