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There is excellent news for working parents of young children! Sequoia’s Early Learning Center has started enrollment. Located conveniently in the Tumwater Old Town Center building at 215 N 2nd Avenue SW in Tumwater, it will open its doors on September 1 for 2.5 to 7 year olds and 5-9 year olds for Summer Camp at The Farm.

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Make new friends in a stimulating environment at Sequoia’s Early Learning Center. Doors open on March 1 and you can enroll right now. Photo courtesy: Sequoia’s Early Learning Center

Programs at Sequoia’s Early Learning Center reflect the Reggio Emilia approach to collaborative learning, being outdoors as much as possible, and The Farm School (located 10 minutes away in NE Olympia). These non-traditional philosophies for early learners beat strongly in the heart of the school’s owner, Sequoia Hartman.

“I am creating spaces and opportunities for children, because it’s what I believe in and am passionate about,” says Sequoia, who founded Sequoia’s Treehouse Children’s Center and Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School. This Reggio Emilia inspired philosophy towards Early Learning builds a program based on principles of responsibility, respect, and community by way of play and exploration. Sequoia believes in the thoughtfulness of how children are taught in early learning programs/schools. The Learning Center supports children’s abilities to thrive and helps build skills for communicating. It is a place to solve problems, explore the natural world, and learn how to get along with others.

“We act as guides as Teachers,” Sequoia explains. “We teach children to have boundaries and respect of others.” There is a large emphasis on social emotional skills, which are what help us communicate well with others. The development of such attributes is a gradual, integrative process where children increase their capacities to understand, express, and manage emotions. They provide a foundation for creating meaningful relationships. Here are a few examples of social emotional skills:

  • Displays self-control
  • Expresses feelings with words
  • Listens and pays attention
  • Has pride in accomplishments
  • Creates a positive self-image
  • Can ask for help when needed
  • Maintains awareness of other people’s feelings
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Outdoor time is a foundation for time at Sequoia’s Early Learning Center centrally located at the Tumwater Old Town Center building. Photo credit: Mary Ellen Psaltis

“We want to learn to talk with each other and work through our issues and solve problems together,” says Sequoia. These are concepts adults continue to learn throughout life. It’s helpful to start early. “These skills are used for the rest of our lives” she adds.

Children have free play and various structured activities that incorporate physical, academic, and creative activities. For example, learning about fruit involves counting, recognizing colors through the colors of fall leaves, tasting different vegetables from the garden, cooking at the Farm, assessing weather conditions, and creating art in its various forms, to name a few.

Another Reggio Emilia concept is that children have many languages. This relates to expression not only through talking, but everything a child does. There are countless ways to be, to do, to think and to discover. For examples, a child can explore art, music, drama, science, songs, dig in the dirt, and admire the sky. These are on the path to living a life full of potential. Paths are individual and self-discovered. Sequoia envisions children growing up to be contributing and creative members of a community.

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There is plenty of room to move around at Sequoia’s Early Learning Center now taking enrollments for March 1. Photo courtesy: Sequoia’s Early Learning Center

Sequoia finds that humans learn at their own pace. At her Childcare Programs/Schools, children are not required to have built certain skills by any given age. Children are assigned to age/skill appropriate groups, which all have nature or animal themed names. Sequoia’s ELC is a fully licensed Childcare Center and follows the Washington State teacher-to-child ratios. They often have lower ratios, but follow these Washington State guidelines:

  • Crias are 2.5 to 3.5 years with a 1-10 ratio.
  • Ewes are 3.5 to 4.5 years with a 1-10 ratio.
  • Foals are 4.5 to 7 years with a 1-10 ratio.

Sequoia Early Learning Center accepts children between the ages of 2.5 to 9 years (5-9 for Summer Camp). Hours of operation are from 7 am to 6 pm. For now, this location does not provide Before/After Care for children attending public schools.  They do provide Summer Camp at the Farm for ages 5-9 years old.

The childcare space on the upper floor of the Tumwater Old Town Center has been renovated for Sequoia’s ELC. The ELC was formerly occupied by Cradle to Crayons but has been closed for months.  “Last month The City of Tumwater was busy cleaning, painting, re-doing bathrooms, and installing new flooring,” says Sequoia. There are large, well-lit rooms with large tables for communal activities and eating as well as smaller tables for things like puzzles and art. There are smaller areas for reading, block playing, and creative play. The outdoor play area is partially covered and features a giant structure for climbing, sliding, and running around.

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At Tumwater’s newly opened Sequoia’s ELC, children have space to look at books and read. Photo courtesy: Sequoia’s Early Learning Center

Sequoia Hartman has spent most of her adult life dedicated to creating places where children are nurtured to learn from their environment and interact respectfully with others.  She first opened Sequoia’s Treehouse Children’s Center off South Bay Road in Olympia and later Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School, located nearby Sequoia’s Treehouse on acreage to offer an Outdoor School. You might want to read more about Sequoia’s programs/schools on the Sequoia’s Treehouse Early Learning Center or Sequoia’s Treehouse Childcare Center websites. Don’t forget, it’s not too soon to be making plans for summer camps.  You can find info for Sequoia’s Outdoor Adventures Summer Camp 2022 either Sequoia’s Treehouse Early Learning Center or Sequoia’s Treehouse Childcare Center websites

Enrollment is happening now for Sequoia’s ELC!  You can find everything you need on either website or call 360-742-3651 to set up a tour or to enroll in care.

Sequoia Early Learning Center
215 N 2nd Avenue SW, Tumwater
360.742.3651

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