Photo by Jessie Zevalkink
2022: Volunteers ready the Children’s Center in Northport for reopening
In the fall of 2022, a group of volunteers led by former LTCF Board President Kathy Garthe dedicated more than 150 hours to prepare the Children's Center in Northport for reopening. The volunteers accomplished many tasks in bringing the grounds up to par, including:
Removing dead trees and logs and hauling away brush.
Raking leaves and evening out parts of the lawn.
Building a retaining wall for a future play area.
Repairing existing fences and walls.
Cleaning the roof of the building, power-washing the siding, and removing debris from the back yard.
Painting old surfaces to give them a fresh new look.
That same fall, we bestowed a three-year grant to Northport Public School ($17,200 per year) to help cover the operating costs of the Children’s Center, which is due to open in 2023. Northport native Amalie Kristiansen will be the first person to offer daycare services for 0-5 year olds at the location, operating under the business name “Little Acorn Childcare.”
Members of the volunteer effort (note: not all volunteers are pictured here).
Past news
Early CHildhood care and education: february 2020 meetings
Early childhood care and education are essential supports to Leelanau Township families, and this issue affects our broader community healthy for a number of complex and interconnected reasons.
On February 8, 2020, the Community Foundation convened a meeting of fourteen people with professional expertise in the realm of childcare and child development. These fourteen people share a connection to Leelanau Township and a lifetime of experience in the different facets of caring for children and families. To read the full summary of this meeting, please click the link below:
LTCF Early Childhood Care and Education: Meeting 1 (PDF)
A series of clear themes emerged that will be important issues for our community to consider as we look to move this discussion forward and build our capacity to support thriving families in a year-round, sustainable community.
On February 28, 2020, a group of community members - parents, local business owners, and members of the Community Foundation board - gathered to advance our exploration of early childhood care and education needs in Leelanau Township. To read the summary of this meeting, please click the link below:
LTCF Early Childhood Care and Education: Meeting 2 (PDF)
Working with the themes generated in the first meeting, a gathering of early childhood care and education professionals, we validated what our community wants and needs in an early childhood program, and brainstormed what steps we need to take to get there.