Full-time Programs - Coming Soon!
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Progress Report 2020 September 2020: Construction is well underway now, with the footprint of the building really coming along. It is pretty exciting to see all our work over the past several years begin to take shape! June 2020: Construction is expected to start within a few weeks on our new building. |
Coming Soon!
Saanich Neighbourhood Place has worked for the past several years to bring new licensed, full-time, flexible childcare options to the Tillicum/Gorge neighbourhood.... and we are getting closer to realizing this every week! We will be offering 'Full o'Beans Full-Time' Preschool with 25 new spaces for children 3-5 yrs, with flexible scheduling options for families. 'Beansprouts Infant and Toddler Care' will include 24 spaces, in two separate programs, for those children 0-30 months of age. We are currently maintaining an 'Interest List' for these programs. Parents on the 'Interest List' will be notified when we are ready to accept registration for these new programs, so be sure we have your correct contact information. Information will also be available at www.SaanichNeighbouroodPlace.com, |
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Who is the new space for?
Full o'Beans Full-time and Beansprouts Infant and Toddler Care will open up 25 spaces for 3-5 year olds, plus 24 spaces for infant and toddler care. We are open to any family, with no 'catchment' areas.
As always, Saanich Neighborhood Place will also offer other services and programs to community members in this new space as well as in our existing location within Pearkes Recreation Centre. Where are 'Full o'Beans Full-Time' and 'Beansprouts' located?
Our new building, housing our full-time care options, will be located behind Pearkes Recreation Centre, across the parking lot from Tillicum Center and SilverCity Movie Theatre. We are easily accessed by bus, or bike, and there is lots of free parking too.
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What will the programs include?
Like our part-time programs, Full o'Beans Full-time and Beansprouts Infant and Toddler Care will offer flexible, inclusive care to your children, at competitive rates. Our programs will include free-play indoors and out, art, music and stories, active and quiet play, plus rests as appropriate for the long days spent with us.
We are excited about the new low impact natural play space, 'The Little Woods Natural Playground', which we are planning for the outdoor play space of our new building as well. This natural play space will offer lots of opportunities for imaginative, exploratory play and vigorous physical playtime, all in a beautiful outdoor setting. How can I find out more?
To find out more about these new programs, our existing childcare programs, or any of the other programs operated by Saanich Neighbourhood Place, visit our Contact page.
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The New Building!
The drawing shows the approximate location of the new building in the parking area behind Pearkes Recreation Centre. The 7200 sq ft building will house program space for 25 preschool age full-time care spots, 2 separate rooms for the 0-2.5 yr old programs, each with space for 12 little ones each day. All the children's spaces will have direct access to the new 'Little Woods Natural Play Space', a unique outdoor play space being created especially to complement the new childcare and the neighbouring community.
This project will be a 'child care hub' - offering other services to families in an accessible location. There will also be space for community groups to rent that will include a multi-purpose room, a meeting room, and a small licensed kitchen.
This project will be a 'child care hub' - offering other services to families in an accessible location. There will also be space for community groups to rent that will include a multi-purpose room, a meeting room, and a small licensed kitchen.
The new building will be a one storey building, with architectural details that will help it blend into its setting more effectively.
The new childcare space will have direct access to The Little Woods Natural Playground - a unique outdoor play space that will encourage exploration and engagement with our natural environment.
The Little Woods Natural Playground....
In addition to our exciting new childcare programs, we are in the process of developing 'The Little Woods Natural Playground'. This space, located behind our proposed building, will provide a outdoor play environment unlike any other.
Playing, learning and exploring in nature has huge benefits for all children, allowing for imaginative play, physical activity and experimentation in a way that no manufactured play structure can match. The best outdoor play times include dirt and bugs, sticks and rocks, rain and sun, trees and plants... essentially all that our environment has to offer!
Our 'Little Woods' project will embody our belief that children and nature belong together, while still ensuring a safe and supervised play experience for the children attending our programs as well as those who enjoy the playground at other times.
The space we are developing is currently an under-tended part of Tillicum Park (pictures below). Neighbouring on Cuthbert Holmes Park in Saanich, our playground project will, we hope, encourage families to re-learn to enjoy their outdoor play time in a way that is reminiscent of childhoods past.
In addition to our exciting new childcare programs, we are in the process of developing 'The Little Woods Natural Playground'. This space, located behind our proposed building, will provide a outdoor play environment unlike any other.
Playing, learning and exploring in nature has huge benefits for all children, allowing for imaginative play, physical activity and experimentation in a way that no manufactured play structure can match. The best outdoor play times include dirt and bugs, sticks and rocks, rain and sun, trees and plants... essentially all that our environment has to offer!
Our 'Little Woods' project will embody our belief that children and nature belong together, while still ensuring a safe and supervised play experience for the children attending our programs as well as those who enjoy the playground at other times.
The space we are developing is currently an under-tended part of Tillicum Park (pictures below). Neighbouring on Cuthbert Holmes Park in Saanich, our playground project will, we hope, encourage families to re-learn to enjoy their outdoor play time in a way that is reminiscent of childhoods past.
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In the fall of 2015 we started the playground project with the help of Saanich Parks, UVic's "Project Serve" student volunteers, and volunteers from Saanich Neighbourhood Place. We worked to clear out garbage, yard wastes, dead plant material and invasive species. In October of 2016 we again partnered up to continue trying to clear up the space, hoping to see the potential even more clearly. The photos below show that we have indeed made some progress...
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We are really excited about the possibilities for this play space!
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Over the fall of 2107 and spring of 2018, work has continued in what will be the new Little Woods, with work parties continuing to clear debris and mark lines. Summer 2018 has seen a stoppage of work for now as we sort out the official lot lines and confirm where fencing will go based on our subdivision application, currently before Saanich council. We have also been the recipient of grant funds from Island Savings Credit Union to continue developing this project, so many thanks to the folks with Island Savings.