Farm School Children can have hands on farm experience starting as young as four at Sequoia’s new farm school. The farm school is less than a five minute car ride from the childcare center.
Sequoia Hartman’s northeast Olympia childcare center and preschool, Sequoia’s Treehouse, was in an unusually fortunate position when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in our community in March.
A
s our community continues to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, few sectors are more tenuous than childcare. Parents need to work to support their families, and not every
SEQUOIA’S
tree house Weathering the Pandemic Closure, Hoping for Changes to Childcare by Alison Bailey
Photos courtesy of Sequoia’s Treehouse
In addition to the fact that so much of her curriculum keeps kids outside, Sequoia attributes her success thus far to a number of other factors. One is the physical layout of her facility. She has seen
parent has a job that allows them to work from home. Single-parent
many childcare centers where all of the rooms are connected so that
families and families with two working parents need childcare.
you have to pass through one or more rooms to get to another.
Sequoia’s Treehouse is a childcare center and preschool with one mission that outshines any other: Get kids outside. Owner Sequoia Hartman is a passionate advocate for outdoor learning from a
Sequoia’s Treehouse Childcare & Preschool Facility is located in beautiful Northeast Olympia off South Bay Road.
young age. “Being outside helps kids learn in different ways,” Sequoia explains. “It helps their immune systems and their mental health, among many other benefits.” This is why Sequoia bought a four-acre farm a year and a half ago. She had already been running a half-day school program at the farm when the pandemic arrived. Prior to COVID-19, she was uncertain about whether she could fill a full-day outdoor learning program. She had hoped to enroll 10 or 15 four- to sevenyear-olds. As of mid-August, she is at capacity with 40 students enrolled and ready to start in September. thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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September 2020
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