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Childcare Network #125

Childcare Network #125, located in Fuquay-Varina, NC, replaced their well-worn infant and toddler poured-in-place primary pathways.  A raised garden bed was added in their infant area, and raised fruit and vegetable gardens were added to their toddler and preschool areas so the children could grow their own healthy snacks.  

An outdoor art area was added in their toddler outdoor learning environment, as an outdoor extension of an indoor art classroom.  

Address: 350 West Jones Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27506

Phone Number: (919) 557-1262

County: Wake
Local Partnership: Wake County Smart Start

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 163

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2017)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Kiddie Kollege #1

Kiddie Kollege in Durham, NC has transformed the sunny area at the entrance of their center into a welcoming and thriving garden space, complete with a fruit and vegetable garden with arbor and a lush perennial garden punctuated with boulders.

Their shady outdoor learning environment in the back of the building now features an earth play and sand play area, mud kitchen, teepee and acoustic wall.  They also have added plantings and have a tree cookie pathway for exploration with a fairy garden to spark the imagination.

Address: 618 Hope Street, Durham, NC 27707

Phone Number: (919) 688-2821

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 33

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2019)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Lots of Love

Lot of Love, located in Garner, NC, has fenced in a large open area to increase the size of their outdoor learning environment.  They have added a garden classroom, with a fruit and vegetable garden and garden activity tables.  

They have also added a gathering area with stumps, an acoustic play area, and a mud kitchen and water play area with a dry creek to convey water.  A bridge spans over the dry creek and leads into their other fenced area.  A pollinator garden adjacent to a new loop onto their existing primary pathway has further naturalized their outdoor learning environment. 

Address: 314 Bainbridge Circle, Garner, NC 27529

Phone Number: (919) 594-1170

County: Wake
Local Partnership: Wake Smart Start

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 12

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2017)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Harvest Learning Center

Harvest Learning Center, located in Durham, NC, was able to add a primary pathway loop onto an existing concrete pad in their preschool and toddler area, as well as a tree cookie secondary pathway.  They also installed a mud kitchen, earth play area, balance logs and gathering area with stump seats, among other settings.  More planting areas were also added, for edibles and ornamentals.  

The infants now have a comfortable area to enjoy more outdoor time with artificial turf, plantings, a small boulder, and tree stumps for pulling up.  A sensory wall and ramp for balls is coming soon.

Address: 2400 Nelson HWY NC 54 Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Phone Number: (919) 402-1900

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 36

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2018)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Yates Baptist Child Development Center

Yates Baptist Child Development Center, located in Durham, NC, has naturalized all three of their spaces in their outdoor learning environment through the addition of small trees for shade, shrubs and perennial plantings.  They also added fruit and vegetable gardens, and were able to extend a water source into their outdoor learning environment so the children could help care for the garden more easily.  

A range of other settings and components were installed, such as an earth play area, teepee, acoustic wall, and shade sail.  The addition of a low stage in the infant area made this space more comfortable and accessible for the little ones.

Address: 2819 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707

Phone Number: (919) 489-5760

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 72

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2018)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Little Engine Academy

Little Engine Academy, located in Durham, NC, has added a range of outdoor play and learning opportunities.  They reworked some internal fences to create a separate infant area.  They also added a looping mulch primary pathway in the preschool and toddler areas.

They have also added a low, multipurpose stage, acoustic wall, mud kitchen, among other settings.  Earth play, sand play, and balance logs, and a low stump pathway for balance bring natural elements into the outdoor learning environment, as well as provide opportunities for fine and gross motor development. 

Address: 2713 N. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27707

Phone Number: (919) 294-4495

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 4

Capacity: 37

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2018)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Kids Korner Academy

Kids Korner Academy I in Durham, NC started their outdoor learning environment improvements by removing some internal fences to maximize the use of their space.  They added an arbor over the entry as well as two bridges.  The children enjoy dramatic play at the mud kitchen and beauty parlor, and they have more exposure to natural elements with an earth play area, sand play area, balance logs and tree cookies, and a gathering area with stumps.  They also enjoy growing healthy snacks in their fruit and vegetable garden.

The infant area was transformed through the addition of a low, multipurpose stage, artificial turf lawn, and planting beds for herbs and ornamentals.  They are also planning to add a porch swing soon.

Address: 2800 Shaftsbury St, Durham, NC 27704

Phone Number: (919) 251-8251

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 4

Capacity: 23

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2018)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

A New Beginning III

​A New Beginning III, located in Durham, NC, added a primary pathway, which connects to the ramp to the building, in an open space on their site.  The children are staying busy with wheeled toys on their new pathway.

They also added natural elements like stumps, logs and tree cookies.  An acoustic play area provides sensory opportunities , and they are planning to add a bridge in the near future.

Address: 3809 University Durham, NC 27707

Phone Number: (919) 493-1484

County: Durham
Local Partnership: Durham CCSA

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 27

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2018)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Building Blocks for Tots, Inc.

​Building Blocks for Tots, located in Wilson, NC, is a testament to the power of teamwork.  The center installed a large double-looped primary pathway in the preschool area and a primary pathway in the toddler area.  The majority of the remaining settings in their design were installed during volunteer workdays.  

The new settings include a teepee, a raised fruit and vegetable garden with arbor, an earth play setting, a mud kitchen, a sensory area for infants, and a bridge in the preschool primary pathway.  They have also naturalized their outdoor learning environment with grasses, perennials, shrubs and small trees for shade, which they dedicated to children and families who attended the center.

Address: 3960 Lake Wilson Road, Wilson, NC 27896

Phone Number: (252) 206-1234

County: Wilson
Local Partnership: Wilson County Partnership for Children

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 145

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2017)

After Renovation (2020)

Shape NC

Land of Learning Child Care

Land of Learning Child Care in Wilson, NC added a large primary pathway loop onto an existing entry pathway and loop in their preschool area, to give children more opportunities for physical activity with a double looped pathway.  This new addition will also help connect settings in their expansive outdoor learning environment.  

They also added a primary pathway in their threes area and a connector path to an existing looped pathway in their toddler area.  They have begun adding raised vegetable beds and fruit trees to increase healthy eating.  They have also added a mud kitchen for dramatic play.

Address: 3424 Airport Blvd, Wilson, NC 27896

Phone Number: (252) 291-1990

County: Wilson
Local Partnership: Wilson County Partnership for Children

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 272

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2017)

After Renovation (2020)