Capital Campaign - History

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Our “journey” began in the spring of 1985 when Discovery Place was created as a private, not-for-profit early childhood program. The fundamental purpose was to provide a responsive, caring, and nurturing learning setting for children three to five years of age. Our goals included helping to instill a life-long love of learning by offering children opportunities to explore many interests. Learning through discovery and expressively articulating creativity is a key aspect of the program. The research-based, developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum were developed and reorganized using guidelines set forth by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

In the fall of 1985 Discovery Place joined the campus of The Independent School. At that time, Discovery Place provided early preschool education in two classrooms serving 80 families. Each year our preschool enrollment increased, additional classroom space was provided to support our growth. In 1990, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Garvey provided a seven classroom building, thus meeting our expanding demand for all day childcare coupled with a quality early education program.

By 1995 the program had grown to ten classrooms, making it necessary to acquire an off-campus site for two classrooms. The Hillside Christian Church graciously housed the new classrooms and permitted Discovery Place to continue to meet the demand for quality early childhood education. More recently, in 2007, Discovery Place relocated three additional classrooms to The Hillside Christian Church. This eased increasing space requirements for both The Independent School and Discovery Place programs. As mutually and individually both programs grow beyond campus allotment, it has become necessary for Discovery Place to seek out a larger, more accommodating location.