Endeavor Learning Center

Pianimals Kids Club

2011-12-07T10:37:00.001-05:00

FUN-FILLED PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS

We are proud to announce that we are now offering piano lessons for ages 4-8 at Endeavor Learning Center.

Pianimals Kids Club:

Teaches children ages 4-8 the joy of music through learning to play the piano in a pressure free environment
Welcomes teaching children with learning challenges
Believes that every child can learn to play the piano
Promises that your child will be able to play a simple tune at the end of their first lesson and a simple song within weeks
Provides opportunities for fun activities where children will continue to learn

Child Benefits:

It's fun and easy - Stuffed play animals encourage your child's creativity
Builds your child's self-confidence
Develops your child's coordination
Increases your child's concentration
Teaches your child the joy of giving back

For more information about Pianimals Kids Club go to http://www.facebook.com/pianimalskidsclub

Lessons at ELC are offered every Tuesday between the hours of 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. To sign up, call Deborah Thompson at (407) 733-5328.

Costume Party!

2011-11-04T15:25:00.002-04:00

Heading outside to search for goody bags.

One of our favorite things to do at Endeavor is dress-up in costumes or silly outfits! We especially love this time of year when everyone gets a chance to wear their favorite costume. Ms. Donna hid goody bags filled with fun stuff that included a kaleidoscope, jack-o-lantern stickers, and bubbles. The kids went outside in small groups to find their goody bags and then everyone headed inside to show off their costumes and dance.

Baby Frog

The owl checks out his goody bag.

This monkey is ready to fill up his pumpkin with treats...or bananas?

Posing for pictures. Say "Cheese!"

Rock star!

The baby duck and bee try to cheer up the Care Bear.

A lucky leprechaun!

We really enjoyed seeing the fun costumes and spending time with the parents, siblings, and grandparents who stopped in to join us! :)

Visit our facebook page to see more pictures.

ELC Family Picnic in the Park

2011-10-31T11:45:00.000-04:00

Last month the families and teachers gathered at Nisbet Park in Loveland to enjoy a lovely Sunday afternoon together. The theme of the day was Stone Soup. Everyone contributed ingredients for the soup and Chef Tami put it all together for us. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the company couldn't have been better. We are looking forward to the next family picnic!

Merlin the Magician

2011-10-19T11:07:00.001-04:00

Merlin the Magician stopped by to entertain us with some magical storytelling!

The kids listened to Merlin tell exciting stories
about pirates, caterpillars, and space.

He was very silly! The kids loved volunteering
to go up on stage and help out with the tricks.

"Reynaldo the flea" is holding up one side of the rope. How does he do that?!

Will the right pirate flag come out of the bag?

The preschool class laughs as they move their fingers around really fast to make the magic wand change sizes!

Two lucky volunteers help tell the story of Charlie the Caterpillar.

Want to see more pictures and video of Merlin's visit
to Endeavor Learning Center?

Check out our Facebook page.

Marvin's Organic Gardens

2011-10-10T14:50:00.005-04:00

Wes Duren, an employee at Marvin's Organic Gardens, showed the kids around the store. They really enjoyed checking out the Fairy Garden, birdhouses, and the honey! Yum :) The kids also took a tour of the greenhouse, tasted some herbs, and received a flower to bring home to mom and dad!

Did you see ELC on WCPO?

2011-04-27T14:53:00.004-04:00

We were featured in the Healthy Living segment on the WCPO news that aired on April 26th. Click on the video clip to view the interview with our chef. Great job, Chef Tami!

Endeavor Learning Center hires 'Green' chef

2011-04-21T13:41:00.002-04:00

Mason, OH — Eco-friendly child care center, Endeavor Learning Center, is partnering with personal chef, Tamara Whitfield, to serve organic, local, and natural lunches to the children at their center.

Chef Tami Whitfield serves healthy food to preschoolers at Endeavor Learning Center in Mason

Tamara Whitfield, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing menus with vegetarian and healthy food options. With her dream of becoming a chef for many years, her first step was to attend Cincinnati Midwest Culinary School. During that time, she completed internships at some of the city’s top restaurants including Boca, the Diamond Club at Great American Ball Park, and the Heritage Golf Club in Mason. Whitfield then went on to train with Jean Robert and from that point took a strong interest in vegetarian and healthy eating styles. With her own nutrition habits being that of a healthy lifestyle, she supports eating local, organic and natural foods. Whitfield says, “Working with Endeavor Learning Center is a natural fit for my business as my own café opening in May of 2011 will support local organic farmers and be serving healthy food options.”

Child care professionals play a significant role in guiding children to develop a healthy and positive attitude toward good food choices. Choosing the proper food provider is a key ingredient to nutritional success. The partnership between chef Tamara Whitfield and Endeavor Learning Center extends beyond the kitchen. Whitfield plans to garden with the preschool children and is eager to incorporate fresh vegetables from Endeavor Learning Center’s several gardens into their lunches.

The program at Endeavor Learning Center encourages creativity, respect for the environment, and involvement from the community. For more information visit Endeavor Learning Center’s website at http://www.endeavorlc.net/

National Wildlife Week

2011-04-04T12:33:00.003-04:00

The week of March 14-20 was National Wildlife Week. Since our property is a Certified Wildlife Habitat we see a lot of wildlife...especially birds! On March 17th naturalist Jessica Tipkemper-Wolfe stopped by to present a program all about local birds.

Getting to know our chirpy neighbors:
Common backyard songbirds in our neighborhoods and at our feeders.

Ms. Jessica started off with a brief discussion about neighbors...what are they? What makes a good neighbor? Then she read a fun book called Birdsongs. She called the children up and let them pick one of the toys birds out of her basket. We listened to the song from each bird and then the children placed the birds in a nest.

Everyone enjoyed listening to the real bird songs and trying to imitate them.

Trying to match the bird to the song.

Lastly, everyone headed outside to collect goodies for the birds to thank them
for the gift of their songs and their bright, beautiful colors!

Arrowhead Reptile Rescue

2011-03-30T13:49:00.005-04:00

In honor of National Wildlife Week one of our favorite special guests, Arrowhead Reptile Rescue, stopped by on March 15th with many of their very interesting friends!

Two volunteers from Arrowhead show off a Burmese Python, "Big Al."

They brought some of their rescued turtles, lizards and snakes. Members of the nonprofit reptile rescue rehabilitate and “foster” displaced and unwanted reptiles and promote herpetological education in local schools and educational centers. The kids are always eager to get a close-up and hands-on look at these creatures, even "Big Al."

Smile! A visit from a dental hygienist

2011-02-04T13:43:00.009-05:00

Ms. Jayna, a dental hygienist from Dr. Elizabeth Mueller & Associates, stopped by Endeavor Learning Center earlier this week to talk to the children about visiting the dentist and taking care of their teeth.
Ms. Jayna showed the children all the parts of her uniform, including her scrubs, gloves, and mask. She said it is very similar to wearing a Halloween costume and that she is still Ms. Jayna even when she is wearing her uniform. She brought several different instruments that the hygienists and doctors use at the dentist office. The kids were able to get a close-up look at the mirror that is used to look behind their teeth. Ms. Jayna brought a really funny puppet that had teeth! She showed everyone how to use the mirror to see behind the puppet's teeth.

The kids liked seeing the electric toothbrush. Ms. Jayna tickled some of their fingers with it. She also showed them an x-ray of teeth and showed them the proper way to brush their teeth.

Everyone received a goody bag filled with toothpaste and some coloring/activity papers from Dr. Mueller's office. Ms. Jayna also donated a new book to our library. Thanks!

Parents Night Out

2010-12-15T13:20:00.007-05:00

As a Thank You to our parents we hold an annual Parent's Night Out. This year we played a holiday game of 'Pin the Nose on the Rudolph' Each child got a red nose to place on Rudolph, their eyes were covered, and they were spun around 3 times. Look at all of the places the noses ended up!

Next we danced to several holiday songs on the Big Screen.

Lastly we watched a holiday movie with our PJ's and blankets.

A Costume Party!

2010-11-02T13:45:00.008-04:00

Last week the kids dressed up in their costumes and marched around the Big Room, showing off their great outfits!

Following the costume parade they went outside and searched along the trail for treat bags filled with bubbles and stickers. Everyone was so excited when they found their own little treat bag :)

The bubbles were a big hit!

Senor Doug started off the day with a special Spanish lesson! He taught the kids how to say words like ghost, costume, pumpkin, and candy in Spanish. Then they played a fun game where they passed the "calabaza" around in a circle and told Senor Doug one of the new Spanish words if they were holding the pumpkin when the song ended.

Fire Prevention Week

2010-10-13T11:41:00.004-04:00

In honor of Fire Prevention Week last week we teamed up with the Mason Fire Department to talk to the kids about fire safety. The truck was scheduled to make a visit again this year but unfortunately, for us, the truck was out on a run. But the children were able to ask one of the firefighters a lot of questions and get a closer look at all of his gear.

Ms. Lu Ann tried on the protective clothing and the mask that the firefighters wear. She said it was very heavy and very hot! Some of the kids thought that Ms. Lu Ann looked a little scary with the mask on but the firefighter explained that his gear is to keep him safe so that he can protect himself and us in the event of a fire.

Everyone practiced STOP, DROP AND ROLL (and cover your face). Then we all received stickers that looked just like the firefighter's badge!

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme is "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With." Read more about talking to your child about fire safety and prevention here.

Featured Activities

2010-09-30T14:29:00.004-04:00

We love to bring nature into the classrooms at Endeavor Learning Center. Here are a few examples of how you can enjoy the outdoors with your children and utilize natural objects to work on sorting skills at the same time.

Read more about this nature collage created by the toddlers on the Toddlers Blog.

Read more about the Rainbow Hike on the Preschool Blog.

The Music Wall Project

2010-09-24T13:12:00.004-04:00

The Music Wall is now complete. Hooray!

Over the summer we were inspired by a similar music wall on the Filth Wizardry blog, a blog dedicated to sharing arts and crafts ideas for preschoolers. Ms. Donna's husband helped us install the actual wall on our playground. From there we counted on generous donations from our fabulous ELC parents. Some of the items we received included old wire whisks, wooden spoons, bells, assorted grates, a windchime, a tambourine, a bear-shaped pan, and a xylophone. Aside from the wall and the mounting hardware we did not have to purchase any new materials. This is a great example of showing the children how to reuse ordinary household objects in an extraordinary way!

This morning the kids were able to test out the music wall and it was a smashing (literally!) success. They had a wonderful time banging on the various objects and testing out ways to make different sounds with the plastic mallet, wooden spoons and wire whisks.

Thank you, ELC parents, for your participation in this project! We are so excited about this new addition to our outside area. In fact, we are already thinking of adding another music wall!

Taking a walk

2010-08-31T14:36:00.004-04:00

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

-Elizabeth Lawrence

Time spent in nature is essential for children. Read more about the benefits of getting your child outside at Leave No Child Inside - Greater Cincinnati.

Ice Cream Social

2010-08-30T15:47:00.002-04:00

The summer campers helped us say goodbye to a fabulous summer...with ice cream! The kids made a list of items to buy at the store and purchased them on a quick field trip to Kroger!

They designed the signs and made a menu.

They took turns working at the scooping station and toppings station.

Open for business!

Such patience! After serving the other children, she finally gets to dig in.

Goodbye summer, we will miss you! We are officially ready for fall...

Mason Heritage Festival

2010-08-27T13:22:00.001-04:00

Would you like to learn more information about what Endeavor Learning Center can offer your child? Stop by and visit our booth at the Mason Heritage Festival on August 28th, 2010.

Don't forget to get a coupon for free registration at the booth!

The Barn Swallows Return...

2010-08-09T15:08:00.003-04:00

Every year the Barn Swallows return to the same spot, by our playground door, to build their nest. We have been lucky enough to see the baby birds each year. The Barn Swallows are always interesting to watch as they build their nest from mud and swarm closely, protecting their eggs. This year has been a little different in that a second set of offspring hatched in the nest after the first set flew away. Will the Barn Swallows return next year?

An adult Barn Swallow sitting in the nest (left).
Another adult Barn Swallow flying closely to the nest when we got too close (right).

Snoopy helps kick off a fun summer at ELC!

2010-06-10T15:33:00.005-04:00

As part of the Snoopy's Million Fans program from Kings Island, Snoopy and his friend stopped by ELC to make some new little friends. Snoopy's pal read two books to the school and then stayed long enough for Snoopy to give plenty of hugs and high fives!

Summer Camp - now enrolling

2010-03-29T16:04:00.003-04:00

Looking for a unique summer camp experience for your child? At Endeavor Learning Center your child will discover the benefits of spending more time outdoors and making deeper connections to the natural world.

Our summer camp program focuses on using time-honored traditions of summer camp. Innovative programming and guidance from our enthusiastic staff will provide plenty of opportunities for personal growth and FUN! Campers achieve a greater understanding of nature and the world around them through hands-on science experiences, outdoor adventures, exploration, gardening, cooperation, and learning through play.

Endeavor Learning Center is situated on 5.8 acres with walking trails, outdoor gardens, and an outdoor classroom. Camp activities include nature discovery and exploration, arts and crafts, outdoor sports/fitness activities, stories, songs, imaginative play, scientific experiments, field trips, special guests and more!

Daily Activities: composting, gardening, exploring, playing

Other Activities: visits from special guests, water days, field trips

Some of the guests scheduled to come to Endeavor are the Newport Aquarium and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Field trips include Gorman Heritage Farm, the Cincinnati Nature Center, and more! There truly will be something for everyone.

For more information please call 513-754-8284.

Monster Truck

2010-03-24T13:12:00.006-04:00

A friend of an ELC parent surprised us with a Monster Truck visit! The kids came out to have an up close look. They couldn't believe it actually had steps on the side of the truck. Everyone got a chance to touch the truck and hear its loud horn. Awesome!

Cloth Diapering Now Available at ELC!

2010-02-19T09:33:00.002-05:00

Endeavor Learning Center has recently teamed up with Good Natured Baby, a local cloth diapering service, and now offers cloth diapering as an option to interested families.

For a small weekly fee the cloth diapers are provided by Good Natured Baby. They pick them up from our center to be laundered and deliver fresh diapers back to the center, making it easy and convenient for parents who are looking for eco-friendly diapering alternatives.

Please contact Donna Phillips at Endeavor Learning Center for more information.

Learn How To Protect Children From Child Abuse

2010-02-19T09:30:00.001-05:00

The Child Advocacy Center of Warren County is proud to offer the community Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children child sexual abuse curriculum. The Stewards of Children program is designed for organizations that serve children and youth, and any/all adults interested in protecting children.

Endeavor Learning Center will be hosting this FREE class on March 4th from 6-9 p.m.

Each training session is approximately 3 hours and CEUs can be awarded for professionals.

This class is open to the community, parents, and educators who are interested in learning how to protect children from sexual abuse.

For more information, please call Penny at 754-8284.

One World, Many Cultures

2010-02-15T09:31:00.006-05:00

One World, Many Cultures

Several times during the year we invite the Cincinnati Museum Center to bring their Program-on-Wheels to our center. They offer an array of educational and entertaining science, natural history and social studies programs that are designed with teaching standards in mind.

On February 5, 2010 the Cincinnati Museum Center visited with their "One World, Many Cultures" program, which was originally developed by the Cincinnati Museum Center for a national traveling exhibit, Children Just Like Me. They used maps, clothing, crafts, games, celebrations, music, and more to explore other cultures on many different continents.

Snow!

2010-02-15T09:17:00.001-05:00

Trike-A-Thon

2009-11-03T10:13:00.004-05:00

Last month the students at Endeavor Learning Center participated in the St. Jude's Trike-A-Thon. The Trike-A-Thon is a fundraising program for children that teaches kids about safety and charity. The kids learned about how to stay safe on riding-toys while the fundraising dollars go to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At the conclusion of the program the kids brought their bikes to school to practice the safety lessons they have learned.

Endeavor Learning Center celebrates one year!

2009-09-30T16:15:00.006-04:00

On September 12 the staff and ELC families celebrated Endeavor's first birthday. Everyone pitched in and made it a birthday party to remember! We grilled out, played cornhole, jumped around in the bounce house, and even had a clown making balloon animals for the kids! It was a great time.

Thank you to all of our wonderful teachers and families for an unforgettable first year!

ELC welcomes 'Leave No Child Inside' to Mason on July 27!

2009-07-08T13:38:00.016-04:00

Want happier, healthier, smarter children?

You might be surprised to hear that early childhood experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics have identified unstructured play as an essential element for healthy brain development in children. Learn how play in nature builds the skills every child needs for lifelong success!

All parents and educators are encouraged to join us at Endeavor Learning Center on July 27th as we proudly welcome Leave No Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati.

Leave No Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati is a collaboration of organizations and individuals educating the community that time spent in nature is essential for the physical, mental and emotional health of all children.

Featured speakers will include:

Vicki Carr -- Director of the University of Cincinnati's Arlitt Center and Family Research & Education Center and Chair of UC's Early Childhood Education Faculty

Bill Hopple -- Executive Director of the Cincinnati Nature Center

Libby Hagen -- School Psychologist and ELC Parent Panelist

Space is limited! Please register by July 20, 2009. Registration is free! Call 513.754.8284 or email info@endeavorlc.net to register. $3 at the door.

WHEN: July 27, 2009 (Monday)

TIME: 7:00-8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Endeavor Learning Center | 5188 Cox-Smith Rd. | Mason, OH 45040

DIRECTIONS: I-71 to Exit 25. Go west on Kings Mills Rd. Right on OH-741. Right on Cox-Smith. ELC is on the right after the sharp bend.

For more information go to www.lncigc.org or www.endeavorlc.net

pictured: (from left to right) Libby Hagen, Bill Hopple, Vicki Carr

A visit to Mason Health Care Center

2009-06-10T13:14:00.001-04:00

On June 9, 2009 the preschool class visited with some of the residents at the Mason Health Care Center. The kids played "Noodle Ball" (with swimming noodles and balloons) with the folks at MHCC. As you can see below, everyone had a great time!

Birdwatching

2009-06-01T13:21:00.004-04:00

Local bird expert and president of the Cincinnati Bird Club, Mike Busam, made a visit to Endeavor Learning Center to help the children spot and care for various birds and butterflies.

2009-05-25T12:13:00.003-04:00

The Barn Swallows are back! Last May two Barn Swallows made a nest above the exit doors leading to our playgrounds. This year they came back making another nest in the same place. All of the ELC children are watching these birds build their mud based nest and hearing the birds chatter as they work.

ELC's 1st Family Gardening Day

2009-05-18T13:34:00.006-04:00

Endeavor Learning Center took part this Spring in the Backyard Family Garden Project. The goal of the program is to encourage families to share the surplus from their backyard gardens with their less fortunate neighbors. The project is a collaborative effort of Granny's Garden School, Turner Farm, Gorman Farm, and Grailville with support from Marvin's Organic Gardens, Blooms and Berries Farm Market, Natorp's, and Home Depot.

Several of the families from ELC met at the center over the weekend. They prepared their dirt, planted seeds, labeled the items in the garden, and watered their new gardens. The kids found worms and spiders while digging in the dirt. Everyone had a great time! The families will be able to tend to their own gardens in the coming weeks.

For more information about the Backyard Family Garden Project go to: http://www.grannysgardenschool.com/418-0-00-backyard-family-garden-project.html

"Week of the Young Child"

2009-05-08T09:51:00.005-04:00

During the week of April 19-25 children, teachers, and parents at ELC celebrated the Week of the Young Child. Week of the Young Child was first recognized in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Its focus is to bring public attention to the needs of young children and their families and to recognize early childhood programs.

Our goal was to make it an extra special week for everyone at Endeavor Learning Center but to truly celebrate the children. We asked parents to write letters to their children, telling them how special they are. Parents or other family members were also invited to come in and read one of their child's favorite books to the class.

Other activities included making and decorating a "Week of the Young Child" banner, planting a tree on Earth Day, making an "All About Me" book, and drawing a picture with a message to send to the mayor of Mason, Governor Strickland, and President Obama.

We ended the week with a special breakfast for the teachers and Pajama Day for the kids. The teachers read the letters from the parents to the children on Friday.

It was a wonderful week for everyone!

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-21T22:10:00.004-04:00

The weather cooperated with us and we had a lovely Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2009! Everyone gathered in the Big Room to watch the slideshow (below). The kids were so excited to see their own photos on the big screen! They did a fantastic job of finding beautiful things outside. Some of the children focused on trees and flowers while others found beauty in themselves or their friends.

Darlene Cooper, from Sharon Nursery, joined us to talk about why trees are so important and how to care for them. She dug a big hole in the playground for a new tree but we couldn't plant it yet because the ground was too wet. The kids found all sorts of interesting things in the dirt, like worms and grubs! Thanks Ms. Cooper!

The preschool class took the Butterfly Garden outside and let our four butterflies go. It was a fantastic day!

More Pictures from the Firefighters Visit

2009-04-14T15:55:00.006-04:00

Ms. Donna thought it would be nice to post the pictures she took of when the firefighters visited us. She has pictures of when the fire truck came down the street and when the children got to climb up in the fire truck.

One Month FREE!

2009-04-08T12:05:00.002-04:00

Time is running out to take advantage of our special to receive one month free. Spaces are limited!

New families who enroll between Jan. 1, 2009 and May 31, 2009 will receive one month of tuition free!

Call 754-8284 for more information or to schedule a tour.

ELC may appear on CNN; recognized for environmentally friendly play equipment

2009-04-07T09:37:00.009-04:00

Endeavor Learning Center may appear in an upcoming CNN story about “green” companies that is to air on CNN at the end of April. On March 30, 2009 the children at Endeavor Learning Center were videotaped playing on their playground made of 100% recycled plastics. The footage is supposed to air on CNN in late April (date TBA).

The manufacturer of Endeavor Learning Center’s playground, Play Mart, Inc., chose to highlight our center’s outdoor play equipment based on our philosophy which emphasizes being “green” by using recycled materials when possible, engaging in a school-wide recycling program, and developing an appreciation for nature through outdoor play and activities.

The CNN story will run multiple times during the week of Earth Day. Exact airing times will be announced as details become available to us.

Our environmentally friendly playground equipment is made from 100% recycled materials (milk jugs).

"Green" Birdhouses

2009-03-31T08:58:00.006-04:00

Have you noticed the empty boxes and milk jugs hanging in the trees outside? No, our recycling bin did not blow over and scatter these items around the property...they are our "green" birdhouses!

The kids love to watch the birds from inside the classrooms or when they go outside. During National Wildlife Week the preschoolers gathered up old boxes, empty milk jugs, and other recyclable items and fashioned them into birdhouses, with Ms. Lu Ann's help. Lu Ann cut the holes and the kids decorated the birdhouses and filled them with old dryer lint for the birds to nest in and birdseed for the birds to eat. The preschoolers have been going outside regularly to refill the houses with birdseed.

Are there any items in your trash or recycling bins that could be reused or recycled to make something new?

More pictures of the birdhouses can be viewed on the preschool blog. http://elcpreschool.blogspot.com/

A visit from the Mason firefighters

2009-03-30T09:18:00.004-04:00

Three firefighters from the city of Mason paid us a visit on March 27, 2009. They talked to the kids about basic fire safety, such as going low in smoke, not hiding during a fire, stop-drop-and-roll, and calling 911 for help in an emergency. The kids practiced stop-drop-and-roll and asked the firefighters questions about what they had learned. The highlight of the visit was getting to go outside and check out the firetruck! Everyone got a chance to sit in the back seat and to sit in the front seat and pretend to drive. The firefighters gave all the kids their own firefighter hat and a few other goodies from the firehouse. Thanks firefighters!

See the other classroom blogs for more pictures.

National Wildlife Week

2009-03-20T10:26:00.011-04:00

On March 19th, Susan from Raptor, Inc. came to visit the children at Endeavor Learning Center. Raptor, Inc. is the association for the protection and treatment of raptors/birds of prey in southwest Ohio. Susan brought 3 special birds: a screech owl (Angel), a peregrine falcon (Lucy), and a great horned owl (Sylvester).

The children had many questions about the birds. They were curious about what the birds ate, what they sounded like, and how they got hurt. Susan did a wonderful job of answering all of our questions and teaching us many interesting things about Angel, Lucy, and Sylvester. Thanks Susan!

More pictures and videos of the visit from Raptor, Inc. can be viewed on the other ELC blogs (listed in the margin to the right).

Eco-Healthy Child Care

2009-03-10T11:54:00.002-04:00

Endeavor Learning Center in Mason is paving the way for a new approach to childcare in Ohio. It qualifies as an Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) facility, based on the guidelines that were established by the Oregon Environmental Council in 2005.

The EHCC program is a national program that recognizes childcare centers that are committed to providing a healthy, safe and green child care setting for the children and families served. Qualified centers must meet at least 20 of 25 items on the EHCC checklist that demonstrate the center’s commitment to reducing a child’s exposure to toxins and other environmental health hazards.

There are currently 847 Eco-Healthy Child Care centers across the nation. Endeavor Learning Center is one of five EHCC centers in the state of Ohio and the first in the Cincinnati area.

Endeavor Learning Center is a locally owned childcare center. We are currently accepting enrollment for ages 6 weeks through 5 years old. For more information go to www.endeavorlc.net or call 513-754-8284.

Community Helpers month - Officer Tanner

2009-03-10T10:18:00.005-04:00

On March 9th, 2009, the toddlers and preschoolers met with special guest, Officer Tanner. Officer Ryan Tanner is a D.A.R.E. Officer for the City of Mason. He talked about his role as a community helper and gave the children some ideas on how they can be great community helpers too.

A visit from nutritionist Barb Lattin - 2/27/2009

2009-02-27T13:43:00.003-05:00

Barb Lattin, co-founder of www.soundbitesnutrition.com, stopped by Endeavor Learning Center to talk to the kids about healthy food choices. Ms. Lattin read a book about how oranges begin as seeds and end up as yummy snacks! The children enjoyed peeling and tasting the oranges.

Happy Valentine's Day 2009

2009-02-13T13:16:00.005-05:00

The ELC students celebrated Valentine's Day with some crazy hats and heart-shaped balloons...

2/13/2009

February Events at ELC

2009-02-12T10:23:00.004-05:00

The following events are open to the public. Registration is FREE. Call 754-8284.

National Children's Dental Health Month; special guest: Dr. Kinnith Morris

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Dr. Kinnith Morris, from Northeast Orthodontic Specialists, will be paying a visit to the children at Endeavor Learning Center in Mason to explain the importance of establishing good dental habits.

This event is open to the public but registration is required.

When: Friday, February 20, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

Who: Parents & Children (ages 2-5)

Where: 5188 Cox-Smith Rd, Mason, OH 45040

Registration: FREE! Call 513.754.8284

Please call before 2/18/09 to register. Space is limited.

For more information call 754-8284 or email your questions to info@endeavorlc.net

Children and Nutrition; special guest: Barb Lattin

Nutritionist Barb Lattin will be visiting Endeavor Learning Center in Mason to talk to the toddlers and preschoolers about the importance of healthy food choices. Ms. Lattin holds a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Nutrition Science, a certification from the American Dietetic Association, and is licensed by the state of Ohio.

When: Friday, February 27, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

Who: Parents & Children (ages 2-5)

Where: 5188 Cox-Smith Rd, Mason, OH 45040

Registration: FREE! Call 513.754.8284

Please call before 2/25/09 to register. Space is limited.

For more information call 754-8284 or email your questions to info@endeavorlc.net

Establishing healthy eating habits

2009-01-22T10:25:00.001-05:00

Children need nutritious food for their overall health and to promote better learning. We serve the children organic 2% or organic vitamin D milk. We want to make you aware of how dedicated we are to provide the children at our center with natural and organic foods.

Each morning the children eat a grain and fresh fruit along with milk. Each afternoon we try to fill them up with some of their favorite snacks, but still making sure the food is wholesome, to help them not be so hungry when they get picked up. Snacks are accompanied with milk but once a week the afternoon snack is paired with 100% apple juice. We put a lot of planning into what we are serving the children to ensure they are not eating a lot of foods filled with preservatives and other chemicals.

Below is a description of some of our whole grain snacks, natural snacks, organic snacks, and just plain good-for-you snacks. Try not to get too hungry!

Whole Grain:
Bagels, English Muffins, Cinnamon-Raisin Bread, Chex Cereal (rice, corn, wheat), Cheerios, Graham Crackers

Natural Snacks:
Pirate Booty (a rice and corn puff, tastes like popcorn!), String Cheese, Goldfish Crackers, Fruit Crisps (freeze dried apples and pears)

Organic Snacks:
Raisin Bran, Toaster Pastry with organic fruit filling, Tortilla Chips, Animal Crackers

Just Plain Good For You Snacks:
Hummus, Go-Gurts Yogurt, Salsa, Applesauce, Fig Newtons, Cheddar Cheese, Fresh Fruit, Carrots/Celery

We do not serve nut products and can accommodate special diets.

One Month FREE!

2009-01-21T09:40:00.002-05:00

New families who enroll between Jan. 1, 2009 and May 31, 2009 will receive one month of tuition free!

Call 754-8284 for more information or to schedule a tour.

Preschoolers Learn Best by Playing - Ourtown.com

2009-01-15T08:59:00.002-05:00

Preschoolers Learn Best by Playing - Ourtown.com

This is a great article!

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About Endeavor Learning Center

2009-01-09T09:08:00.006-05:00

Hours of Operation 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Locally Owned & Operated
All Degreed Teachers
Eco-Friendly
Healthy Snacks
Hot Lunches
Spanish Instruction
Infant Sign Language
Emphasis on Outdoor Play & Learning
Small Groups
Low Ratios
Nut-Free Facility
Close to I-71 & I-75
FUN!

Our program, developed by teachers who have graduated from Early Childhood Education programs and have extensive experience within the field, is inspired by the Montessori, Reggio, and Constructivist approaches. ELC's teachers motivate the children to learn through play and discovery. For more information go to http://www.endeavorlc.net/curriculum.htm

Call now to schedule a tour 754-8284.

We like to MOVE IT! MOVE IT!

2008-12-17T12:07:00.003-05:00

Since we could not get outside this morning due to the wet and snowy weather and cold temperatures we decided to warm up by dancing to music from "Madagascar." The toddlers and preschoolers had a great time showing off their dance moves!

Family Night 11/19/2008

2008-11-19T21:05:00.004-05:00

Thank you to all the families for joining us for our first Family Night Potluck!

Family Night slide show:

The songs from the slide show are "Smile Smile Smile" by Dan Zanes, "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, and "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman (with Lyle Lovett).

ELC's First Annual Holiday Bazaar - Dec. 5th

2008-11-11T09:08:00.003-05:00

On Friday December 5th from 4-7 p.m. we will be hosting a one-stop holiday shopping event. This event is FREE and open to the public. We are pleased to feature the following vendors:

Discovery Toys – the premier educational toy company
Arbonne – botanical health and beauty products
Scentcy – wickless candles
Wildtree – natural, nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare foods
Usborne Books – educational books for children
Momma Drama – handcrafted diaper bags/accessories/birthday outfits by Peggie Bailey
The heART factory – unique and locally made art by Lynn Hastings
Juice PLUS+ – the next best thing to fruits and vegetables
Tutu Dresses & Bows – unique handcrafted items by Amy Roark
Eric Hatch Photography – offers a variety of photographic services
Tupperware – cookware, storage, serving items in a variety of modern designs/colors
Shaklee Products – natural products for the body and home
Silpada – sterling silver jewelry
Tastefully Simple – gourmet foods and gifts

Who: EVERYONE is welcome!
When: Friday December 5th, 4-7 p.m.
Where: Endeavor Learning Center
5188 Cox-Smith Rd
Mason, OH 45040
www.endeavorlc.net

Directions: I-71 to exit 25. Kings Mills Road (towards Mason) to 741-N. Cox-Smith Road is on the right. Endeavor Learning Center is the brick building on the right immediately after the sharp turn.

Picture Day

2008-10-10T16:03:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder for parents: picture day is October 15th.

Thank You!

2008-09-20T21:32:00.003-04:00

Thank you to everyone for making our first Open House a great success! The weather cooperated with us and we got to meet many new families...a great time was had by all.

Mike Sauer - thank you for supplying us with the delicious Skyline hot dogs and cheese coneys!

Nature - the best classroom

2008-09-12T10:36:00.004-04:00

The program at Endeavor Learning Center is based largely on nature. We believe that children are most at home in the outdoors. Therefore, outdoor time is a vital part of our curriculum. All of the items for our outside learning and activity area were carefully chosen to encourage dramatic play and exploration. Children will love the play house. It has a seating area, doors, windows, skylights, and even some flower boxes. The balance beam and stepping stones will challenge the gymnast in every child. The kids will also enjoy playing with the water table and art panel. There is plenty of room for the children to run, play, explore, and learn. We expect to see their imaginations really blossom in this space.

Construction begins on the playground!

2008-09-11T14:18:00.005-04:00

Our playground equipment finally arrived this week. The crew has been working hard on the installation. The children have been quite interested in the whole process.

All of our playground equipment is 100% recycled plastic (milk jugs are the main source).

The Big Room

2008-09-02T10:33:00.004-04:00

One of the unique features of our school is "The Big Room." As the name suggests, it is a big room in the heart of the school. All of the classrooms have direct access to this multi-purpose area. The Big Room is the ideal space for a rainy day or when the children simply need a change of scenery. The children can choose from several different large gross motor activities such as ride-on toys, yoga, or playing duck-duck-goose with their friends. For the younger children, it is simply a large space to explore and practice crawling or toddling. The stage, complete with theatrical lighting, appeals to the entertainer in every child!

Pictures - Exterior

2008-08-28T15:26:00.007-04:00

Endeavor Learning Center is located on nearly 6 acres of beautiful property with plenty of space for children to explore, play, and learn. Our dream is for the kids to create and maintain their own gardens on the property. As you can see, there is a lot of green space just begging to be cultivated! The second phase of the playground should be completed the week of Sept. 8th.

Open House - September 20th

2008-08-28T15:16:00.003-04:00

Please join us on September 20th from noon to 4 p.m. to celebrate our grand opening!

Endeavor Learning Center is celebrating their grand opening with a special rate throughout the month of September. Parents who are looking for personalized childcare can take advantage of saving $100 a month for the first six months! A deal worth $600!

Join us on September 20th from noon to 4 p.m. The open house will include:

food from Skyline (free!)
a fire truck from the City of Mason
our Spanish teacher Senor Doug
tours of the school
SmartyPants
crafts for kids
a playground
and more!

Our early childhood educators specialize in teaching children from 6 weeks to 5 years about community and the environment. We offer the small groups and family like atmosphere of in-home care with the perks that only a privately owned childcare center can provide.

Grand Opening!

2008-08-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

Our official opening will be September 2, 2008.

We are currently enrolling infants, toddlers, preschool, and pre-k.

Call us to schedule a tour:
513.754.8284