Preschool Program

Hopping Frog Classroom

Ages 3-4 years old
Lead Teacher Meghan Kern
Assistant Teacher Sarah Stebbins

The Creede Early Learning Center contracts with the Creede School District to provide the Preschool Program. It follows the Creede School Districts school calendar, and runs Monday-Thursday. We are an early learning center that is committed to providing a nurturing, safe environment. Our focus is on developing social skills, meeting developmental needs, and providing educational training using quality curriculum for children ages 3 to 4 years old. Studies indicate that children who receive this early learning education perform better in school and adjust better socially.

Busy Bee Classroom

Ages 4-5 years old during school year. Ages 4-7 years old during summer months.
Lead Teacher Margo Eubank
Assistant Teachers Lindsey McKenna & Klara Mankowski

School Year Universal Preschool Program:  The Creede Early Learning Center provides preschool programming for Mineral and Rio Grande Counties. We loosly follow the Creede School District annual calendar, and run Monday-Thursday, from Early September to late May. We are an early learning center that is committed to providing a nurturing, safe environment. Our focus is on developing social skills, meeting developmental needs, and providing educational training using quality curriculum for children the year before Kindergarten. Studies indicate that children who receive this early learning education perform better in school and adjust better socially.

The Creede Early Learning Center participates in Colorado's Universal Preschool program! Doing so allows families to receive funding towards our high-quality preschool services. Last year, families saved an average of $600 a month. The enrollment for Universal Preschool typically opens in February for the following school year. Thanks to a new enrollment process, it’s now easier than ever to “match” with us in the Universal Preschool Portal.  UPK.Colorado.Gov  Contact our Executive Director for more information.

Meals, Snacks and Nutrition      Lunch Menu

We provide nutritionally balanced snacks, meals. Monthly lunch menus are posted in the entry room. During the school year, we get our lunches from the Creede School. Snacks will be given in the morning and afternoon. We encourage the children to take a “hello” bite that is – to try a taste of everything. We limit sugars, and prefer fruits, yogurt and other nutritious alternatives to cookies and cakes.

Your child will be asked to pay a monthly snack fee (see enrollment info).  If your child needs a special diet, or has a food allergy, it must be written on your child’s health form, signed by a physician, or a physician’s prescription.

Our Facilities

The Creede Early Learning Center is located a couple miles outside of town in a beautiful and natural space, with views of the Rio Grande River and surrounding mountains! Our current facilities include one large building, a storage building, playgrounds, and two parking areas. The main level of the building includes our kitchen and toddler Jumping Bunnies (ages 1-3) classroom. Our finished basement houses our Busy Bee (pre-Kindergarten) classroom, two bathrooms, and (locked) storage rooms. Our new addition houses the entrance area, Executive Director's office, staff bathroom and the Hopping Frogs (mixed age) classroom. Our 2nd story is closed to children, and includes staff office space and additional storage areas.

We have three wonderfully large playgrounds that work for all four seasons! Our playgrounds are fully enclosed and meet all safety and educational requirements!

The Creede Early Learning Center is a non-profit early learning center located in Creede, CO. We are licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. We are a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The CELC is the Universal Preschool Program Provider for our area.

Safety & Security:  Our mission is to provide a safe, dependable, affordable and nurturing child care facility for Creede and surrounding communities. Our priority, FIRST AND FOREMOST, is always safety. The CELC works closely with our local Emergency Services and Sherrif's office to monitor and address safety concerns as needed.

Sorry, this website uses features that your browser doesn’t support. Upgrade to a newer version of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge and you’ll be all set.