About Us
We bring a holistic approach to care. Tending to the Whole Child motivates organic learning. We utilize nature, peer based learning, and simplified project-based learning to forify valuable skills in our program. Our child care and afterschool programs are centered on connection-based care in community-based learning environments where we focus on building bonds outside the home, positive attachments, reciprocal interactions, peer based learning, and leadership development building on each child’s strengths and supporting them where they need it the most.
Our Mission
Auke Lake Preschool's mission is to provide holistic, quality and inclusive childcare. To accomplish this mission, we:
- Base our program on being in nature and learning with nature
- Utilize curriculum and training being developed by Alaska Whole Child Foundation, which focuses on whole child well-being and social emotional learning
- Support children in developing self-help skills
- Believe that each child is unique and follow an individualized approach to support their interests and development.
- Lift up each child's strengths and support them with compassion where they need it most
- Involve family and community through various social-bridge programs. To raise a child it truly takes an entire community.
- Provide fair wages and professional development opportunities for our education staff, and continue to advocate for improved child care workspaces in our state.
- Implement serve-and-return technique at the foundation of all of our interactions with children to build positive bonds and trust outside of the home
- Empower the children we care for and our staff to grow and learn
- Let the child lead learning through play, as our expert education staff find opportunities in play to promote a child's social-emotional, language; communication, motor-physical and cognitive skills.
- Care for each and every child that walks through our doors as part of the Auke Lake Preschool family.