In 1986, a busy group of Northern Door parents decided it was time for their young children to have a child care center of their own. At first, the parents took turns caring for each other’s children as a parent cooperative. In a short amount of time, it was apparent that child care involves more than simply providing food and games for children. Quality child care requires early childhood professionals who are specially trained in helping young children thrive.

That was how Northern Door Children’s Center was born.

The first home of the Center was in the Old Sister Bay School House. Thanks to the financial support of the community, and the remarkable generosity of Judith Blazer in particular, a state-of-the-art child care facility was opened in 1999 and licensed to serve more than one hundred children from age 6 weeks to 12 years old, operating year-round with a full-time teaching and administrative staff. Cindy Trinkner-Peot was named Executive Director in 2000.

While our existing home was legitimately “state-of-the-art” when it was opened nearly 25 years ago, both technology and educational techniques have changed considerably over the years. Further, as one of only three licensed child care facilities in the County, and the only one dedicated to serving those who live and/or work in Northern Door, the demand for our services continues to climb.

That’s why it’s so critical that Northern Door Children’s Center expands. This $3.6 million capital campaign will dramatically improve our ability to serve the children of the workers who serve our community. Phase I is $1.2 million of new construction that will enable us to offer an expanded 4-year-old kindergarten curriculum up to 50 children in partnership with the Gibraltar School District. Thanks to an initial $1 million gift to the campaign from a generous new friend of the Center, construction on the 4K part of the Center has already begun. Phase II is a $2.4 million reconfiguration and expansion of existing space, including enlarging both the infant and toddler classrooms.

Your contribution makes certain that we can serve the children of the people who serve you and the entire Northern Door community.