What to Expect from EXPLORING MINDS ACADEMY
Our mission is to provide the highest-quality childcare!
As part of our commitment, we provide all of our kids with:
Children’s joy and happiness are a big part of their learning. At EXPLORING MINDS ACADEMY, we encourage them to have fun as a part of their education with child-led activities which are adapted to their abilities and interests.
As a retired teacher, Pamela has brought together the knowledge of her worldly travels into Exploring Mind's unique curriculum. She has taken the best elements of her experience in Montessori, High Scope, and Conscious Discipline, as well as including Public School ECE State Standards.
We empower our children to think independently and solve problems in their own way. We also encourage our young learners to practice daily gratitude and be thankful for all the positive aspects of their lives.
6 Weeks to 12 Months
We offer a warm, cozy "home away from home" for your baby, with a passionate and highly qualified team dedicated to your child's well-being. Our caregivers use responsive play and introduce basic sign language to support your baby’s early communication skills—empowering them to express needs before they can speak, while fostering a deep sense of connection and security.
Our eco-healthy facility ensures a safe, clean environment, adhering to strict environmental best practices. We incorporate engaging learning themes and enrichment activities like music, yoga, art, and dance, encouraging your baby to explore and interact with the world using all their senses. With ample outdoor play areas, your child can enjoy fresh air and build both cognitive and gross motor skills.
We also provide a user-friendly parent communication app to keep you informed, and introduce your baby to fresh, nut-free foods prepared with care.
1–2.5 Years
In our toddler's room, we focus on fostering social skills, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem through positive peer interactions and mindfulness practices. It is also where we begin to encourage independent learning and problem-solving so that our young learners can feel accomplished and proud of what they have learned with us.
2.5–4 Years
For our preschool students, we expand on the skills they learned as toddlers by focusing on nurturing emotionally intelligent personalities and teaching children to identify emotions, share, and build strong relationships.
Weekly themes engage their minds with real-world topics, covering topics like weather, nature, animals, and diverse cultures.
Our highly experienced early childhood teachers are dedicated to preparing preschoolers for kindergarten, providing guidance, reassurance, and encouragement throughout their learning journey.
4–5 Years
For our preschool children, we are focused on refining everything we have taught them. Our teaching emphasizes respect, independence, and active exploration as we focus on nurturing the whole child.
Enriching activities like yoga, dance, art, music, and Spanish promote fine motor skills and creativity, and our outdoor spaces provide acres for exploration and play, fostering physical activity.
Alongside that, our highly skilled prekindergarten teachers, with a deep passion for early childhood education, bring years of experience working with children to equip your child for the transition into elementary school.
School Age Program
Before & After School Care + School Break Camps (Ages 5–12)
Our School Age Program is designed to support busy families while giving children a safe, engaging, and enriching place to grow beyond the school day.
We offer before and after school care, as well as full-day programs during Summer, Winter, and Spring Breaks for school-age children.
What Families Can Expect
- Individual attention from trained, caring teachers
- Homework Club to support learning, responsibility, and family routines
- A balance of structured activities and free exploration
- A warm, welcoming environment where children feel supported and confident
Explorers Camp (Ages 5–12)
Our Explorers Camp is open before school, after school, and during school closures and breaks.
Children enjoy a blend of enrichment, creativity, and active play while building friendships and independence in a fun, age-appropriate setting.
Summer Camp: Around the World Adventure
Join us for an exciting summer as we travel around the world—without ever leaving camp!
Children explore different countries and cultures while strengthening key academic and life skills through hands-on, meaningful experiences.
Learning Through Adventure
- Explore global cultures and famous landmarks
- Daily journaling to support language and writing skills
- Travel budgeting activities to build math and planning skills
Weekly Field Trips & Experiences
- Swimming every Friday
- Adventure Golf
- Bowling
- Hands-on Cooking, Music, and Art activities
- Museum visits
- Crawdad fishing
School Transportation Available
We currently provide school pick-up from the following locations:
- Erie Elementary
- Red Hawk Elementary
- Black Rock Elementary
Daily Enrichment Clubs
Each day features a themed club that blends learning with creativity, movement, and fun.
- Monday – Science Club: Hands-on experiments that build organization, critical thinking, and sensory exploration.
- Tuesday – Lego Club: Engineering fundamentals through creative design and problem-solving.
- Wednesday – Cooking Club: Child-made meals that promote independence and healthy eating.
- Thursday – 100-Mile Club: Encouraging active lifestyles through movement and goal-setting.
- Friday – Art Club: Creative projects that enhance fine motor skills and self-expression.
Merging Teaching and Child Care
We offer a variety of programs for stages, including infants and toddlers, preschool, and pre-kindergarten.
We believe that it is never too early to start learning, and that it is vital to always present opportunities for children to learn and grow as soon as they start at our center. There are always chances to encourage growth within a child's mind, and it is our job as caregivers and teachers to nourish that potential.
By developing our programs with curriculum experts and childcare specialists, we have been able to hone in on what makes early education a success and create a learning program that allows our children to enter school seamlessly. It is our aim to equip every child in our care with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the next stage of their educational journeys and beyond.
