Search Results

Civic League staff share their talents in many ways. Who knew our staff were so talented? In an impromptu music session three of our teachers gathered together in the music room to share their talents. For one hour the children were dancing and singing along-fascinated by their remarkable teachers. ​ All photos were taken and provided by Marie Ferguson at DM Creative Design.

Our Garden of Growth the children's garden. Here they have planted and will get to pick their own vegetables at harvest. Learning from the land and with teachers guidance your child will get to smell and taste fresh basil and tomatoes leafy greens. BLOG Our Master Gardeners Beth Plaetzer and Dorothy Wichmann, Master Gardeners They started with our "little" project in early spring of 2016 thinking they would just help us get going. As it turns out, "It's their favorite time of the week." (spending time here at Civic League) They love it so much they've really adopted us and come 2-3 times a week to work with your children in the garden and also with staff to enhance curriculum and answer any questions.Thank you, thank you Dorothy and Beth we are truly grateful for your wisdom, guidance and commitment to Civic League Day Nursery! Fun Facts ​ ​​ Civic league Day Nursery was the first child care center to be awarded a Farm to Childcare Center grant in Minnesota. MN Department of Agriculture and MN Extension Service visited our center to see our Farm to Childcare. ​ Two Master Gardeners donated their time, and expertise to begin our garden initiative. ​​​​​​​ The Master Gardeners and Director attends the "Minnesota Schoolyard Gardens conference at the Arboretum in March. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) of Minnesota in collaboration with MN Extension Agency visited the summer of 2018 to see our garden in full bloom.​ ​ ​ Other schools and daycare centers from Minnesota who are interested in starting gardens will join them to learn from us. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The Post Bulletin did a story on our garden efforts with the children. ​​​​​​​ Our garden is an educational enrichment that is superbly unique and a truly wonderful experience for your children and yourselves. It is their "Outdoor Classroom". ​​​​​​​ The materials, soil, mulch and upkeep for the garden is paid for (in part) from the yearly enrichment fees collected from you, our families. Garden Facts OUR GROWTH Garden TimeLapse Life moves pretty fast when it's captured with a Time Lapse Camera. This video reflects the sunflower and garden growth from June till September. During this time many obstacles were observed. One of which was a pesky bunny rabbit who made our garden his home and munched his way through. See him hoping around? Small wire fences were added to the space to protect our precious produce. ​ This video captures the sunflower's growth throughout the season and more uniquely solar tracking. Watch to see it dance and move to catch the suns light. Garden Gallery OUR GARDEN GALLERY

Summertime Play at Civic League Day Nursery At Civic League Day Nursery, summertime play is a critical activity. Nurturing their bodies with social friends is a must. Our center has one of the largest play yards in Rochester, filled with a variety of sandboxes, play equipment and field games. Not to mention our Garden of Growth where the children have planted and will get to pick their own vegetables at harvest We hope you enjoy these images as much as we do. ​ Scroll v iew the gallery as is or select an image to view it nearly full screen.

Civic League Day Nursery has a full-time cook on site. Our cook is certified by the State of Minnesota, and plans well-balanced meals for our children following the guidelines set by the USDA and Minnesota Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Children receive breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Weekly menus are posted in the center on each classroom bulletin board and on the doors, exiting the center. We serve our meals family style, when it is appropriate. Serving a meal family style means serving foods in bowls or dishes on the table. The children are encouraged to serve themselves, or serve themselves with the help from an adult. New foods are introduced frequently. Garden Blog What's Cooking? Our weekly menu Our menus are updated weekly. Select the pdf to view it. Civic League is very proud to announce that on October 31, 2016, representatives from the MN Department of Agriculture came to CLDN to tour the facility, meet our children (dressed in their Halloween attire!) and sample our lunch menu of the day - showcasing MN grown products prepared by Doreen. ​ In 2015, CLDN received a grant from the MN Department of Agriculture to revise our menus to support MN grown products and farmers. Since then, we have increased our offerings of food from MN farmers. These partnerships are critical to supporting our community and have allowed unique opportunities for our children. ​ We are proud of the partnership we have established with the MN Department of Agriculture, and humbled to be the first childcare center in MN to host them at their facility. Our meal service is partially funded and supervised by the Minnesota State Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Our food is purchased from local providers and other vendors. In accordance with Federal Law and the U.S. Department of Agricultural Policy, Civic League Day Nursery is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age and reprisal/retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Civic League Day Nursery adheres by this standard and is an equal opportunity provider. Civic League Day Nursery is an equal opportunity employer.

Garden of Growing Highlights from our Summer 2017 Garden of Growing. A Garden built by our families and members of the board. Allowing our children to learn about the food they eat and the earth that provides it. ​ All photos were taken and provided by Marie Ferguson at DM Creative Design.

LaCrosse Children's Museum The children of Civic League enjoyed a morning at the LaCrosse Children's Museum. They explored displays learning about the science of sound, gravity, the digestive system and light. For more information about the Chuildren's Museum of LaCross please see their website http://www.funmuseum.org/ ​ All photos were taken and provided by Marie Ferguson at DM Creative Design. Children learn the most through exploration and discovery.

Enrichment at Civic League Twice per month our children enjoy music and yoga to activate their minds and bodies. The children and teachers together learn new songs and enjoy playing with new instruments while having peace of mind body and spirit. ​ All photos were taken and provided by Marie Ferguson at DM Creative Design.

HIGHLIGHTS at Civic League WALTER BALFOUR visits CIVIC LEAGUE DAY NURSERY VISIT RENOVATION at CIVIC LEAGUE DAY NURSERY VISIT IN THE MEDIA with CIVIC LEAGUE DAY NURSERY VISIT On September 10, 2018, Walter Balfour visited his childhood home. During his visit he recalled and shared fond memories throughout the house we now call our home, Civic League Day Nursery. Balfor I have many fond memories of my family growing up in this home. Walter Balfour Renovation It is with great pleasure and excitement that we are nearing the completion of our commencement of our exterior façade repair and “facelift”. Ohnstad Custom Works begin on August 7, 2017 with scaffolding delivered before that. Their staff, trucks and equipment have been around like busy bees working on the weekends to push this project along admist inclement weather. With work starting on the rear courtyard side of the house, we will have to get creative. We have marked off play space areas for the kiddos. We are grateful for our large exterior play space as our teachers have been flexible to allow the workers to do their job safely and keep the children safe while at play. When needed we utilize our interior place space "the Muscle Room". ​ We look forward to many changes to come including our Growing garden area and lower play yard space. ​ Thank you for your patience, it will be beautiful in the end. In the Media IN THE MEDIA June 29, 2022 ​ Thunderous Storm takes out beloved tree and causes damage to surrounding neighborhood. ​ KTTC News Clip October 11, 2021 ​ Civic League Celebrates Mayo Heritage days with Community Wide Open House. ​ KTTC News Clip GATHER PRODUCE July 2, 2020 ​ Civic League changes long standing tradition for their 4th of July Parade. ​ KTTC News Clip CELEBRATING 40 YEARS SHARE YOUR LOVE FOR CLDN Jul 24, 2017 ​ Children help gather produce recently at the Civic League Day Nursery garden in Rochester, where gardening is used as a learning tool and as part of the daily meal plan. ​ POST BULLETIN May 8, 2017 ​ For Teachers Appreciation Week we share the love with two Rochester Preschool Teachers from Civic League Day Nursery. ​ KROC Aug 17, 2016 ​ This month, two teachers at Civic League Day Nursery are celebrating 40 years in teaching. That's four decades with young learners at the oldest nursery school in Rochester. ​ POST BULLETIN Feb. 13, 2016 ​ Civic League hosts Share your Love, a fundraiser gala with Trolley ride and historic tour of the home. Hosted at Cambria this event was a success for current families and aluminis of Civic League to "Share their Love!" ​ POST BULLETIN

Special EVENTS AT CIVIC LEAGUE Civic League offers enrichment programs and activities centered on and around the greater Rochester community. ​ With annual trips and festivities scheduled throughout the year, our students learn, experience, delight and grow in these unique developmental achievements. Here's a highlight of just some of our special trips and events: Walkable access to City Parks and community events Discovering nature at Quarry Hill Touring Sekapp Orchard On-site seasonal themed activities, such as parades, winter sledding, water play, gardening ​ Summer Time Play Spend a Day with us Garden Play Dive in deeper into the life of our children's daily activities. Here they will be wrapped into our program of care with an immersion of their senses. ​ Stolling in the garden, picking fresh vegetables, and engaging within our natural play space CELEBRATE the 4th of July Annually help, this charming parade walk or drive brings smiles to all who come to watch. 4th of July Gallery MANY EVENTS From Bees to knees and everything in between. Events are held at Civic League to enrich our children's experiance and ignite their minds Events Gallery Take a trip with us! Programming is worked into the structure of our education at Civic League Day Nursery. Trips and planned within reach and surrounding distance for a morning excursion. ​ These are the best days to as a parent to get involved, say, "YES! I'll be there" To watch the moment of discovery with your child on a trip is a memory which lasts a lifetime. ​ ​ LaCrosse Museum Oxbow Park Rad Zoo Spend a day at the Farm. Farm Tour Apple Orchard

Let's learn about bees from Peter the Bee Keeper United Way Reading event at Civic League Day Nursery March 2nd was Read Across America Day. We had a special guest, President of United Way, read Dr. Seuss books to the children. The children loved his costume, story and gift of books. ​ ​ Elsa visits Civic League Our children were enchanted today at Civic League when Elsa came for a visit. The muscle room was filled with song, giggles and special memories as Elsa read a story and greeted everyone with smiles and farewell hugs. ​ ​ Active bodies mean active minds. Music to enrich the soul.

PART 3 - NEXT STEPS In the summer of 1972, with the backing of the United Way Board, the Civic League applied for funds to finance the opening of a satellite day nursery center. State grants provided start-up funds for equipment and a combination of Federal and United Way monies made possible a contract with the Social Services Department to pay the fees of all income eligible children. Space made available by the First Christian Church in northwest Rochester became the Northwest Center in October 1972, licensed to care for 28 children, bringing the combined total to 64 children being cared for by the Civic League Day Nursery. The teaching staff was increased from 5 1/2 to 12. The contract was renewed in 1973. The daily cost per child was $8.55 and the annual budget was $104,000. Meanwhile, the old frame Woodworth house was deteriorating. The Mayo Foundation was approached with the idea of exchanging the Woodworth property for the vacant Balfour property at the corner of Fifth Street and Sixth Avenue Southwest. The larger Balfour property would allow the Civic League Board to consolidate its after-school kindergarten program and downtown nursery. The Mayo Foundation agreed to the proposal so the Civic League Board went to the community seeking financial help for building renovations, including the installation of sprinkler system required by state code, and for moving expenses. The Rochester Area Foundation approved a grant of $6,000, the Kahler Foundation gave $1,500 and $400 was donated by the Exchange Club. A loan of $25,000 was secured with the cooperation of the Rochester banks. ​ ​ In August 1975, after many hours of volunteer labor by the Civic League Board members, staff, parents and members of the local painters Union, an after school kindergarten program for 25 children moved to the first floor rooms of the Balfour House. In October, the nursery programs which been had been housed in the Woodworth house for 45 years were moved to the second floor of the Balfour house. By February of 1976, renovation of the third floor was completed allowing the kindergarten group to occupy the third floor and additional preschoolers to occupy the first floor so the Balfour housed 68 children. The still active satellite Northwest Center program served 29 children. In September 1976, the age span of children served by a Civic League programs grew when first and second grade children were permitted to enroll in the after-school program. Two years later, in 1978 grants from the Rochester Area Foundation and the Kahler Corp. made possible the remodeling of the basement area of the Balfour House for classroom use for toddlers and part of the garage as an office. With the additional space, the Balfour House was licensed for 89 children. The Northwest Center was then closed and all day nursery operations were consolidated at one site. In 1986, the annual operating budget of the Civic League Day Nursery grew to $284,727. The United Way of Olmsted County, the Federal Government Child Care Food Subsidy and parent fees were the primary funding sources. The fees were $60 per week per child. Sliding fee payments were made available for eligible families. The Child Care Resource and Referral office administered the County, State and Federal monies for subsidized fees. United Way sliding fee dollars were managed by the Executive Director of the Civic League Day Nursery. The Day Nursery program was licensed to serve 93 children, ages 2 to 8. The staff included a full-time executive director, 5 lead teachers, 7 assistant teachers, a cook and an assistant cook, a part-time office manager and a custodian. The start of the school year in 1988 saw further expansion as Civic League Day Nursery began operating the newly built Day Care Center for 30 children at the Rochester Technical College. This center also served as a lab school for training students enrolled in the Child Development Assistant Program. Women's Civic League of Rochester celebrated their centennial with a luncheon for past board members at this new center. Revised licensing standards for group day care also went into effect in 1988. These standards required additional detailed record keeping and more specific training for teachers. The budget for 1991 was $395,000. The preschool weekly fee was $81 and the before and after school kindergarten fee was $68. The total licensed capacity of both centers was 123. The combined staff included 1 director, 1 supervisor/lead teacher, 6 lead teachers, 9 assistant teachers, 1 part-time office manager, 3 part-time cooks and 1 part-time custodian. The Balfour House was shown on the 1991 American Association of University Women spring House Tour. Several hundred people showed an interest in the house's history and its current use. ​ In July, 1996 the southeast childcare site moved from Riverland Technical College to the new Rochester Community and Technical College at the University Center Rochester. Lead and Assistant teachers were encouraged to use up to 40 hours each year of regular work time for job related training; and a collaborative relationship between Head Start and Civic League initially begun at the Rochester Technical College was also expanded to the southwest location at Balfour House in 1998. In the 1990's, as the Rochester community experiences economic and diverse growth so too did the Civic League Day Nursery. The primary sources of revenue continued to be a combination of parent fees and subsidies from the United Way of Olmsted County, the Federal Government Child Care Food Program and Child Care Resources & Referral. In 2000, personnel costs (salaries and benefits) rose to nearly $500,000 for 23 staff members. The annual operating budget was over $674,000. The southwest location was licensed for 93 children ages 2 ½ through Kindergarten and the southeast location was licensed to serve 39 children ages 2 through 5. The rates for toddlers ran $150.00/week; preschoolers $140/week and kindergarteners $120/week. The sliding fee scale was $30/week. In 1999, 25% of the total enrollment benefited from the sliding fee scale. A focus on fund-raising and development was undertaken in the latter part of the 1990's. In 1996, the Joan Gravett Scholarship Fund was established with the Rochester Area Foundation to allow a child to receive quality childcare when other sources for funding fell short. The fund was established in honor of Mrs. Gravett who served nine years as a board member and 18 years as director of the nursery. A professional building inspection was done to the Balfour House in the summer of 1998 and a Capital Budget was put in place to address the recommendations to replace the original furnace, shingle roof, windows and exterior wood rot. The original furnace was replaced in the spring of 1999. In the summer of 1999 refurbishment of the apartment above the Civic League office was completed. The rent from the apartment helps to fund the various maintenance contractors such as lawn mowing and snow removal the Balfour House requires. A direct appeal to former and current parents, past and present board members called "This Old Nursery" was begun in August 2000 to solicit funds specifically for the replacement of the original roof, with the Rochester Area Foundation generously contributing $30,000 to the fund. The year 2000 also marked the 25th year that the 126 year old Balfour House had been in continuous use as the southwest location, and celebrated the Nursery's 70th year. In July 2000, Women's Civic League Inc. of Rochester, Minnesota was legally changed to Civic League Day Nursery of Rochester, Minnesota to accurately reflect the board's current charter --- to set policy and oversee the overall operations of the oldest and best nursery school in Rochester --- and to recognize the addition of men to the Board. In 2001, Children’s Home Society decided to close its nonprofit childcare center in Rochester. Civic League was asked by Child Care Resource and Referral and dozens of Children’s Home Society parents to take over the operation of the center at 3212 22nd Street NW. With help from CCRR, United Way and Southern MN Initiative Foundation, Civic League was able to keep the center open, retaining its staff and students. By 2004, it was clear Civic League Day Nursery had outgrown this facility in northwest Rochester. Long waiting lists, the cost of maintaining an older building, and the desire for a more stable situation than the short-term lease provided, motivated the Board to form a committee to explore options to relocate this center. After months of looking at existing buildings and finding nothing suitable, they met with several architects and builders to discuss building a center that would meet Civic League’s needs. In 2005, Civic League Day Nursery celebrated its 75th anniversary. It was a remarkable achievement considering the organization started during the Great Depression serving twelve children in a single classroom and had grown to three sites serving over 230 children annually. ​ ​

Honoring Philanthropy Thank you to Scott, Dean and the crew from McGough for transfering and installing the new playground equipment on the upper playground.