Little Lion Learning Center in Olin is celebrating their 25th anniversary. The center offers a wide variety of services for families with kids 6 weeks to 12 years of age. (Photos submitted)
Darin Secrist brought his baby goats for the kids at Little Lion to see up close.
Dakota Secrist shows off his painting project.
Grayson Shoaff enjoys making a mess with shaving cream.
“Little Lion Learning Center is the only independent childcare center with an IQ4K (Iowa Quality for Kids) rating in Jones County,” noted the center. “A program that participates in IQ4K uses enhanced best practices in health, safety and nutrition, implements individualized development screening, lesson planning and the Iowa Early Learning Standards, including higher standards for program administrators and all teaching staff to support and increase quality programming.”
Little Lion Learning Center will soon be celebrating their 25th anniversary, 25 years of providing quality childcare for children age 6 weeks to 12 years old.
“The rating means we go above and beyond the HHS (Iowa Department of Health and Human Services) requirements,” noted Little Lion Director Trenda Secrist, who has been with the center for almost six years. “We’ve implemented more policies to keep the kids safe, as well as more trainings for the staff.”
The need for childcare is what led to the creation of Little Lion, and Secrist it continues to be a need 25 years later.
“At least twice a month, we get phone calls,” said Secrist as to whether they have openings for children. “It’s a huge need in this area.”
In 1993, the Olin Economic Development Committee looked to address that need with a childcare facility in Olin. On Jan. 9, 1996, the Olin Daycare Inc. board was formed and incorporated. Funding was secured through a USDA Rural Development loan, as well as a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). The remainder of the funding was through community support and fundraising. Construction on the center began in the spring of 1999. Little Lion opened its doors on Nov. 1, 1999.
Over the past 25 years, there have been many updates to the facility:
• Enlarged playground
• Added new surfacing to the playground
• Added security cameras
• Replaced the carpet and vinyl flooring
• Put on a steel roof
• Purchased a play storage shed
“We appreciate the parents and the community who help us fundraise, as well as entities such the Jones County Endowment, Lutheran Services, American Legion, Thrivent, Collins and others who help us keep the center in good condition and to make repairs and upgrades,” expressed the center.
Currently, there are 70 children enrolled at Little Lion. They serve children from seven towns, not just within Jones County, but surrounding counties, too.
They also offer a preschool program for 3-year-olds, and a summer program for school-aged children.
“We have a curriculum and go on field trips once or twice a week,” Secrist said of the summer program.
Having the new Olin Splash Pad next door is also a hit with the kids.
Little Lion’s before- and after-school program is a popular option for parents, especially due to the center’s close proximity to Olin Elementary School.
“We have 12 to 14 kids after school,” shared Secrist.
Olin does not have school on Fridays, so having a childcare option for parents is a plus, too.
During the summer, Little Lion can take on more children. Not only do they add to their staffing, but they rent a room at the school to be able to expand their capacity.
“This allows us to take on 25 more kids,” said Secrist. “It’s part of our licensing.”
During the school year, they have 14 staff members, including Secrist. They have two on-site supervisors who work with Secrist and will in when she’s gone.
Kayla Gravel, one of the on-site supervisors, also serves as the 3-year-old preschool teacher. That full-time program has 14 kids right now.
Little Lion is not just a childcare center, but an education center with teachers putting together lessons plans and organizing activities for the kids every week.
Like most childcare facilities, you have to balance staff wages with the rates families have to pay to bring their kids. Secrist said she feels they do a great job of not instituting outrageous rates so that families can’t afford it. But, they also “pay our staff what they deserve.
“Retention is definitely something we strive for here,” she said.
Little Lion is overseen by a seven-person board of directors. This includes members of the community, parents, a City of Olin official, someone representing the Olin school district, and a business owner in town. Rita Balichek, the vice present of the board, was the original director at Little Lion. Another board member used to attend Little Lion. His kids are now enrolled at the center.
Staff at Little Lion work four 10-hour shifts. They’re open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We feel these hours help with staff morale,” said Secrist.
Another added bonus are all-staff activities, which are funded and offered by the board.
“We also started a bonus system to help with new staff,” said Gravel. “It’s to reward staff who show up every day and do their jobs.”
Little Lion not only hosts events for the families enrolled there, but for the general public and community as well. In February, they hosted a Kiddie Prom for kids ages 3 to 12.
“Welcoming the community is a big thing for us,” said Secrist. “It helps us more people into the center. We also strive to give kids as many opportunities as we can in town.”
Little Lion’s 25th anniversary celebration will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
A meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the school. There will also be a plant sale, a bake sale, a 50/50 raffle, a fun zone, and tours of the center.
“It’s going to be a big celebration here,” boasted Secrist. “We’d love to see as many people as possible attend, former staff members, and former students.”
She said for their 20th anniversary, they had former students on hand to share their stories from the early years of the center.
Over the past 25 years, Secrist said Little Lion has “learned to grow, evolve, and help kids to be the best they can be.
“As a learning center, we strive to start teaching children at a young age and to help they grow.”
Little Lion Learning Center is located at 206 Maple St. in Olin.