New Bear Creek Kids Campus is off to a great start

​         The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the new Bear Creek Daycare Center on Monday, May 6. The new daycare is licensed for 86 children from 6-weeks-old to 12-years-old. There are many services available such as a before and after school program, a kids summer camp and more. Pictured are, from left: Alyssa Beaderstadt, Mike Garman, First State Bank; Leah Bauman, daycare director; Cathy Essick, marketing director; Shane and Susan Sissel, co-owners of the daycare center; and Tyler Geiger, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
        After nearly two years of planning, preparing and construction, the new Bear Creek Kids Campus opened its doors on May 6 and is off to a great start.
       Located at 1092 Jackson St. just north of the high school and south of the Ruritan’s building on the east side of the circle drive entering the BGM baseball and softball complex, the new daycare center fills a much needed void in the Brooklyn area.
       According to Cathy Essick, marketing director with the Brooklyn Community Estates, Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo and Bear Creek Kids Campus, at the time plans for the new daycare center were announced, only about 50 percent of community daycare needs were being met in Brooklyn.
      “As we got into it and researched, we realized that there was a great need for childcare in the Brooklyn Community,” said Essick in an earlier interview.
     The new daycare came about thanks to Shane Sissel and his wife, Susan, co-owners of the Brooklyn Community Estates and Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, seeing a need and working to provide a service for their employees and the community.
      The center is being operated through the Brooklyn Community Estates and Lisa Bauman is the daycare director. The daycare has 18 employees, including summer help.
        When asked, Bauman said everything is going great.
       “It is so wonderful to see the classrooms filled with children and their teachers,” she said. “We have had a "Get to Know Me" and "Garden" week theme so far, with "Bug Week" coming up next week. They were busy looking at seeds, planting flowers, measuring how tall they are and turning it into a flower. I've seen dancing, singing, playing outside. All sorts of fun activities. It is just amazing to see Bear Creek Kids Campus open. I look forward to coming every day, and we are so blessed with our staff, children, and parents.”
Daycare features
        The new 60-foot by 120-foot daycare center features five classrooms, offices, a service kitchen, employee breakroom and a large fenced in playground. The daycare center is designed to serve youth from six-weeks-old to 12-years-old and is licensed for 86 children.
       Since opening its doors, the daycare center is full in the 2-year-old classroom and ages 3 to 5 classroom. The summer camp for school age children is also full.
       A before and after school program remains in place. The after school portion has been in operation the entire school year at BGM Elementary. The before option is now available as well, with both being held at the daycare center.
       The new daycare was possible thanks to a State of Iowa Future Ready Childcare Grant in the amount of $426,225.
         The 50-50 matching grant was awarded on Sept. 13, 2022.
       The State of Iowa Future Ready Childcare Grant is directed toward employees of Iowa businesses for childcare needs to expand the number of slots in the state.
          A business applying for the grant is required to have 70 full-time employees or staff.
        With Brooklyn Community Estates being home to around 38 full-time employees, Essick said in an earlier interview that a non-monetary consortium was formed with BGM Community Schools, Manatts and the New Brooklyn Development organization to apply for the grant.
       The remaining funds to construct the childcare center were privately funded through revolving loans from the Brooklyn Mutual Telephone and CIPCO (Central Iowa Power Corporative).
        The Sissels broke ground on the new daycare center on Aug. 23, 2023. The land where the building is constructed was purchased from BGM Community Schools.
          The new daycare center is open to all families in Brooklyn and the surrounding areas.
          “We accept state childcare assistance,” noted Essick.
           Daycare hours of operation are 5:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
         A Bear Creek Kids Campus Facebook page has been created at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085489400055.
           For more information contact Bauman at [email protected] or at 641-715-7286.

​        The new 60-foot by 120-foot Bear Creek Kids Campus daycare center features five classrooms, offices, a service kitchen, employee breakroom and a large fenced in playground. The daycare center is designed to serve youth from six-weeks-old to 12-years-old and is licensed for 86 children. It opened on Monday, May 6 after nearly two years of planning and construction. Submitted photo.

       One of five classrooms at Bear Creek Kids Campus in Brooklyn is ready to serve area youngsters. The new daycare is licensed for 86 children from 6-weeks-old to 12-years-old. It opened on May 6. Photo by J.O. Parker.

​        Two youngsters enjoy play and rest time in the nursery at the newly opened Bear Creek Kids Campus in Brooklyn. The new daycare was made possible thanks to a State of Iowa Future Ready Childcare Grant that owners directed toward employees of Iowa businesses for childcare needs to expand the number of slots in the state. Scott and Susan Sissel, co-owners of the Brooklyn Community Estates and Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, applied for the grant and along with additional loans, constructed the new daycare, which opened its doors on Monday, April 6. Photo by J.O. Parker.

        One of the five classrooms at the Bear Creek Kids Campus is ready to serve local youth. Submitted photo.

          One of the five classrooms at the Bear Creek Kids Campus is ready to serve local youth. The new daycare center is open to all families in Brooklyn and the surrounding areas and state childcare assistance is accepted. Submitted photo.