United Way of Northern Arizona — Providing Child Care in the Grand Canyon

For most of the past year, Kaibab Learning Center has been able to remain open, an amazing feat for the child care provider as it celebrates 20 years of serving the Grand Canyon area.

There was an initial closure when the pandemic first began, but on June 29, 2020, KLC reopened its doors, providing child care, preschool, after-school and summer school programs for dozens of families.

“With the exception of our six holiday days, our center prides itself on being there every single weekday, Monday through Friday,” said KLC Assistant Director Andrea Ramsey.

Not that it’s been easy.

Before 2020, KLC usually had 50 to 60 children under its care on any given day. At the height of the pandemic, that number got cut in half as many families lost their jobs or had to move because of COVID.

At the same time, KLC had increased cost as it needed to purchase more cleaning and classroom supplies.

“We needed new toys that could be easily disinfected,” Ramsey said. “Wooden toys had to be stored away temporarily.”

A grant from United Way of Northern Arizona helped KLC meet those new needs. The group was able to purchase items like plastic blocks, learning mats, and a new stroller. The grant also financed the purchase of additional cleaning supplies needed because of COVID-19.

KLC serves infants and toddlers and preschoolers up to age 5. It has a summer programs for children ages 5 to 12, and an afterschool program open to children up to 12 years old.

As the country opens up more and Grand Canyon vendors and the National Park Services hire more employees, KLC now has about 45 children each day, but has room for many more students.