About Huckleberry
Huckleberry Child Care Society (HCCS) was founded in 2014 and is a non-profit organization that offers affordable, creative, innovative, quality, early learning to children and families in Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast. We are located at 464 South Fletcher Road, Gibsons, in the Art Building beside the Public Library.
Opening Hours are: 8.00 am- 5.00 pm – Monday to Friday.
Our facility is licensed by Vancouver Coastal Health for 16 children aged 30 months – 5 years. Our Centre is closed for a two-week summer break and a two-week winter break. We are also closed for all Statutory Holidays.
Our Centre is welcoming, inclusive, safe, enriching and supportive for children, families, caregivers and early childhood professionals. Children learn in a loving, playful and bright atmosphere that has ocean views and is surrounded by nature. Our Art and Play garden is specially designed and features a natural playscape.
HCCS is a $10Day Child Care program and in collaboration with our Provincial, Federal and local Governments, we recognize that childcare is an essential service for families and we provide an environment that supports all children’s well-being and learning. Our province is committed to building childcare as a core service that is available to every family that wants it, when they need it and at a price they can afford.
Our Childcare space is available to rent for a nominal fee. The space is to be used for early childhood educational workshops or childcare programs that support our vision and values.
Our Vision: Huckleberry imagines community-focused, place-based and arts-oriented programming for quality early years education and care as an integral part of a thriving Sunshine Coast.
Our Mission: To provide child-directed early learning in an inclusive environment that respects and responds to our community, the environment, families and staff, while maintaining a healthy organizational capacity.
A Day In the Life
- 8:00 - 9:00 AM - Outdoor play & drop off
- 9:30 AM - Snack Time
- 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM - Indoor Activity & Playtime
- 11:15 AM - Circle / Group Time
- 12:00 PM - Lunch Time
- 12:45 PM - Story Time
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Rest Time
(Children who haven’t fallen asleep get up 1:30 – 1:45 PM)
- 2:30 PM - Snack Time
- 3:00 PM - Outdoor Play Time
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Pick-Up
Philosophy of Care
Huckleberry Childcare offers creative, innovative and quality childcare to all children and families.
We welcome and celebrate inclusion and diversity.
Our Environment, Our People, Our Approach
- CREATES a safe, secure, joyful and nurturing space for children
- RESPECTS the diversity and uniqueness within each child and family supports children achieving to their fullest potential in our holistic program
- BELIEVES that play is the child’s best way to learn; we emphasize the creative process and social-personal discovery of imaginative play
- INSPIRES children to value and care for our natural surroundings, by highlighting outdoor activities and encouraging observation of the environment
- PARTNERS with families through ongoing communication, documentation of classes, invitation for participation, sharing of resources, and hosting school-based family events
- REPRESENTS children and families in the greater community
- Children learn from adults and other children, they learn by playing and actively being, and through repetition. Each child learns at his or her own rate and in his or her own way; Huckleberry will guide each child in personal achievement and in documenting the learning process.
- Outdoor learning is associated with positive learning outcomes, including improved academic achievement, increased focus, lower stress and anxiety, positive health outcomes and improved physical fitness. We spend time outside each and every day.
- Art is a powerful form of communication and an early literacy tool. Huckleberry encourages children to tell their own stories and record important parts of their day via artistic expression