Hundreds of local children participate in Fourth Early Literacy Fall event

Outreach Manager Joan Whitson reported to Historic City News this week that the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida hosted their fourth early literacy Fall event at the Amazing Grace Crop Maze in Green Cove Springs. Twenty-one local preschools attended the day’s event for a total of 430 children.

During the morning hours, the venue provided hay rides to preschool children which drove them through pumpkin patches. In the afternoon, there was a crop-maze science adventure. Children also enjoyed a mini hay bale maze and were included in other various farm attractions such as rat rollers, duck races, a giant corn popper trampoline and visiting Uncle Buck’s farm animals.

“The Early Learning Coalition always enjoys partnering with Amazing Grace Crop Maze,” Whitson told local reporters. “Amazing Grace introduced a great learning experience to the children with an emphasis on literacy and agriculture.”

Outreach Manager Joan Whitson

Early Learning Coalition’s staff and volunteers were also on-hand providing an extra craft activity while they handed to each child a free copy of the book “Spookley the Square Pumpkin” by Joe Troiano. Child care providers in attendance from St Johns, Bradford, Clay, Putnam, and Duval counties received a bagful of assorted Spookley books as well as other Fall-related books.

The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, visit us at elcnorthflorida.org