Childcare

Little Scholars

Little Scholars is a partnership between the YMCA of Southern Interior BC (YMCA SIBC) and the Okanagan College, offering childcare on the Kelowna campus since 2009.

The YMCA SIBC operates and supervises the day-to-day operations of the centre, providing childcare spaces for both students and staff at the Okanagan College. Little Scholars provides 63 flexible licensed childcare spaces for:

  • Infant care for children aged newborn to 30 months – 8 spaces
  • Kinder care -10 spaces
  • Children 3-5 years – 25 spaces
  • Preschool education program: 20 spaces

The 3,000-square-foot centre features three separate active play areas, one quiet room, an office, storage, washrooms, kitchen facilities and a secured outdoor playground space.

If you are interested in Little Scholars at Okanagan College in Kelowna campus, please call 250-762-5445, ext. 5653. You can also refer to the following resources on the YMCA SIBC website:

Exterior view of the Little Scholars at Okanagan College child care building

Little Learners Academy

Little Learners Academy, located at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus, opened its doors in September 2017. It offers infant and toddler care, daycare for ages 3 to 5, preschool and after-school care. Experienced, certified and well-trained staff provide care to children.
The Child Care Centre is open to families in the South Okanagan as well as children of Okanagan College students and employees. Extended hours of operation are available to accommodate early and evening classes, as well as shift workers in the community.

Exterior view of the Little Learners Academy child care building

Registering your child

Little Learners Academy is operated by OneSky Community Resources (formerly Penticton and District Community Resources). All inquiries about registering your child in Little Learners should be directed to OneSky:

Sustainable features

The facility is built to meet Passive House principles, a performance-based, voluntary, international construction standard for energy-efficient buildings that developed in Germany in the 1990s. Designed by Penticton’s Landform Architecture Ltd. and built by Ritchie Custom Homes, the facility has garnered three awards:

  • Canadian Green Building Award, Institutional (Small) Award, 2018
  • First Passive House-certified child care centre in Canada
  • 2018 Tommie Awards, Best Environmental Initiative in Construction, Silver Finalist

Funding

The project was made possible by a $500,000 investment by the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development and support from donors throughout the area. The Okanagan College Foundation embarked on a fundraising campaign to raise $700,000. More information and ways to support is available at the Foundation.

Sunflower Childcare Centre

The Sunflower Childcare Centre / smúkʷaʔxn̓ scəcəmalla itskn snmaʔmayaʔtn is located at Okanagan College’s Vernon Campus. This stunning location overlooks Kalamalka lake, has trails linking to Okanagan College’s Indigenous garden, and provides the perfect space for the Centre’s curated outdoor play areas.

The Sunflower Childcare Centre is operated by Maven Lane a non-profit, respected local provider with over 550 local children in their care.

The centre provides:

  • 32 spaces for 3-5 year olds
  • 12 spaces for infant/toddlers
  • Outdoor play space
  • Linked to Indigenous garden
Renderings of childcare centre

If you are interested in the Sunflower Childcare Centre / smúkʷaʔxn̓ scəcəmalla itskn snmaʔmayaʔtn at Okanagan College at Vernon Campus, please call 250-762-5445.

You can also refer to the following resources on the Maven Lane website:

About Maven Lane Maven Lane Programs Maven Lane Programming Hours and Contact Information