Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center

Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center 'Lighthouse' is all about experimental learning within a child directed, Christian curriculum, enriched by art, literacy, science, math and musical activities.

A Unique Learning Place for Young Children

We are a state - licensed Preschool program open to all children ages 3-5 We provide a unique, developmentally appropriate learning experience for young children. We address all areas of early childhood learning: intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual. Our Preschool emphasizes creativity, socialization and cooperative play. Some of our

indoor and outdoor activities include: Art, Blocks, Manipulative Activities, Sensory Table, Books, Music, Stories and other Orality (pre-reading) Activities, Woodworking, Riding and Push toys, Climbing, Exploring, Sand, Water, Nature Activities, Story Time and Bible Time. We offer the following pre-school classes:

2-day program: T-TH class: 9-12 pm
3-day program: M-W-F: 9-12 pm
5-day program M-F : 9am-12pm
5 full day M-F 8am-3pm


For information call Kate Bennett 860-228-2891

A Gentle Start For Tender Hearts

📚✨ Learning Literacy Through Hands-On Play! ✨📚At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we know that preschool litera...
08/22/2026

📚✨ Learning Literacy Through Hands-On Play! ✨📚
At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we know that preschool literacy doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk with a worksheet. Some of the best learning happens when little hands are busy and curious minds are engaged! 💚

Our little explorers build early literacy skills through hands-on activities like:
🔤 Exploring letters and sounds
✏️ Practicing name writing
📖 Enjoying stories and retelling them
🧩 Matching letters and words
🎨 Creating with letters through art and sensory play

When children can touch it, move it, build it, say it, and explore it, learning becomes meaningful—and fun! 🥰

We love watching those little “aha!” moments happen as children begin connecting letters, sounds, words, and stories to the world around them.

Learning to read and write starts with curiosity, play, and lots of hands-on discovery! 📚💚

And with a few spots still available, your little learner may be able to join us for all the fun! 🌿✨

🍂 Get Ready for Fall… and Get Ready to Get MUDDY! 🍂💦Fall is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited for ...
08/21/2026

🍂 Get Ready for Fall… and Get Ready to Get MUDDY! 🍂💦
Fall is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited for all the outdoor adventures that come with it! 🍁🐿️🌧️

At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we believe some of the best preschool learning happens outside—especially when the weather gets a little messy! Our outdoor spaces become places to explore, discover, imagine, and get hands-on with the world around us.

As the leaves begin to change and the days get cooler, we’re getting ready for:

🍂 Crunchy leaves to stomp through
💦 Puddles to splash in
🪵 Sticks, rocks, and treasures to discover
🌧️ Muddy days filled with sensory play
🐿️ Nature to observe and investigate
🍁 Fall colors to notice and enjoy
👢 And LOTS of outdoor adventures!

So, parents, it’s time to prepare for those wonderfully muddy preschool days! 😄

Think boots, rain gear, warm layers, extra clothes, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Because when little hands are digging, little feet are stomping, and curious minds are exploring, a little mud is part of the fun! 💚

And here’s some exciting news… we still have a few spots available! 🎉

If you have a little mud lover, nature explorer, puddle jumper, or curious adventurer who would thrive in a hands-on preschool environment, there may still be a place for them at Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center! 🥰🍂

Come join us for a season filled with puddles, laughter, discovery, and plenty of opportunities to learn through play.

Because childhood isn’t meant to stay clean. It’s meant to be explored! 🍂💦👢

We can’t wait to see where this fall’s adventures take us—and maybe your little explorer will be joining us! 🧡

🦋 And Then… They Emerged! 🦋The moment we had been waiting for finally arrived! After days of watching our chrysalises, w...
08/20/2026

🦋 And Then… They Emerged! 🦋
The moment we had been waiting for finally arrived! After days of watching our chrysalises, wondering, and patiently waiting, our monarch butterflies began to emerge. 🐛➡️🦋💚

One by one, our beautiful butterflies came out of their chrysalises and began the incredible process of unfolding their wings. At first, their wings were small and crumpled—but before long, they were stretched out and ready for the next chapter of their journey.

We watched with excitement and wonder as something that had seemed so still suddenly came to life right before our eyes. What an incredible reminder that sometimes the most amazing changes happen when we are simply waiting and watching. ✨

There was so much to observe and learn:
🦋 How butterflies emerge
🦋 How their wings change and strengthen
🦋 Why they need time before they can fly
🦋 The importance of patience
🦋 And the beauty of God’s creation

This experience has been more than learning about the monarch life cycle. It has been a hands-on lesson in patience, transformation, perseverance, and wonder.

At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we believe some of the best learning happens when there is an opportunity to slow down, ask questions, observe closely, and experience the wonders of creation firsthand.

From tiny eggs… to hungry caterpillars… to chrysalises… and finally, beautiful butterflies. 🐛💚🦋

What an incredible journey!

And now, it’s time for our butterflies to spread their wings and begin the next adventure. 💕🦋

And who knows… this fall, your child may be hopping onto an adventure of their own! 🍂🦋 They may have the opportunity to watch the incredible cycle of life of a butterfly unfold right before their eyes—from tiny beginnings to beautiful transformation. We can’t wait to see what adventures and discoveries the next season brings!

🦋 And Our Little Caterpillars Kept Growing! 🦋Our Monarch caterpillars didn’t stop there! Since our last update, they con...
08/19/2026

🦋 And Our Little Caterpillars Kept Growing! 🦋
Our Monarch caterpillars didn’t stop there! Since our last update, they continued to grow, eat, and change right before our eyes. 🐛💚

Before long, our once-tiny caterpillars had become big, healthy cats. Then came the next exciting step—they climbed all the way to the top of their habitat, found the perfect spot, and prepared for the next stage of their amazing journey.

And then… they formed chrysalises! 💚✨

Watching this process unfold has been such a wonderful reminder of how much happens during seasons of growth. What may look like a quiet or still moment is actually a time of incredible transformation.

For our children, growth can look that way too. Sometimes we see big, obvious milestones, and other times growth happens quietly beneath the surface. A new skill, a little more confidence, a new friendship, or the courage to try something independently may seem small—but each step is part of something much bigger.

At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we love giving children the opportunity to slow down, observe, wonder, and experience God’s creation firsthand. What started as a few tiny caterpillars has become an incredible hands-on lesson about patience, change, growth, and transformation.

And now, we wait. 🥰

Our chrysalises are hanging at the top of the habitat, and we are eagerly watching and wondering:

When will our butterflies emerge? 🦋

We can’t wait to share the next chapter of their journey with you!

🌼 A Few Preschool Spots Are Still Open! 🌼Looking for a preschool where your little one can feel loved, encouraged, and e...
08/19/2026

🌼 A Few Preschool Spots Are Still Open! 🌼
Looking for a preschool where your little one can feel loved, encouraged, and excited to learn? 💛 We still have a few spots available, and we’d love to welcome your family into our warm, close-knit community!

Our days are filled with opportunities to play, explore, create, and grow:

🌿 Outdoor adventures that inspire curiosity
🎨 Creative, messy crafts that let imaginations shine
🧸 Plenty of free play for building confidence and friendships
📚 Early literacy activities that make learning fun
🔢 Hands-on math exploration through play
✋ Motor skill activities that build coordination and independence
🎶 Art and music that fill our days with creativity and joy

💛 As a faith-based preschool, we also nurture kindness, gratitude, compassion, and a love for others in a caring and supportive environment.

With our small class size, each child gets the attention, encouragement, and individualized support they deserve. We want every child to know they are valued, capable, and loved. ✨

A few spots are still open for enrollment! If you’ve been searching for a joyful, nurturing place for your little learner, now is a wonderful time to come see what we’re all about.

📞 Contact us today to learn more or schedule a visit! We can’t wait to meet you and your little one! 💕

Watching our Monarch caterpillars grow has been nothing short of amazing! 🐛💚Just a short time ago, it was almost too tin...
08/06/2026

Watching our Monarch caterpillars grow has been nothing short of amazing! 🐛💚
Just a short time ago, it was almost too tiny to see. Now it's grown into a healthy, medium-sized caterpillar—and it's still eating almost nonstop! Every day brings noticeable changes as it continues preparing for the incredible transformation ahead.
One of the fascinating things about Monarch caterpillars is that they don't all grow at exactly the same pace. Some seem to race ahead, while others take a little more time. Each one follows the unique timeline God designed for it.
Children grow much the same way.
Every child develops new skills, discovers new interests, and reaches milestones in their own time. At Lighthouse Exploration & Learning Center, we celebrate those differences. We strive to meet each child where they are, providing the encouragement, support, and opportunities they need to flourish. Rather than expecting every child to grow in the same way or at the same speed, we nurture each unique learner as they become the person God created them to be.
Just like our hungry little caterpillar, growth happens one day, one bite, and one small step at a time. And those small steps add up to something truly remarkable.
We can't wait to show you how much bigger our little friend becomes in the days ahead! 🦋✨

Some exciting adventures are happening at the Lighthouse next week! 🏝️☀️Join us for a week filled with fun, laughter, cr...
07/25/2026

Some exciting adventures are happening at the Lighthouse next week! 🏝️☀️

Join us for a week filled with fun, laughter, crafts, music, games, and unforgettable memories as we explore SonTreasure Island together!

Children in Pre-K through those entering 6th grade are invited to join the treasure hunt. Our teachers are excited and ready to welcome everyone for an amazing week!

Vacation Bible School
📅 July 27–31**
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.

This free Vacation Bible School is sponsored by Baptist Fellowship, and there's still time to register!

Register today: https://www.baptistfellowship.life/children

We can't wait to see you there! 🌴🦜⚓

Look who is paying our preschool a visit this morning! 🥰
07/20/2026

Look who is paying our preschool a visit this morning! 🥰

🐛 Our tiny Monarch egg has hatched! 🦋If you blink, you might miss it! This brand-new caterpillar is incredibly small—so ...
07/14/2026

🐛 Our tiny Monarch egg has hatched! 🦋

If you blink, you might miss it! This brand-new caterpillar is incredibly small—so tiny that it's hard to capture clearly with a camera. Yet this little creature is about to begin one of the most amazing growth journeys in nature.

Over the next couple of weeks, this tiny caterpillar will grow many times its original size. To fuel that incredible growth, it has one very important job...eat! 🌿

Monarch caterpillars have a very specialized diet. They eat only milkweed leaves, which provide all the nutrients they need to grow and prepare for the next stage of their life cycle. It's amazing to think that something so small can eat so much in such a short time!

As we watch this little caterpillar grow each day, we're reminded that God often begins His greatest works with the smallest beginnings. With patience, care, and the perfect design He created, this tiny caterpillar will continue its incredible transformation.

Stay tuned as we follow our hungry little friend through the next stage of its journey. We can't wait to share just how quickly it grows! 🐛💚

Have you ever seen a newly hatched Monarch caterpillar? Tell us in the comments—we'd love to hear from you! 🦋

✨ What can a tiny egg teach a preschooler? More than you might imagine! 🦋🌿At Lighthouse Exploration and Learning Center,...
07/08/2026

✨ What can a tiny egg teach a preschooler? More than you might imagine! 🦋🌿

At Lighthouse Exploration and Learning Center, we believe some of the best learning happens when children experience the wonders of God's creation firsthand. That's why we love bringing nature into our classroom all year long—from pumpkins and apples in the fall to flowers in the spring and even snow in the winter. Every season offers new opportunities to explore, discover, and ask questions.

One of our most exciting classroom experiences has been observing the incredible life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. Watching a tiny egg become a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and finally emerge as a beautiful butterfly never loses its sense of wonder. Each stage is a beautiful reminder of God's amazing design and gives children the chance to practice patience, observation, and curiosity.

🦋 Over the next several posts, we'd love for you to join us on this incredible journey! We'll take a closer look at each stage of the Monarch butterfly's life cycle, beginning with the very first step—the tiny egg. You won't want to miss the amazing transformation that follows!

💛 Have you or your child ever raised Monarch butterflies or watched one grow from egg to butterfly? We'd love to hear about your experience! Share your favorite butterfly memory or drop a 🦋 in the comments if you'll be following along with our series.

Follow along as we discover, learn, and celebrate one of God's most remarkable creations—one stage at a time.

Address

195 US-6
Columbia, CT
06237

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 3pm
Tuesday 8am - 3pm
Wednesday 8am - 3pm
Thursday 8am - 3pm
Friday 8am - 3pm

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