Ithaca Community Childcare Center - IC3

🎉💙 Celebrating 20 Amazing Years! 💙🎉

Please join us in congratulating Erika Brooks on an incredible 20 years with the IC3 family! 🥳🎊

For two decades, Erika has been a staple and steadfast force at our offsite Kendal program location. She began her IC3 journey as an Infant/Toddler Teacher before stepping into her role as Kendal Age Group Leader, where her leadership, dedication, and passion continue to make a lasting impact every day. 🌟

Erika has a special gift for building strong, meaningful relationships with the children, families, and coworkers she serves. ❤️ She creates an environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow, while also being a trusted teammate and mentor to those around her.

One of Erika's greatest strengths is her unwavering positivity. Even on the toughest days, she greets children and staff with kindness, patience, and a smile. 😊 Her calm demeanor, compassionate heart, and steady leadership make her an invaluable part of the IC3 community.

Thank you, Erika, for your 20 years of dedication, leadership, and love. We are so grateful for everything you do and the countless lives you've touched along the way. Here's to celebrating this incredible milestone and many more years to come! 🎉💐💙

👏 Congratulations, Erika! Happy 20th Anniversary! 🎈🎉

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🎉💙 Celebrating 19 Incredible Years – Melinda Sims! 💙🎉

Help us celebrate Melinda Sims on her amazing 19-year anniversary with the IC3 family! 🥳🎈✨

Melinda’s journey at IC3 is a true example of dedication, growth, and commitment to children and families. 🌟 She started her IC3 career as a Full-Time Teacher’s Assistant, where she quickly became known for her flexibility and willingness to jump in wherever she was needed throughout the center. Whether supporting a classroom, helping a team, or taking on a new challenge, Melinda was always ready to lend a hand! 💪💙

Over the years, Melinda continued to grow as an educator, becoming a Teacher in the Penguin Classroom 🐧 and now adding the role of Infant/Toddler Age Group Leader to her incredible IC3 journey. 👶🍼 Her experience and passion have allowed her to support not only the children in her care but also the educators she works alongside.

Melinda has a wonderful ability to guide and encourage her team, helping staff grow, reflect, and become the best educators they can be. 🌱✨ She brings a strong commitment to quality and holds herself and those around her to high standards—always with the goal of creating the best possible experience for children and families. 💙

One of Melinda’s greatest strengths is the meaningful connections she builds. ❤️ She forms strong, trusting relationships with the children and families she serves, creating a classroom environment where children feel supported, valued, and cared for.

Thank you, Melinda, for 19 years of dedication, leadership, flexibility, and passion for IC3. Your commitment to children, families, and your fellow educators has made such a positive impact on our community. We are so grateful to have you as part of the IC3 family! 💙🎉

👏🌟 Happy 19-Year Anniversary, Melinda! 🌟👏

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🌟💙 IC3 Alumni Spotlight | Celebrating 50 Years 💙🌟

As we celebrate 50 years of IC3, we're excited to highlight the amazing journeys of our alumni! This week, we're featuring Lucas Cochran! 🎉

Lucas was part of the IC3 family from 2012–2020, growing through our Guppy, Koala, Afterschool, and Summer Camp programs. It's been incredible to watch him grow from a young child into a confident and talented young adult.

Today, Lucas is preparing to enter 10th grade at Trumansburg High School, where he has discovered a love for theatre. Last year, he starred in the Drama Club's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella! 🎭✨

This summer, we've been thrilled to welcome Lucas back to IC3—this time as an Apprentice in our Penguin Classroom! Seeing former students return to inspire the next generation is one of the many things that makes our IC3 community so special.

When asked about his favorite IC3 memories, Lucas shared that he loved playing lightsabers with his friends and making pancakes in the Koala Classroom. 🥞⚔️ Those special moments are what childhood is all about!

Thank you, Lucas, for being part of the IC3 story. We can't wait to see all the wonderful things your future holds!

💙 Happy 50th Anniversary, IC3! Here's to celebrating the children, families, and alumni who have made the last five decades so memorable. 🎉

🎨📚 IC3 Summer Camp Recap: Art Week ➡️ Book Week! ☀️💙

We've had two incredible weeks of learning, creativity, and adventure at IC3 Summer Camp! 🌟

🎨 Week 4: Art Week
Our campers became true artists as they explored a variety of fun and unique art techniques! Their masterpieces included:
🖌️ Warm & Cool Color Projects
🖐️ 3D Handprint Art
🎈 Balloon & Yarn Art
🫧 Bubble Art (using straws to blow colorful bubbles onto paper!)
🫘 Bean Art

The week ended with our IC3 Summer Camp Art Gallery 🖼️, where families were invited to walk through the gallery and admire their campers' amazing creations. It was wonderful to see our young artists proudly showing off their hard work and creativity! ❤️

📚 Week 5: Book Week
This week has been all about stories, imagination, and literacy! Campers enjoyed a special trip to the Tompkins County Public Library 📖, where they explored books and discovered all the library has to offer.

Some of our classrooms even became authors and illustrators, creating and writing their very own books, including The Little Pig, Three Dinosaurs, and The Stick House! 🐷🦖🏡 Their creativity and storytelling skills have been amazing to watch grow.

Summer Camp continues to be filled with smiles, laughter, learning, and unforgettable memories. We can't wait to see what adventures next week brings! ☀️💙

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🚒 Mark your calendars! 🚒

The 33rd Annual Ithaca Professional Firefighters Kid’s Day is almost here, and we can’t wait to see everyone at Stewart Park for a day full of fun, learning, and community!

📅 Saturday, August 15
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Stewart Park

Bring the whole family and enjoy:
🚒 Fire truck rides
💦 Hose spray activities
🧗 Rope zip line
🧯 Hands-on fire extinguisher demonstration
📚 Fire safety education for all ages
🎈 Free helmets, balloons, rulers, pencils, wristbands, and more (while supplies last!)

This is one of our favorite traditions of the year, giving kids the opportunity to meet their local firefighters, learn valuable safety skills, and have a blast in a safe, family-friendly environment.

🎉 Celebrating 2 Wonderful Years at IC3! 🎉

Today we're celebrating Erin Schmidt and her 2-year anniversary at IC3! 💚

Over the past two years, Erin has built such meaningful connections with the children in her care. Her warm, caring personality and positive energy help every child feel welcomed, supported, and valued each day. ❤️

One thing that's for sure—you can always count on Erin when it comes to hair! 💇‍♀️✨ Whether it's a simple braid or a fun hairstyle to brighten a child's day, Erin has become the go-to person for braiding hair. The children absolutely love sitting with her, and those special moments are just another example of the kindness and care she brings to her role.

Thank you, Erin, for the joy, compassion, and dedication you bring to IC3 every day. We are so grateful to have you as part of our team and look forward to many more years together!

Happy 2-Year Anniversary! 🎉👏💚

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🎉💚 IC3 Alumni Spotlight | Celebrating 50 Years of IC3! 💚🎉

As we continue celebrating IC3's 50th Anniversary, we're thrilled to reconnect with the amazing individuals who have been part of our community over the years. Today, we're featuring Isaac Malone! 🌟

Isaac attended IC3 from 2003–2013, growing through our Butterfly Infant/Toddler Classroom, Hedgehog Pre-K Classroom, as well as our Afterschool and Summer Camp programs. 💚 Over the course of a decade at IC3, Isaac experienced so many opportunities to learn, play, explore, and build friendships that would last well beyond his childhood.

Recently, Isaac graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. 🎓🧠 Since graduating, he has been working with children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities, gaining valuable experience while exploring the many ways he can apply his degree. He is currently researching master's programs as he plans the next steps in his career and continues pursuing his passion for helping others. ❤️

When reflecting on his time at IC3, Isaac shared some wonderful memories that many former campers and students can relate to!

🚲 Riding trikes and bikes around the large gym was always a favorite activity.

⚡ And when it came to Afterschool, nothing beat spending time with friends playing Pokémon cards and sharing in the fun together!

It's these everyday moments—playing, laughing, learning, and building friendships—that make IC3 such a special place for so many children.

Congratulations, Isaac, on all you've accomplished! We are so proud of everything you've achieved and wish you the very best as you continue your educational and professional journey.

Thank you for being part of the IC3 family and helping us celebrate 50 years of inspiring young learners and creating lifelong memories! 💚🎉

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💚👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Happy National Parent Appreciation Day! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💚

Today, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank the incredible parents, guardians, grandparents, and caregivers who make such a difference in the lives of their children every single day. 🌟

In early childhood, families are a child's first and most important teachers. ❤️ From reading bedtime stories 📚 and encouraging curiosity 🔍 to offering comfort after a tough day 🤗 and celebrating every milestone 🎉, the love and support you provide lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

At IC3, we know that the strongest early childhood experiences happen when families and educators work together. Your partnership, trust, communication, and involvement help create an environment where children feel safe, confident, and excited to learn. 🌈🍎

Thank you for:
💚 Trusting us with your children each day.
📖 Supporting their growth and development at home.
🎨 Encouraging creativity, curiosity, and kindness.
👏 Cheering on every accomplishment—big and small.
❤️ Being an essential part of the IC3 community.

We are honored to partner with you during these important early years and are grateful for the opportunity to watch your children learn, grow, and thrive.

Happy National Parent Appreciation Day! Thank you for all you do—not just today, but every day. 💐

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