Heroic strides at Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers
In spite of the challenges of the pandemic, Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers (CACC) has a lot to celebrate as they mark the impressive milestone of providing 50 years of quality, affordable, educational childcare in Talbot County. Originally named Easton Day Care, Critchlow Adkins has had a profound impact on the fabric of its community, having educated and enriched the lives of more than 12,000 children and four generations of families.
Two visionary women, Happy Critchlow and Janice Adkins, understood that providing reliable childcare would allow parents to work and families to thrive. From a few rooms in St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Critchlow Adkins has grown to include five sites which serve over 400 children in their preschool, pre-K-5th grade before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs.
Over the past five decades, Critchlow Adkins has remained committed to its original mission. Dedicated teachers and age-appropriate programs are at the heart of CACC’s success. Utilizing Maryland State Department of Education approved curriculum, Critchlow Adkins teachers are able to prepare their preschool children with the skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, and its accredited programs give students a solid educational foundation.
For families who are working yet struggle financially, Critchlow Adkins provides approximately $100,000 a year in tuition assistance. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of individuals, area businesses and foundations.
The primary goal of the teachers at Critchlow Adkins, many of whom have been with the organization for over 15 years, is to encourage the growth and development of each child. Because of the challenges that COVID-19 created, the teachers had to redesign every aspect of their classrooms to ensure the safety and well-being of their children, families, and themselves. Additionally, CACC teachers creatively modified all their lessons so that students could work individually and still have fun. Although simple enough in theory, planning individual lessons for preschoolers is quite a feat because little kids are very busy and love to share.
This past fall, when area public schools opted not to have in-person learning, Critchlow Adkins expanded their pre-K – 5th grade before- and after-school care to all-day programs. Their school age students have benefited because CACC teachers have been there to help children log on to their virtual classrooms and offer the academic support and additional instruction necessary.
Forty community partnerships enrich Critchlow Adkins programing. Prior to COVID-19, CACC students took field trips to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, worked with visiting artists from the Academy Art Museum and enjoyed learning about planets from a traveling planetarium courtesy of PNC Bank. The teachers and staff look forward to the time when they can once again include these and many other wonderful experiences in their programs.
Talented staff, engaging programs, and community support make Critchlow Adkins Children Centers a premier provider of outstanding childcare.
For more information or to enroll your child in one of CACC’s programs, please call 410.822.8061 or visit www.cacckids.org
