Theresa Jekel Family Child Care is the first certified Nature Explore Classroom in the state of Colorado. Daily, children have an opportunity to grow & learn while playing in the following natural delineated areas; Climbing & Crawling, Build-it, Music & Movement, Messy Materials, Sensory Garden, Dirt Diggin, and more. What does this mean for my child? It means an emphasis on unstructured and unhurried playtime, centered on your child’s natural curiosity, interest and energy. It means rich, daily hands-on natural play experiences, which provide your child a sense of wonder! It means process, rather than product. It means age-appropriate development, open-ended learning opportunities, 3-dimensional visual/spatial strengthening, stimulating and engaging sensory experiences, all within a safe, healthy, nurturing child-oriented environment, which experts agree, is the foundation for school readiness and higher learning. 

Theresa Jekel holds an Experienced Child Care License and has provided child care in the state of Colorado since 1988. Theresa Jekel holds over 475 hours of training certificates of early childhood core knowledge areas, as well as, current first aid and CPR. She was a pioneer in holding a National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation in the early 90’s, which states, “…for exemplifying the NAFCC Code of Excellence and attaining the highest standard of quality for family child care profession by successfully completing the Accreditation.” Additionally, she was President of the Association of Family Child Care Homes in Larimer County in years 1993 and 1994, of which she remains a long-time member, as well as, a member of the Licensed Family Child Care Association. Theresa Jekel was a 2001 Home o the Year Nomination for the Larimer County Early Childhood Council Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Care and Education.