School Age Care

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Summer with EmBe’s School Age Summer Care!

Mikena VanLiere2025-03-26T10:20:32-05:00

Our team is excited to make 2025 a year to remember at our Harrisburg and Sioux Falls schools! With a summer full of laughter, learning, and adventure, we’ve designed our School Age Summer Care program to give children a fun and enriching experience that nurtures their growth. Children from Kindergarten through 5th grade (ages 5-12) will enjoy a summer filled with: Exciting field trips to state parks, pools, dairy farms, city parks, the zoo, and more—all included at no extra cost. Engaging activities like swimming, sports, games, and hands-on learning. A worry-free experience for parents with everything in one program! [...]

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Summer with EmBe’s School Age Summer Care!Mikena VanLiere2025-03-26T10:20:32-05:00

Family Spotlight: Erin Healy + Brandon De Jong’s Story

Mikena VanLiere2025-01-08T14:55:16-06:00

Providing quality and accessible childcare to our community is at the heart of who we are at EmBe. Our mission thrives because of the connection we share with families who bring joy and purpose to everything we do. In today’s childcare climate, quality and reliable childcare is pivotal for working families. We’re honored to support parents like Erin Healy and Brandon De Jong as they navigate their professional and personal lives. Erin, a state legislator and healthcare professional, and Brandon, a successful entrepreneur, have been making strides in their respective fields. Their journey with EmBe began through various community programs, [...]

Family Spotlight: Erin Healy + Brandon De Jong’s StoryMikena VanLiere2025-01-08T14:55:16-06:00

Summer Fun, Learning, and Experiences Start at EmBe

Mikena VanLiere2024-01-26T16:28:52-06:00

Enrollment for 2024 Summer School Age Care Begins December 18 EmBe, a community-based non-profit providing services, and programming for children, women, and families, announced today open enrollment for 2024 Summer School Age Care at their Harrisburg and EmBe South locations. Enrollment for Community Learning Center Summer Care in the Sioux Falls Public Schools opens January 2, 2024. The summer session offers a variety of experiences, engagement, continuous learning, and adventure. Children develop friendships and new skills with unique learning opportunities and hands-on involvement. They experience a full summer of activities like swimming, sports, reading, and games. EmBe also provides weekly [...]

Summer Fun, Learning, and Experiences Start at EmBeMikena VanLiere2024-01-26T16:28:52-06:00

Staff Spotlight: Derrick Spader – School Age Care Manager

Mikena VanLiere2022-08-18T13:17:14-05:00

“My vision for EmBe is for us to be at the front, leading the way and setting the standard of quality childcare and community empowerment.” After 100 years of serving Sioux Falls, EmBe has built a strong workplace culture that inspires employees like Derrick Spader to bring their best every day. Less than one month in his new role as School Age Care Manager, Derrick can already tell EmBe is different. The spirit of his fellow staff members is unlike anything he’s experienced before. “Everyone I have interacted with is passionate about what we do here at EmBe,” says Derrick, [...]

Staff Spotlight: Derrick Spader – School Age Care ManagerMikena VanLiere2022-08-18T13:17:14-05:00

EmBe CEO Column: August 2022

Mikena VanLiere2022-08-10T10:08:31-05:00

Advancing Everyone’s Business Gratitude can be a difficult feeling for us to access under challenging circumstances and none seem to be as challenging as the childcare crisis impacting parents and providers today. As I take this time to reflect in the quiet, the stressful memories of the week dissipate, and scenes from our classrooms surface in their place. My mind goes to the moments where I watch teachers give their undivided attention to each student, the tears they shed as their students learn something new, and the sadness on their faces when a student progresses to a new room. Just [...]

EmBe CEO Column: August 2022Mikena VanLiere2022-08-10T10:08:31-05:00

Megan Willroth: School Age Care Site Coordinator at Freedom

Mikena VanLiere2021-02-19T16:07:07-06:00

Megan Willroth is an After School Care Site Coordinator at Freedom Elementary in Harrisburg. Each day she makes sure that programs are running smoothly and EmBe's values are reflected through the things we do and teach on our offsite locations. "I try to make the before and after school program a safe space for the kids." Megan starts, "I am proud of the kids every day when they enjoy the things I have planned for them and choose to be vulnerable with me after a hard day at school." We are so fortunate for our childcare and school age care [...]

Megan Willroth: School Age Care Site Coordinator at FreedomMikena VanLiere2021-02-19T16:07:07-06:00

EmBe awarded Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant for collaborative project

Mikena VanLiere2020-12-22T09:33:29-06:00

EmBe has been awarded a Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant. The $200,000 award provides funding for a two-year collaborative project to develop a framework for a shared child and school age care substitute staffing pool. This pool of trained staff will meet day-to-day needs across multiple organizations. The project grew out of the Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative, convened and facilitated by Sioux Falls Thrive. The group has been meeting for several years with a focus on advancing sustainable child and school age care. COVID has propelled the group into the spotlight as the essential work of childcare providers has affected [...]

EmBe awarded Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant for collaborative projectMikena VanLiere2020-12-22T09:33:29-06:00

EmBe Vehicle Fund Drive

Mikena VanLiere2020-01-21T11:59:22-06:00

Sioux Falls (January 13, 2020) -- Friday, December 13th held true to its reputation for EmBe, when two vans and a bus were disabled in the parking lot at EmBe South, just off of 69th and Louise in Sioux Falls. EmBe uses the vehicles to safely carry children on field trips, to transport them to EmBe for care, and to support programs like FIRST LEGO League, Girls on the Run, and swimming. That day, these vehicles were taken out of service through thefts of the catalytic converters. The vans were repairable, but the bus was not, creating a needless expense. The [...]

EmBe Vehicle Fund DriveMikena VanLiere2020-01-21T11:59:22-06:00

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic Play

Mikena VanLiere2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

In the Dramatic Play Area children take on different roles and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make-believe to deepen their understanding about the world they live in. The ability to pretend is very important to your child’s development. Children who know how to make believe develop a good vocabulary, which is important for reading. They learn to cooperate with others and solve problems, and are able to think abstractly—all important skills for success in school. When children pretend, they have to recall experiences and re-create them. To do this, they need to picture their experiences in their minds. [...]

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic PlayMikena VanLiere2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

After School Day at the Capitol

Mikena VanLiere2019-02-11T08:32:11-06:00

The South Dakota School-Age Care Alliance and South Dakota Afterschool Network hosted Afterschool Day at the Capitol on February 6. As part of the program, the FIRST LEGO League First Place Champion traveled to Pierre to share their presentation and talk to our legislators. The team When Life Gives You Llamas from O’Gorman Junior High School in Sioux Falls, SD, presented to the Democratic Caucus and was part of the recognition of FIRST LEGO League on the floor of the House. It is an incredible honor, as well as a powerful example of STEM programming, team building, and gracious professionalism. [...]

After School Day at the CapitolMikena VanLiere2019-02-11T08:32:11-06:00