Special Program Features
Kids Adventures is conveniently open on many holidays and MCPS professional school days. We also follow the MCPS administrative offices’ emergency closing schedule and remain open on many snow days at no additional cost.
Children enrolled at Kids Adventures benefit from a variety of enrichment programs, including Spanish, Chess, Yoga, Soccer, Swimming, and more! These enrichment activities are provided by specialists and come at no extra cost to our families, as they are not included in tuition fees.
In addition to these programs, we also host our own after-school clubs, which change monthly to keep activities fresh, exciting, and tailored to children’s interests. We encourage children to share their ideas for new clubs, fostering creativity and engagement. For example, students can participate in a Fashion Club, where they design and present a fashion show for their families, or join a Cooking Club led by a professional chef, where they learn valuable culinary skills.
Our diverse enrichment offerings and student-driven clubs provide children with unique opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and express themselves creatively.
Family Engagement Opportunities
Kids Adventures offers activities designed to encourage parent involvement, such as parent meetings, holiday potlucks, end-of-year celebrations, and club events/performances. We warmly welcome and encourage all parents to visit and participate in the activities we offer.
However, it’s important to remember that while parents are valued participants, they are not staff members and should not be expected to take on staff roles.
To ensure the safety and well-being of both parents and children, we have established a set of guidelines for parents to follow when participating in Kids Adventures activities.
Methodology
At Kids Adventures, our methodology is rooted in fostering a nurturing, engaging, and supportive environment where children can thrive. We achieve this through child-centered approach. We recognize that every child is unique, and our programs are designed to meet the diverse needs, interests, and developmental stages of each individual. We encourage exploration, creativity, and curiosity through hands-on activities. We empower children to make choices, solve problems, and build confidence.
The safety and well-being of children are our top priorities. We maintain a high staff-to-child ratio to ensure individualized care and supervision. We encourage social interaction and teamwork to build interpersonal skills.
We believe strong partnerships with families are essential for a child’s success. Kids Adventures welcomes parent involvement through events, feedback, and open communication.
Kids Adventures incorporates community-based projects and volunteer opportunities into our programs. Our staff regularly participate in professional development and training to stay informed on the latest best practices in childcare and education.
Food Services
Kids Adventures provides a light breakfast from 7:30am to 8:30am for early arrivals each morning and an afternoon snack. During meals and snacks, children can choose between water or milk. We prioritize the health and well-being of the children in our care by serving fresh fruits or vegetables daily, ensuring they have access to nutritious snacks that support their growth and energy needs. At least four times a week, these fresh options are integrated into our program's meals or snacks, fostering healthy eating habits and introducing children to various wholesome foods. All snacks are low in sodium, low in fat, and made with whole wheat or whole grains. We prioritize limiting fats, sodium, and sugar by reading nutrition labels and serving snacks with no added sugar. All cheese served is made with whole milk. Following childcare regulations, 1% white cow milk is served at every snack and breakfast, and sugary drinks are not offered at any time. Water is always available to children.
Hours
Kids Adventures at Takoma Park (KATP)
We are open Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM until the school bell rings, and we resume care at the release bell until 6:30 PM.
Professional and Early Release Days
KATP remains open on all MCPS professional and early release days.
Holidays
We are open on most holidays and school breaks. Please refer to our calendar for specific dates.
Daily Schedule
AM Activities
Light Breakfast
Arts and crafts
Group games
PM Activities
Healthy snack
Homework time
Club events: Theater, dancing, yoga, chess, swimming, and more
Choice time: Free play art, board games, playground, gym time, or reading
Clean up
Meet Our Staff
Andrea Green | Site Director Andrea is the Director for Kids Adventures at Takoma Park Elementary School. She has been working with Kids Adventures for 10 years. She graduated from Montgomery College with an Associate of Arts in General Studies. She is now a part time student at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Her family and friends mean the world to her! Takoma Park has been her home her whole life! She is also a Special Ed Para Educator at TPES. Her favorite superhero is Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls!
Linda Mitchell | Assistant Director Linda is the Assistant Director for Kids Adventures at Takoma Park Elementary School. She has been with Kids Adventures for 10 years. She started working with children at Montgomery County Recreation Department in 1987. Over the past 20 years, Linda has impacted and changed the lives of many children, most who went to daycare between the ages of two and twelve. She completed 3 years of undergraduate study, earned the 90 Hour Early Childhood Education certification, her Child Development Associated Credential (CDA) and is currently at a level 4 for the Maryland Childcare Credentialing Program. During her spare time, she enjoys watching her son run track for Virginia Tech University. Her favorite movie is The Sound of Music.
| Teacher !
Matthew and Tyler | Aides