BLACK HAWK — After more than two years without a licensed childcare center in Gilpin County, Gilpin Mountain Kids Early Learning Center is officially open and welcoming families, with open enrollment and no waiting list.

Inside the center, classrooms are clearly defined by age and staffing ratios. The infant classroom is licensed for up to 10 children from eight weeks to 18 months, with a 1-to-5 teacher-child ratio. 

The preschool classroom serves children ages 2-1/2 to 6 years, with space for up to 20 children and a mixed-age ratio of one teacher for every ten children.

The center is led by Director Amy Carr, who has 18 years of experience in early childhood education and holds a bachelor’s degree from Knox College and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado Denver.

The nonprofit center opened December 3 at 10655 Highway 119, the former home of Eagles’ Nest Early Learning Center. The return of local childcare marks a significant step forward for parents who have struggled to find this service since Eagles’ Nest closed in 2023.

“We’re here, we’re licensed, and we have space,” said Director Amy Carr. “There’s no wait list right now. If families need care, we want them to reach out.”

Gilpin Mountain Kids currently has six children enrolled, with room available across all age groups. Carr said the immediate focus is letting families know that childcare is once again available in the county.

“We need kids here,” she said. “That’s really the biggest thing.”

Flexible care and quick enrollment

Unlike many childcare centers in neighboring communities, Gilpin Mountain Kids does not have a long waiting list. Carr said families can typically complete enrollment and begin care within about a week, depending on paperwork and required medical forms.

The center offers flexible scheduling options, including part-week care and half days. Carr said that flexibility is especially important in Gilpin County, where not every family needs full-time care.

“Not everyone needs five days a week,” she said. “Some families just need a couple of days so they can work or take care of things.”

Gilpin Mountain Kids also accepts Colorado Child Care Assistance Program funding, known as CCAP, helping make care accessible to families who qualify.

Inside the center

The roughly 5,000 square-foot building holds four classrooms, including the infant room, toddler rooms for up to 20 children, and a preschool room licensed for up to 20 children.

Carr said the infant room is expected to open in January as staffing is finalized. The center currently employs four teachers, all local or nearby, and plans to hire additional staff as enrollment grows.

The program follows a play-based model, with structured routines built around children’s needs. Days include meals and snacks, naps, indoor learning through play, and outdoor time when weather allows.

“We’re trying to follow the child’s schedule,” Carr said. “We’re not pushing academics. We’re building social skills, comfort, and confidence.”

Learning from the past

Gilpin Mountain Kids was formed after the closure of Eagles’ Nest, which struggled financially despite emergency County funding in 2023. County leaders and the Childcare Steering Committee took a different approach this time, creating a nonprofit model with clearer oversight and long-term planning.

Gipin’s Board of County Commissioners disbursed $100,000 to Gilpin Mountain Kids in early 2025 to help cover startup costs, licensing, building improvements, and staffing. The organization is presently awaiting final IRS approval of its 501(c)(3) status.

The center’s name, “Mountain Kids,” is a nod to mountain goats and the resilience of local families, a connection previously noted by Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth.

Ready now

Carr said the center feels prepared to meet the community’s childcare needs as enrollment builds. The organization has applied for grants and participates in the King Soopers Community Rewards Program to support long-term sustainability.

“There’s been such a huge gap,” Carr said. “We’re here now, and we want families to know they don’t have to keep waiting.”

Families interested in enrolling or touring the center can contact Gilpin Mountain Kids Early Learning Center at care@gilpinmtnkids.org.

Correction

The Mountain-Ear would like to issue a correction to the article titled "Gilpin Mountain Kids opens doors." The organization has an active 501(c)(3) license with the IRS, and the official address is 10597 Highway 119, not 10655 Highway 119.