The Early Childhood Community Gives Back
A program has been selected as the winner of the Exchange Center Makeover Project! With the extreme generosity of our project partners, Jewel's Learning Center in Houston, Texas will be awarded with new and innovative tools to help build an even stronger educational foundation for the children attending the center. Included will be new learning materials, quality furnishings, a fresh look, and a nature-based outdoor playscape.
Jewel's Learning Center
Meet the director of the winning center
Makeover Partners
Find out how our team plans to contribute
Our Community
News from our community

We Did It! …Together

Here is a little video we put together to show off all of our work!
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The Nature Explore Perspective – Believe in People

For Nature Explore, this collaborative process has illustrated the value of believing in people.

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10 Premises I learned from the Jewel’s Learning Center makeover experience.

Hopefully these will provide you with a base for you to explore your own ‘CHALLENGE FOR CHANGE’.
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A Peek Into Our Office

A Peek Into Our Office

I finally took some pictures of the office and wanted to show you. All we have left now to do that is major is the kitchen!

Center Makeover BBQ!

Center Makeover BBQ!

Jewel’s Learning Center threw a party to show the neighborhood their new center!
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I Did Not Sleep!

I am still at work at 10:54pm just beholding the beauty of it all!
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Stand by for the Furniture!

Stand by for the Furniture!

Friday March 4 is shaping up to be a busy day at Jewel’s. At 7:30AM an 18-wheeler loaded with 275 boxes of Community Playthings furniture will arrive. The installation crew, along with Jewel’s great support team of teachers and family, …
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February 2011 Update

Jordan, Percival, and Nevaeh show us how the outdoor play area is shaping up. http://www.youtube.com/embed/PC1WpFw_EUA

Setting the Foundations of the Outdoor Play Area

Setting the Foundations of the Outdoor Play Area

Hello to all! Here are pictures of the work that has been done so far in the back play area.

Benjamin Moore Paint is here!

Benjamin Moore Paint is here!

Hello to All!! The paint has been delivered!! Paul this is so awesome!! My Mom and Dad are so thankful!! As always, I am just so grateful for ALL of this!!

What is it like

…to experience a Makeover? Charlotte tells the whole story…
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Getting it done !

Getting it done !

Getting it done! Paint Samples, removing cement, and watering our new trees
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NAEYC Round Table

NAEYC Round Table

Community Playthings staff was so happy to meet with Charlotte Watts and the whole Makeover team at the NAEYC Conference in sunny Anaheim. Charlotte energized all of us with her enthusiastic appreciation as she told about her family, the children …
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October 2010: Check out the first plan!

October 2010: Check out the first plan!

A lively conference call helped narrow down the specifications for Jewel’s new room designs. Together, Charlotte Watts, Kay Albrecht, Heinrich Barth, and Christine Nelson (Community’s Room Planner) worked through every room and swapped ideas. It was time well spent. Looking …
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Jewel’s Family

Jewel’s Family

The Jewel’s Family – We took these pictures after our Annual Family Spring Celebration Program, where the children perform for their parents.
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September 2010: Classroom Plans are hatching

September 2010: Classroom Plans are hatching

It’s getting exciting! Jewel’s dream classrooms are taking shape, as our planners work together with Charlotte and the staff to get everything just right. How does Room Planning work? First, our designers send a questionnaire to the center’s director, to …
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Update from Charlotte

The playscape plans are etched out, everything looks really super and I am about to explode with excitement!!!
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Paint samples arrive…

A sneak peak at the colors Charlotte is considering!
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Excitement builds in Houston…

Excitement builds in Houston…

Nature Explore staff Susie Wirth, Jim Wike, and Nancy Rosenow blew into Houston to do the site visit at Jewel’s
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This week is special…

This week is special…

Take a look at some of the partners doing their thing.
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