Prairie Flower uses a cooperative education model that integrates parents into the program, giving shared responsibility along with the teachers and the board of directors. Parents are involved in different aspects of operating and sustaining the preschool. Together we will build a village – one in which our children are surrounded by caring adults, the sharing of traditions and the protection and celebration of childhood.
Benefits:
What Are The Commitments?
Enrollment in Prairie Flower’s preschool involves the following commitments from parents (or their designee – e.g. teenage sibling, grandparent, a close friend or godparent) in addition to tuition:
1. Serving on at least one committee. This includes attending monthly committee meetings (if held) and delegating and performing tasks associated with the committee’s responsibilities.
2). Signing up for 10 volunteer hours each semester, outside of committee work. Opportunities include:
The committee sign-up list will be available at parent orientation in August. Other volunteer tasks will be solicited through email or Brightwheel throughout the year.
We welcome other special talents you may have as well. For instance, perhaps you’ll come help with the garden in the spring, lead a children’s yoga session in the classroom, play flute at Winter Faire or offer some other skill or service. Let us know your talents and interests!
OR
Join the Board of Directors. You may commit to a two-year term on the board of directors, in lieu of the above volunteer options. Serving on the board is a unique opportunity to make your voice heard and help steer the direction of Prairie Flower. In this role, you’ll join other individuals who are passionate about Prairie Flower’s mission. As a board member, you’ll be an active participant in governing our non-profit early childhood center and ensuring we uphold our mission and vision.
Responsibilities include attending monthly board meetings, reading and responding to email discussions on board matters and serving on one or more committees, either as lead of one or more committees listed aboveor on the board-only human resources or finance committees. See prairieflowercc.org/board-of-directors.html for more information. While board service is a higher commitment level than the other volunteer options, it allows you to deeply shape and support Prairie Flower in carrying out our mission.
OR
Opt Out of the Co-op Model. We understand that life with young children can be hectic, or you might have other things going on in your life that make it hard to commit additional time to Prairie Flower. In lieu of volunteering, you may instead pay a monthly fee to opt out of the co-op model.
If you select this option, we will add an extra $50 per month to your tuition. These funds will help us offset the loss of additional person-power by helping us pay for extra help or needs typically filled by volunteers.
Benefits:
- Contribute your ideas, voice and talents to the program
- Form strong, lasting relationships with other highly active parents
- Support the operation of our small center – many hands make light work
- Streamline communication and follow-through. Tasks can be completed faster if it’s clear who’s responsible.
What Are The Commitments?
Enrollment in Prairie Flower’s preschool involves the following commitments from parents (or their designee – e.g. teenage sibling, grandparent, a close friend or godparent) in addition to tuition:
1. Serving on at least one committee. This includes attending monthly committee meetings (if held) and delegating and performing tasks associated with the committee’s responsibilities.
- Committees include:
- Playscape – Offer feedback on things like materials, design elements, deciding among product options and acquiring materials or items for the outdoor playscape; building things or finding and supervising volunteers or contractors to do the work; applying for grants.
- Fundraising – Organize fundraising events, get Prairie Flower signed up as the donation recipient with local organizations, put together fundraising appeals for sending out to our communication channels, apply for grants, etc.
- Publicity – Make and post flyers around Ames & surrounding communities, update social media, consult with board representatives on website updates, send email newsletters, maintain an updated mailing list, etc.
- Maintenance – Help with basic repairs of classroom items, help organize and manage storage in the classrooms, acquire or assemble things for the classroom, etc.. Eventually, help with maintenance of Prairie Flower’s outdoor playscape.
2). Signing up for 10 volunteer hours each semester, outside of committee work. Opportunities include:
- Volunteer in the classroom to help with seasonal crafts or special classroom events such as birthday celebrations
- Weekly grocery shopping
- Cooking or baking for a festival
- Staffing an activity table at a festival, or doing setup or cleanup
- Staffing a Prairie Flower booth at a community event (e.g. the farmers market, Summer Camp Fair, etc.)
- Making crafts for sale at a festival (e.g. Winter Faire)
- Working at a fundraiser, e.g. Rummage Rampage shifts
- Doing laundry
- Deep cleaning the classroom
- Sewing (mat sheets, doll clothes, napkins, etc.)
- Crafting birthday supplies (pockets, crowns)
The committee sign-up list will be available at parent orientation in August. Other volunteer tasks will be solicited through email or Brightwheel throughout the year.
We welcome other special talents you may have as well. For instance, perhaps you’ll come help with the garden in the spring, lead a children’s yoga session in the classroom, play flute at Winter Faire or offer some other skill or service. Let us know your talents and interests!
OR
Join the Board of Directors. You may commit to a two-year term on the board of directors, in lieu of the above volunteer options. Serving on the board is a unique opportunity to make your voice heard and help steer the direction of Prairie Flower. In this role, you’ll join other individuals who are passionate about Prairie Flower’s mission. As a board member, you’ll be an active participant in governing our non-profit early childhood center and ensuring we uphold our mission and vision.
Responsibilities include attending monthly board meetings, reading and responding to email discussions on board matters and serving on one or more committees, either as lead of one or more committees listed aboveor on the board-only human resources or finance committees. See prairieflowercc.org/board-of-directors.html for more information. While board service is a higher commitment level than the other volunteer options, it allows you to deeply shape and support Prairie Flower in carrying out our mission.
OR
Opt Out of the Co-op Model. We understand that life with young children can be hectic, or you might have other things going on in your life that make it hard to commit additional time to Prairie Flower. In lieu of volunteering, you may instead pay a monthly fee to opt out of the co-op model.
If you select this option, we will add an extra $50 per month to your tuition. These funds will help us offset the loss of additional person-power by helping us pay for extra help or needs typically filled by volunteers.
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Our location:
1517 Northwestern Ave, Ames, IA 50010 Along CyRide Green #2 route (16th & Northwestern stop) We're on the second floor inside Bethesda Lutheran Church. Enter via "Faith & Life" entrance. |