Merry Lea is partnering with BABE of Whitley County to help support the wellbeing of families with young children.
BABE provides incentives for pregnant women & families to participate in partner programs and services that benefit the health of infants and young children.
Early childhood is a critical time for learning and developing, and nature is a powerful tool to help children grow socially, physically, emotionally and cognitively. Merry Lea’s programs for young learners encourage critical thinking, self-confidence, social skills, and motor skills development through play and exploration in the outdoor world.
Merry Lea now offers coupons to those who are part of the BABE program when they participate in one of Merry Lea’s outdoor programs, events or activities, which can be redeemed at the BABE of Whitley County store for various infant/toddler items. These items include diapers, wipes, pull-ups, clothing, cribs, high chairs, shampoo, sippy cups, socks and more.
BABE coupons are available for children ages 5 and under, and will be distributed at various Merry Lea events and activities.
These include:
1. Family events:
Merry Lea hosts several family events for the public. This includes festivals like Nature Fest (May 13 & 14) and Enchanted Forest (October); a monthly Tales & Trails program for preschoolers and their caregiver(s); and other upcoming events like Nature Play Day (June 16).
Get a BABE coupon after participating in any of these events for one hour!
2. Nature Preschool:
In Nature Preschool, students are outside 2 hours a day, four days a week, September through May. Merry Lea partners with Central Noble Primary School and the Cole Center Family YMCA to provide this program.
Get a BABE coupon after one week of school!
3. StoryWalk®:
Merry Lea’s StoryWalk® in partnership with Noble County Public Library invites families to explore our woodland at the Learning Center by reading seasonal, nature-based books together.
Get a BABE coupon after reading and hiking for one hour!
Nature-based experiences positively impact children’s confidence, self-esteem, social behavior and mental health. These programs are just some of the many ongoing efforts by Merry Lea to encourage this growth by getting families outside to explore the marvels of the natural world together.
Repeated, authentic experiences in nature lead to ownership, care, and stewardship of the earth and of living things. And developing young learners is one avenue toward building strong, resilient communities!
To learn more about BABE of Whitley County, visit https://babewc.org/.
