TRAVERSE CITY — Families with young children ages 0-5 are invited to attend a series of free events throughout March hosted by the Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Family Coalition in partnership with Northwest Education Services.
Each event will take place at local Neighborhood Network playgroup sites in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties, according to the center.
Each event will feature interactive storytelling with Jen Strauss and offer a welcoming community space for families to connect, meet new friends and participate in playgroup activities. Snacks and a craft project designed for young guests will be provided, and each family will receive a book bag from PoWeR Book Bags.
The March schedule includes:
- 10 a.m. March 4 at Interlochen Public Library, 9411 10th St., Interlochen, in Grand Traverse County.
- 10 a.m. March 10 at Glen Lake Community Church, 4902 W. MacFarlane Road, Glen Arbor, in Leelanau County.
- 10:30 a.m. March 13 at Kalkaska County Library, 247 S. Cedar St., Kalkaska, in Kalkaska County.
- 10 a.m. March 20 at Lake Ann United Methodist Church, 6583 First St., Lake Ann, in Benzie County.
- 11 a.m. March 21 at Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City, in Grand Traverse County.
- 10 a.m. March 25 at Leelanau Township Library, 119 E. Nagonaba St., Northport, in Leelanau County.
The Great Start Family Coalition is a community of parents and caregivers focused on enhancing early childhood experiences.
The coalition’s mission is to ensure every child has a strong start in life and equitable opportunities to reach their potential.
Members meet regularly to share information, raise awareness about early childhood and provide resources and educational opportunities to families with young children. Participation is open to all.
For more information about the events, contact Lauren Dake at ldake@NorthwestEd.org.