Loving and Learning
UMC Santa Cruz

Loving and Learning was founded in 1993 by members of the Live Oak United Methodist Church who recognized the growing need for affordable after school child care. The original license (issued to Live Oak United Methodist Church) was for fifteen children ranging in age from 4 years 9 months thru 12 years old. It operated from two roll away shelves inside Anderson Hall in the Live Oak Church building. Within eighteen months the licensed capacity was raised to 45 children and Loving and Learning was utilizing all of Anderson Hall, the church's nursery, and the church's lounge room. The first five years saw three different Directors. The current Director, Jennifer Sherry, has been there for seven years.

In 1999 it was decided by the church's congregation to introduce a new format to the curriculum focusing on the Christian ideals of respect, love, honesty, acceptance, courage, compassion, spiritual and social growth and embracing the United Methodist mission of Open Hearts, Opend Minds, Open Doors.

In 2004 a new license was issued to The United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz. We are still licensed for 45 children between the ages of 4 years 9 months thru 12 years old.

Our purpose is to provide families with safe and afforable childcare for their school age children. We strive to maintain an environment in which children can explore new things, learn problem solving, and participate in group decision making. These experiences are guided by the staff of caring educated teachers who understand that children learn behavior from examples set for them. We provide a balance of indoor and outdoor activities both teacher directed and child led, as well as setting aside time each school day to assist children with their homework. Our full time summer program offers more specialized projects, guest speakers, and field trip, Children's chapel is held year round.

We have 29 families. Seventeen families fall into the low income category, with only twelve of those qualifying for financial assistance. Seventeen children are from single parent homes (of these three are single father homes), sixteen children from traditional two parent homes, four children from joint custody homes (one week at Mom's, then one week at Dad's) We have six sets of siblings, four children with special needs, six bilingual children, five lizards, and one cat.