GREDC

Discovery Care

Discovery Care is our out-of-school time program and summer care program for grades K-5. During the school year, meaningful experiences are provided for children enrolled at the Child Discovery Center for before and after school, half days, and days the school is not in session. During the summer, the program is open to the public.

Discovery Care's logo.
Logo designed by Discovery Care student, Grace.

School-Year Before and After Care

Welcome to our program!

Discovery Care offers before-school and after-school care for the student of our partnering elementary school, the Child Discovery Center, as well as half or full day care on days when the school is closed for planning, professional development, and most holidays.

We’re a service of the GREDC, located in the same building as the CDC. The Discovery team picks your children up directly from their classroom after school and bring them down to their Discovery groups which are separated by grade. The children are served snacks daily.

Before care operates Monday through Friday from 7-8am. After care operates from 3:30-6pm Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, and 2:30-6pm on Tuesdays.

Half days begin when school ends, from 11:30am-6pm, and full days of care are 7am-6pm. These days require separate registration requests. Families whose children already regularly attend the days of the closure during the school week get first rights to registration. Off schedule families will be added to a wait list until a slot becomes available.

For tuition rates, see the Tuition section below.

We hope to see you soon!

Summer Program

During the summer, Discovery Care is open to the public, for students who just graduated from Kindergarten through 5th grade. We provide field trips, reading enrichment, exploration in the arts and science, and water play — so pack a swimsuit, water-friendly shoes, and towel!

During the summer, we continue to use the GRCDC space, located at 409 Lafayette SE. Park in the parent lot or park on Cass and walk your child to the last door on the left on the playground. Ring the bell and a staff member will let you in. 

Our summer program operates Monday through Friday, from 7am-6pm. Breakfast and snacks are provided. Please pack a lunch and a water bottle daily.

The cost is $200/week/child or $44/day/child

Enrollment

To enroll in either the school-year or summer program, please contact:

Jen Brynaert

Discovery Care Director
Discovery Care
GSRP Immaginare
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Jen Brynaert

Discovery Care Director
Discovery Care
GSRP Immaginare

As the Program Director at our 409 Lafayette location, I manage the school aged before and aftercare program, community summer care program, and the Immaginare preschool program.

I have my B.A. in education, and have taught preschool, middle and high school English and art, and have been an early childhood educational coach. I am a mom of 2 teen boys, and love travel, music, art and family.

I enjoy the creative freedom that the Reggio approach provides to both children and staff alike. It continues to challenge and expand our ideas on the many possibilities of early childhood education.

Sneak peak into Discovery Care

Andrew draws.
Students hug Ms. Annika.
Hattie has found a BIG leaf!
Hazel's paints a picture using her favorite colors.
Reading books.
Teacher helps Discovery student reach the top of the playground tower.
Playing baby shark.
IMG_6152
Kindergarten students make believe in the playground boat.
Kindergarten students read a book.
Discovery Care students collect colorful leaves.
Mara crafts with fall leaves.
MJ conducts a science experiment.
Discovery Care student climb atop their teacher.
Student Paddy leads book time.
Discovery Care students paint using spices.
Violet and Stella pose next to their craft house

Meet the teachers

Becca Hansen

Lead Teacher
(PreK-K)
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Becca Hansen

Lead Teacher
(PreK-K)

Brooke McCormick

Assistant Teacher
(PreK-K)
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Brooke McCormick

Assistant Teacher
(PreK-K)

Annika Nixon

Lead Teacher
(1st Grade)
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Annika Nixon

Lead Teacher
(1st Grade)

Jake Exline

Lead Teacher
(2nd Grade)
Child Development Associate® in preschool
B.S. in Sports Management
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Jake Exline

Lead Teacher
(2nd Grade)
Child Development Associate® in preschool
B.S. in Sports Management

Hi I’m Mr. Jake, and I am the Lead Teacher for the Immaginare classroom and the 2nd grade aftercare teacher for Discovery Care. I went to school at Davenport University and earned my Bachelor’s in Sports Management, but switched my career when I fell in love with childcare. I earned my Child Development Associate certification for preschool in 2023. I love having interactions with the kids and hearing the (many) silly things they say as well as seeing them grow throughout their years here.

Aaron Farr

Lead Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)
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Aaron Farr

Lead Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)

Ingrid Hentemann

Assistant Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)
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Ingrid Hentemann

Assistant Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)

Megan Rushlau

Assistant Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)
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Megan Rushlau

Assistant Teacher
(3rd-5th Grade)

Tuition Rates

2024-2025 School Year

MDHHS funding is available for those who qualify.

Before care:

$8/day
$36/full week

7-8am

After care:

$16/day M/W/Th/F
$23/day Tuesday
$85/full week

3:30-6pm M/W/Th/F
2:30-6pm Tuesday

Before and after care:

$119/week

Half day*:

$31/day

11:30am-6pm

Full day*:

$54/day

7am-6pm

*Half and full day care is available on days when GRCDC is closed due to planning, professional development, and most holidays. Separate registration is required for those days. Families who normally receive before or after care on those days have priority, followed by all other families until full.

Lauren Huyck

Mentor Teacher

B.S in psychology and writing
A.A. in early childhood education
Teaching since 2010

My name is Lauren Huyck and I am the afternoon lead for the Scoperta classroom. I started as a teaching assistant when the center was still part of Aquinas in 2010. When we became the GREDC in 2012, I stayed on. In 2014, I was excited to accept the role of lead teacher.

I have a Bachelors in psychology and writing, and an associates in early childhood education. I am currently working on getting a Masters in psychology with a concentration in child development.

I love seeing the children grow and learn. There are so many developmental milestones that I get to see and experience. I fell in love with the Reggio approach and work to incorporate it in all my experiences with children. It has definitely taught me to treat children as citizens of the world.

I honestly could go on about how much I love the work I do and how passionate I feel about every child having quality care but that would take eons. So I will end with these two quotes:

“To take children seriously is to value them for who they are right now rather than adults-in-the-making.”

Alfie Kohn

If you trust play, you will not have to control your child’s development as much. Play will raise the child in ways you can never imagine.

Vince Gowmon