Child care, even pre-coronavirus, has been a critical need on San Juan. The Nest Harbor Child Care held a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Nov. 18. The owners and staff hope to provide the community with accessible quality care for toddlers and infants.

“We are here for the kids and the community,” Kayla Roe, owner, said after cutting the ribbon.

Friday Harbor Chamber board members were excited as well, noting amongst themselves how it will help working families. Children may stay at the center for 10 hours a day. This means parents and guardians may go through a full workday knowing their children are cared for the entire time, Roe said.

Shoes, at The Nest, are taken off at the door and put in assigned cubbies with backpacks and coats. A full renovation of the old Mexican restaurant turned the facility into a clean well-lit toy-filled room. The most popular toy currently is the cash register – complete with a scanner.

The Nest is open from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and has spots for 14 toddlers and four infants. They are filling up quickly, so interested parents and guardians may want to reach out soon. “We open before business hours, giving parents time to get to work,” Roe said.

Roe and her husband have been foster care parents and give back to the community in that capacity. The larger the child car issue became, the more they realized opening a child care facility would be perhaps even more impactful.

The Nest has been a dream for over a decade, they explain on their website. “The idea of a space for infants and toddlers to have a home away from home that parents and caregivers can trust and feel safe leaving their little ones is something the island deserves. Working families, and families that are growing, are what fueled the vision of The Nest. We believe that every family should have the opportunity to make a decision on if/when they would like their children to enter a child care center, whether they are newborns or 2 years old, whether you’re working or taking time to yourself; the choices should be available. We also strive to create connections, we want caregivers to feel they have support in any stage of parenting. Creating connections and support will be beneficial to your child for years to come.”

Through Washington state’s Department of Children Youth and Families, parents may qualify for state assistance. To learn more or apply, visit https://dcyf.wa.gov/services/earlylearning-childcare/getting-help/wccc.

“We want to provide child care so people can go to work without their whole paycheck going toward it,” Roe explained.

For more information and to see the full list of services, visit https://www.thenestfh.com/.