Description: First Environments Early Learning Center is a non-profit child care facility located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park that serves the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Environmental Health and Science and their contractors. Almost 200 infants, toddlers and preschool children benefit from FEELC’s programming emphasis on nature as a “third” teacher.
Designed to maximize natural light, FEELC’s “interactive building” uses found objects and donated materials that change in response to children’s interests. The grounds hold many gardens, including an edible garden harvested for meals at the school, natural areas for exploration, a playground and outdoor stage. Found objects made into art by children hang from ceilings, walls and are scattered indoors and out. Even the roof is put to use. Solar panels installed by a local power company generates and sends power back to the grid. The solar array generates enough to serve 120 NC households each year. — invite discussions and learning.
FEELC’s sustainable operations policy creatively and cooperatively maximizes funds, staff and community resources. Sustainability permeates both programming and operations. Creatively reusing discarded and donated materials teaches conservation while fostering creativity. Gardening introduces earth friendly practices like mulching, capturing irrigation water and planting to attract bees and butterflies. Catching and releasing small insects for study inspires scientific exploration and demonstrates the need to preserve natural habitats.
FEELC recruits and retains professional teachers who are dedicated to the hearts and development of young children. Staff collaboration, cross-training and the opportunity to use individual creativity make for very low turnover rates among staff.
First Environments Early Learning Center is a non-profit child care facility located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park that serves the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Environmental Health and Science and their contractors. Almost 200 infants, toddlers and preschool children benefit from FEELC’s programming emphasis on nature as a “third” teacher.
Designed to maximize natural light, FEELC’s “interactive building” uses found objects and donated materials that change in response to children’s interests. The grounds hold many gardens, including an edible garden harvested for meals at the school, natural areas for exploration, a playground and outdoor stage. Found objects made into art by children hang from ceilings, walls and are scattered indoors and out. Even the roof is put to use. Solar panels installed by a local power company generates and sends power back to the grid. The solar array generates enough to serve 120 NC households each year. — invite discussions and learning.
FEELC’s sustainable operations policy creatively and cooperatively maximizes funds, staff and community resources. Sustainability permeates both programming and operations. Creatively reusing discarded and donated materials teaches conservation while fostering creativity. Gardening introduces earth friendly practices like mulching, capturing irrigation water and planting to attract bees and butterflies. Catching and releasing small insects for study inspires scientific exploration and demonstrates the need to preserve natural habitats.
FEELC recruits and retains professional teachers who are dedicated to the hearts and development of young children. Staff collaboration, cross-training and the opportunity to use individual creativity make for very low turnover rates among staff.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date | Type | Violations | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-08 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2022-10-20 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2022-10-20 | Violation | 825 | .1005(b)(3) |
| Before staff members walked children off premises for play or outings, the center did not obtain written permission from the parent of each child. The permission slip expired on 9/16/22 for one child that walked off premises with the class for an outing today. | |||
| 2022-03-24 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2022-03-24 | Violation | 1049 | .1102(d) |
| All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. The CPR training for two staff expired on 1/2/22 and 2/19/22. | |||
| 2022-03-24 | Violation | 125 | 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) |
| Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. The attendance records did not include departure times. | |||
| 2022-03-24 | Violation | 1048 | .1102(c) |
| All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. The first aid training for two staff expired on 1/2/22 and 2/19/22. | |||
| 2021-01-27 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2020-02-11 | Announced Inspection | No | |
| 2020-01-28 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2020-01-28 | Violation | 1834 | .0801(b) |
| Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services. In space #151 a medical action plan was not on file for one child with an allergy. In space #153 the medical action plan for one child expired on 1-21-20. In space #166 the medical action plan for one child expired on 1-22-20. | |||
| 2020-01-28 | Violation | 106 | 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) |
| Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was completed on 1-18-19. | |||
| 2020-01-28 | Violation | 542 | 10 NCAC 09 .0902(a) |
| The written feeding plan was not modified as the child's needs changed. The feeding schedules for several children in space #117, 122, 120 did not include the frequency of meals. | |||
If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
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