Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center

Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center was created with a dual purpose: to provide much-needed childcare for families in western Maine and to help prepare the next generation of educators. Working closely with the University of Maine at Farmington, faculty, staff, students, families, and community stakeholders, CHA helped shape a vision for a new early childhood center that would serve both young children and future teachers in a meaningful way.

The project transformed a vacant 10,000 SF building into a vibrant, nature-based learning environment where children from infancy through school age can learn, play, and explore. Inspired by Maine's forests, mountains, meadows, and changing seasons, the center uses its surroundings as a teaching tool, creating spaces that encourage curiosity, independence, and discovery. Indoor learning environments flow into outdoor playscapes, helping children build lasting connections to the natural world.

At the same time, the center functions as a living laboratory for UMF's teacher preparation program. Dedicated observation spaces allow university students to learn from real classroom experiences, studying child development and instructional practices alongside experienced educators without disrupting the learning environment. The result is a facility that supports children, families, and future teachers alike, strengthening both early childhood education and educator preparation throughout the region.