Mountain Trails
Early Childhood Education Center
Where Curiosity Climbs
Early Childhood Education -
The Need in Our Community
Clear Creek County families face a critical shortage of quality, affordable early childhood education. Parents struggle to find comprehensive year-round programs that align with their work schedules, especially during summers and school breaks. Meanwhile, our region needs qualified early childhood educators to meet growing demand.
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Mountain Trails is the solution.
Opening in 2027
Our Vision
Located within Carlson Elementary School in Idaho Springs, Colorado, Mountain Trails Early Childhood Education Center (Mountain Trails) is expanding early learning in Clear Creek County by opening a high-quality, affordable center for families and by supporting the growth of early childhood professionals throughout the community.​
We’re creating a place where young children thrive and educators grow.
Introducing Mountain Trails
Early Childhood Education Center!
We are a warm and welcoming school for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. We provide childcare and preschool, as well as education and development for professional, and aspiring professional, early childhood educators.
This educational program champions whole-child development by employing a play-based and project-based approach, where learning is driven by children's natural curiosity and interest and extends into the outdoor environment.
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Our dedicated staff and educators take pride in building strong foundations for little minds, nurturing social-emotional skills, and building the foundation of their educational careers.
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Whether you're a parent, a professional, or a little explorer, Mountain Trails welcomes you with open arms as a part of our wonderful learning family.
The Mountain Trails Difference:
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Community-Centered Approach: We succeed when the entire childcare ecosystem thrives, not just our Mountain Trails center.
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Local Expertise: Our team understands the unique needs of Clear Creek County families and providers.
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Comprehensive Support: From individual career changes to business development, we provide end-to-end assistance
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Outdoor Education Focus: Specialized training in mountain-inspired learning that leverages our natural environment.
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Sustainable Growth: Building long-term capacity for quality early childhood education regardless of size or type of provider throughout the county.
Supporting Early Childhood Educators
Mountain Trails offers comprehensive support to help you become a licensed early childhood educator. If you are considering becoming a professional educator, a home childcare provider, or are looking for child care in Colorado, it's highly recommended to consult the official resources from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) for the most up-to-date and specific information.
LEARN MORE about our career educator supports
Where curiosity climbs and our youngest learners thrive