(Posted April 26, 2021)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Juniata College and NURSEry Rhymes Child Care Center are proud to announce an agreement to expand local child care and preschool options. Beginning this summer, NURSEry Rhymes will offer extended hours, before- and after-school care, and year-round child care options operating within Lesher Hall in the space previously utilized by the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) at Juniata College.

 “I am extremely excited for Nursery Rhymes to be joining the Juniata campus to provide first-rate child care services to the Huntingdon community. This is a huge need for so many families, and we are so fortunate to have such a capable partner to meet this demand,” said Juniata College President Jim Troha.

NURSEry Rhymes is owned by Dr. Greg Strunk ’00, a family physician with Broad Top Area Medical Center, and Ashley Cadle, who is the CEO. 

“I cannot begin to express how excited Dr. Strunk and I are to partner with Juniata College to provide the much-needed service of quality child care in our community,” said Cadle. “Our mission is to provide safe, quality care; giving parents peace of mind while they provide for their families. With this partnership, Juniata College is providing us with the ability to grow and serve more families.”

Operations at the ECEC were suspended last spring with the onset of COVID-19.  Due to economic feasibility concerns, the difficult decision was made not to reopen the center this fall. In response, Juniata and NURSEry Rhymes entered into a partnership to address the significant need for child care both on campus and in the wider Huntingdon community.  

NURSEry Rhymes opened June 1, 2020, at its current location at the Juniata College Sill Business Incubator. The mission of NURSEry Rhymes is to “provide warm, nurturing care in a supportive, safe environment to the children and families who subscribe to our services.” The center strives to foster innovative play and individualized growth and development. 

The center also offers peace of mind for families since Cadle is a licensed nurse and regular, daily communication, including photographs, are provided through the app Brightwheel.  

NURSEry Rhymes is licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. NURSEry Rhymes will offer convenient and cost-effective child care services for children ages six weeks to school age. For more information, email nurseryrhymesccc@gmail.com or call 814-506-9118.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.