Beginning this week, Orcas Island Children’s House will be launching its year-long Anniversary plans with activities and special events planned to get the buildings and grounds in spruced-up condition.

In 1900 the farmhouse was built on the George Sutherland farm. Surrounded by 1,000 fruit trees, the farmhouse eventually became home to three different large families and has always been “a house for children”. In 1928 the Lavender family, with seven children, purchased the property and grew peas, beans, and other crops. The surrounding acreage was farmed by Tom Lavender until the late 1990s.

Sandy Starr, a teacher at the Orcas public school, and Janet Lum were the founders of Children’s House. They began in 1969 with a few children housed in a building at the Glenwood Inn. The operation was later moved to a house on the east side of North Beach Road just south of Bartel Road. In 1980 the Lavender family leased the farmhouse, which is now the Preschool, to Children’s House.

Through community support, the farmhouse and surrounding acre of land was eventually purchased by the nonprofit organization. In 1996, the building which houses the Infant and Toddler Early Learning Center was built.

Jana Albright, Executive Director, says, “Today we serve over 30 Island children, who range in age from one month to six years old, at our Infant and Toddler Early Learning Center and our Preschool. The needs of young families are great, and a caring, safe and stimulating environment, where the joys of development are facilitated through music, art and emergent literacy in a play-based program are our goals.”

Plans include moving the school gate to the side Preschool yard for better access to the Infant and Toddler Center, creating a sustainable gardening and grounds plan and implementing the remodel of the outdoor Infant and Toddler playscape.

Albright adds, “It’s been so heart-warming to hear from our alumni as we’ve let the community know about our plans for the 40th. They are excited and proud of our foundation on Orcas as an early learning center, and are looking forward to how the year develops.”

A special edition tee shirt from the smallest infant sizes up to adults will be created to commemorate the 40th Anniversary, and a newsletter with more details will be sent island-wide soon. For further information, or to help plan the anniversary year, call Sigrid, Jana or Marian at 376-4744.