Ithaca Community Child Care

Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) is a non-profit, NYS-licensed, and NAEYC-accredited center that has been serving the community since 1976. We offer care for children between 8 weeks and 10 years old, and are committed to providing families with the highest standard of child-inspired, professionally-nurtured care and educational opportunities. Our innovative continuity of care program is nationally recognized. By providing a safe environment where children can explore and experience hands-on learning, we offer a truly child-centered approach.

Our Services

At IC3, we provide a range of programs and services designed to support the growth and development of children. Our IC3 Main Campus, IC3 at Kendal, and IC3 School Age Program offer care for children of different ages, from infants to school-age children. Our programs are designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment that fosters social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

Our experienced and professional teachers design an environment and plan experiences that allow hands-on learning for children in a range of developmental areas. We provide opportunities for children to work with a variety of materials and people, to make choices, and to have some control over their choices and activities, promoting a lifelong love of learning.

Our Philosophy

Our educational philosophy is called child-centered active learning, which means that children learn by doing. We believe that children learn best by engaging and interacting with people, their environment, and objects around them. Our committed staff offer child development expertise and meet or exceed NAEYC recommendations, ensuring that our programs are of the highest quality.

Our History

IC3 was founded in 1976 and has gone through many stages of growth and development over the years. We began as a small parent collective and have since become a solidly established nonprofit organization offering child care to over 250 children ages 8 weeks-10 years old at three sites. Throughout the years, IC3 has remained committed to providing quality child care, repeatedly receiving state and national recognition for our high-quality and innovative programming.

What Sets Us Apart

We are proud of our committed staff and low teacher turnover. The average number of years a teacher has been working at IC3 is 12 years! Our experienced, professional, nurturing teachers will help your child grow a lifelong love of learning. We are fortunate to offer twice the classroom space required by New York State, two indoor gyms, and a spacious outdoor play yard for each age group, contributing to the social and intellectual development and well-being of children in our care.