Lost Sierra Kids announces there’s a new chapter unfolding at the Historic Graeagle Schoolhouse, and local families are invited to be part of it. Lost Sierra Kids Learning Center is now accepting enrollment for children ages 2 through 6, with nature, play, creativity and family support at the heart of its approach.
The learning center is a new facility created by local nonprofit Lost Sierra Kids. It brings together hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, music, art and imaginative play into a place for children to make friends, try new things and grow in confidence and knowledge while enjoying the simple joys of childhood, say organizers.
“We’ve spent nearly two years listening to families’ needs and building something around those needs,” said Stephanie McCoy, founder and executive director. “We all just want our children to have a wonderful place to learn and grow, and I want their parents to have the support and flexibility to make life here work. Those things naturally belong together.”
Bringing this vision to life at the schoolhouse has taken many hands and hearts, said organizers. Local families, businesses, donors and community partners have given time, materials, funding and encouragement to help bring it back to life for children.
“This schoolhouse has always been part of Graeagle’s story and identity, and I’m so grateful to the many individuals who have helped give it new life and turned the page in a new chapter,” McCoy said. “Children once filled its rooms generations ago with their excitement and love for learning. Now we get to fill them once more with muddy shoes, sticky fingers, big discoveries, music, laughter, learning and new generations of children who simply know they belong. Every time I hear little feet followed by a laugh, or a gasp of excited wonder from learning something new, it reminds me why we built the center to begin with.”
More information is available by emailing [email protected], calling or texting 530-995-8140 or visiting lostsierrakids.com. Guided tours are available by appointment Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Learning Center is located at 7700 Highway 89 in Graeagle.
Lost Sierra Kids is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, families, and the communities of the Lost Sierra. Businesses and individuals interested in supporting its mission and the opportunities it brings to Plumas County can contact McCoy at [email protected] to talk about how they can help.
Care details
For parents, that care must include flexibility. Families can choose full-time or part-time enrollment, select full days or half days, and build a weekly schedule around what works for them and their schedule. Drop-off and pickup times are flexible within each child’s schedule, and meals and snacks are included in the tuition price.
Hours of care are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with early drop-off at 7 a.m. and late pickup until 6 p.m. available by arrangement. The facility’s two-classroom design gives both younger and older preschoolers space to learn at their own stages, and the 3,000-square-foot outdoor play and learning yard offers even more room to explore.
A full 10-hour day of care costs $90, with sliding-scale rates available for qualifying families that are as low as $54. Half-day rates are also available, and the learning center accepts Plumas Rural Services child care assistance payments. Families who are unsure whether care fits their budget are encouraged to reach out and talk through the options.
Rooted to Rise
That conversation is part of the reason Lost Sierra Kids has also launched Rooted to Rise, its own direct financial assistance program designed to be a bridge for those who need it. “The program offers a helping hand in two areas where our rural community needs it most: making child care more affordable for families and helping locals pursue early childhood education as a career, so they can not only train but also put their skills to work right here at home,” said organizers.
Ready to Rise, the family assistance branch, helps with tuition for families who need support, including those who do not qualify for other assistance like that offered through PRS. Funding is currently available through the program, and families can contact the learning center to discuss their needs and find out more.
Rooted to Teach supports the educators who make that care possible. It helps others access local training, supervised experience, mentorship and guidance through credential requirements. It also offers help with required logistical costs, such as background checks, health clearances, CPR and first aid training, and other certifications, along with support after graduation in finding work at the learning center or another early childhood program in the county.
Community Commons
Organizers say there’s more taking shape beyond preschool through Lost Sierra Kids’ Community Commons, a dedicated space for programming centered on children and families. The lineup includes an after-school program including math and science tutoring with a retired licensed educator, along with hands-on workshops in topics such as woodworking, watercolor and yoga for families. Flexible scheduling options allow parents to tailor opportunities to their family’s needs.
“Because supporting families means more than providing child care, the Community Commons also makes room for parenting classes because there’s always something new for us to learn or get better at,” said organizers. “We will be able to offer new parent classes, lactation support, social nursing circles and a welcoming place to give families somewhere to gather, connect and turn as they figure out what exactly they really need.”
Families can be on the lookout for program details and registration announcements ahead of the January 2027 program launch.
Second location
Work has already begun on Lost Sierra Kids’ second location, the Lost Sierra Kids Daycare, designed specifically for children from birth through age 3. In partnership with Eastern Plumas Health Care, organizers are working toward opening those doors as soon as possible, with a goal of 2027. “With only five other locations in Plumas County accepting children up to age 2, we aim to be the sixth, bringing more care to this deeply underserved age group,” said organizers.
