Morristown YMCA Children's Center Turns 25

Most 25-year-olds wouldn't be interested in colorful trains, bounce houses and snow cones. 

But they were all the rage as the Richard F. Blake Children’s Center celebrated its 25th anniversary Sept. 28. As part of the Greater Morristown YMCA and founded in 1988, the Blake Center is a nationally accredited child care center for children ages six weeks to five years old.

“We were the first child care center in Morris County to offer full day care 25 years ago, meeting the changing needs of our community during the influx of women into the workforce,” remarked Carol Armour, President of the Greater Morristown YMCA. “Now, 25 years later, many of those staffers are still with us and our average teacher tenure is 10 years – staggering compared to an average one year tenure for the child care industry.”

The event included an open house and tours of the 20,000 square-foot facility for both prospective families and graduates of the program and activities included a Disney bounce house, trackless train rides, music and refreshments.

“The longevity of our teachers and success of the Blake Center is a tribute to the management of Ashley Kindberg, Executive Director of Childcare for the Greater Morristown YMCA,” Armour said. As director of the Blake Center, Kindberg has been at the helm of the Y’s child care operation since it opened in 1988.

The Richard F. Blake Children’s Center is a NAEYC accredited early childhood program, a distinction held by only seven percent of child care centers in the United States. Accredited centers have passed a rigorous evaluation process and are proven to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the development of young children. Families interested in the services offered at the Blake Center can visit the center’s website or call 973-984-2255 to schedule a tour.