WKA is a play-based development model designed to incubate health education into everyday learning. It provides opportunity for growth and development, training, cultural presentation, health education, and growing our local food culture.
Due to the high demand of families who are in need of support, we’ve started a wait list. You can sign up to place your child on a wait list here – or contact us directly for our Hero Fit family program at connect@herofit.org.
WKA Curricula
Whole Kids Adventure believes passionately that learning should be an Adventure. Your child’s experience is bounded only by his or her imagination and dreams.
Our curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, which encourages young children and their teachers to explore, question, and discover in a stimulating environment. Children express interests and ideas, research for further information, reflect on the experience and form conclusions. Through this process, children develop confidence and independence with encouragement from parents, teachers and community members.
Our WKA curricula also includes components in French and Spanish, as we opt for a mandatory second language to help children reach their full potential.
In addition to personal curricula, learning is woven into fun and creative themes to make learning meaningful. Group activities promote social development. Enrichment programs for all children include movement, art, music, exercise programs, yoga/dance, exploring nature, trips to local organizations, to local organic farms, to Nature + Science Centers and Museums, enrich with gardening/culinary classes, computer and language programs, of course all age appropriate.
But we won’t stop there – to truly make an impact, we are bringing the first ever shared harvest program to a school and our curricula will include culinary programs for our students, and we even offer programs to WKA parents, the community and general public!
In addition to the introduction of organic nutrition, we’ll explore gardening with our WKA students and families, and children will learn concepts and process of local food culture, garden ecology and environmental awareness in an experiential learning environment. Creative hands-on activities include lessons in composting, beneficial bugs, water systems, and seasonal growing cycles for Central Texas.
Environmental education integrated with our Reggio curricula and organic nutrition creates an expressive, fun and holistic approach to learning.
NOTE: ALL activities AND foods are included in our tuition. There are no add-ons!
WKA Teachers & Ratio
An early childhood development center experience is only as good as the teachers involved. Whole educators are critical to helping develop the whole child. Whole Kids Adventure is committed to attracting, retaining and developing exceptional early childhood education professionals. Teachers and staff at WKA receive competitive pay, benefits, and ongoing professional development.
WKA’s goal is to cultivate a team of individuals who are excited and empowered in their everyday work.
WKA will follow the adult to child ratios as set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. WKA will actively seek NAEYC Accreditation as it is the gold standard in the country. For more information, please visit www.naeyc.org
WKA Nutrition
All meals served to our children and staff feature locally-grown, organic and hormone-free food. WKA’s professional Chefs create child friendly dishes with an emphasis on whole foods and fresh fruits and vegetables. Parents can rest assured that, not only are their children being cared for in the most stimulating physical surroundings, but they are also being nourished with the best foods for their physical and mental development.
Whole Kids Adventure‘s meal plan – a few words from our Chef:
Parents,WKA’s unique recipes were designed with our students in mind, because their involvement in the preparation and creation of meals will teach the importance of how food is prepared and simultaneously create a better understanding of our food culture. Research shows that by the age of three, most children have developed their eating habits, and if you’re part of our WKA family, they will be healthy.
WKA will only select seasonal organic and local produce to prepare our nutritious meals. Our goal is to bring a hybrid of diets giving students options and accommodating any special needs.
I’ve prepared an example of what a weekly menu will look like. From there, I will create a program called WHOLE OPTION, which will be available at snack time. What is it? We will set up a snack buffet with a mix of diced cheeses, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nutritious crackers, diced tofu, fruit compote, tea sandwiches, salad, yogurt, and others, for children to pick from.
Whole Option is a great way to introduce kids to new foods, is a unique and efficient way to rotate, recycle, and our options are perfect for satisfying a variety of tastes.
My goal is to make this a great place for the bellies and souls of our children and staff.
Please feel free to forward any feedback you may have. I’d love to hear from you, and cherish your opinions.
Ci kanam,
Iba Thiam
Consultant/Whole Kids Adventure Culinary Program
Sample Meal Plan (regular, includes raw-food options)
| Breakfast | Lunch | Snack | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Raw granola, fresh fruits, banana almond butter smoothie | Steamed seasonal veggies, roasted chicken, and brown rice | Hummus with fresh carrot sticks and pita chips. Apple compote with cinnamon |
| Tuesday | Hard boiled egg white salad, fresh fruit and vanilla yogurt | Italian casserole with penne pasta, chicken salad with diced apples | Mini peanut butter, jelly pocket, with fresh fruit salad, and dehydrated sweet vegetables |
| Wednesday | Banana avocado puree. quinoa scramble with mushrooms and raisins | Tofu stir fry with mushrooms and brocolli. Steamed quinoa and dried fruits | Sweet and salty kale chips. Sliced avocado with lime and salt. Fromage blac with agave and dried berries |
| Thursday | Cottage cheese with fresh berries. Almond butter, jelly on toast. Banana smoothie | Vegan Mac and cheese with salad and toast. Baked fish sticks with sweet tomato sauce. | Chocolate almond butter with sliced apple, diced cheese, grapes and rice crackers. Quinoa pudding with maple syrup |
| Friday | Raw pancake with agave nectar and fresh fruit salad. Yogurt and raw granola | Peanut butter stew with mushroom root vegetables. Cold pasta salad with feta and olives. | Raw cup cake with almond milk and fresh fruit compote. Mini tea sandwich |
Whole Kids Sprouts
Whole Kids Adventure will not only be a model of local food culture in Austin, it will be an educational outlet. We will be the only pre-school in the area supporting local farmers by creating a shared harvest program for the students’ families, where a fresh box of local seasonal produce can be picked up each week at the school. Of course we all want to participate in growing our own food and shopping locally, but often the reality is just not that simple.
Whole Kids Adventure seeks to integrate healthy living into our already busy lifestyles. Simply pick up your kid and pick up your local produce. A new way of living and eating will evolve. Rather than find a recipe you like and head to the grocery store to purchase ingredients, you’ll do the opposite. Do you know what fruits and veggies are in season right now? Do you know how to prepare them? Yes? Do you have a favorite home-grown tomato recipe? This is the essence of local food culture. What should we be eating this time of year? We begin to connect our culture with environment and food, health and food, and life and food. The good news is not only is eating locally good for our bodies, our planet, and our economy, it tastes DELICIOUS!
More details on exact cost options for participation in WKA’s shared harvest program will be posted to the website soon.
Sign Up to VOLUNTEER.
Rates & Enrollment
These monthly rates reflect full-time enrollment at Whole Kids Adventure, but we also offer HOURLY CARE. Stay tuned for announcements on rates.
Sliding Scale – Infant (6 weeks – 18 months)
| Gross Income | Number of Dependent Children | Annual Enrollment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3+ | ||
| < $30,000 | $575 | $525 | $500 | $50 |
| $30,000 – $40,000 | $675 | $600 | $575 | $50 |
| $40,001 – $50,000 | $725 | $675 | $625 | $75 |
| $50,001 – $65,000 | $925 | $825 | $725 | $75 |
| $65,001 – $80,000 | $1,100 | $1,000 | $925 | $100 |
| $80,001 – $100,000 | $1,200 | $1,150 | $1,100 | $125 |
| $100,001 – $199,999 | $1,400 | $1,400 | $1,400 | $150 |
| $200,000+ | $1,600 | $1,600 | $1,600 | $150 |
Sliding Scale – Toddler and Preschooler
| Gross Income | Number of Dependent Children | Annual Enrollment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3+ | ||
| < $30,000 | $550 | $500 | $475 | $50 |
| $30,000 – $40,000 | $650 | $575 | $550 | $50 |
| $40,001 – $50,000 | $700 | $650 | $600 | $75 |
| $50,001 – $65,000 | $900 | $800 | $700 | $75 |
| $65,001 – $80,000 | $1,075 | $975 | $900 | $100 |
| $80,001 – $100,000 | $1,175 | $1,125 | $1,075 | $125 |
| $100,001 – $199,999 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $150 |
| $200,000+ | $1,400 | $1,400 | $1,400 | $150 |
