Frequently Asked Questions

We have multiple classrooms organized by age throughout the center. They include: Infant: 7 weeks - 1year; Toddler 1: 1 year - 2 years; Toddler 2: 2 years - 3 years; Bridge: 2 years -3 years combination; Preschool 3: 3 years - 4 years; Preschool 4: 4 years - 5 years; After School: 5 years-10 years.

In order to ensure the most attentive and effective classroom environment our student/teacher ratios fall well below the state guidelines. Our student/teacher ratios are as follows: infants 3:1; toddlers 4:1; bridge 5:1; three year olds 7:1; four year olds 8:1; five year olds 8:1; after school 10:1.

Yes we do. In fact, because STARS (Vermont's STep Ahead Recognition System) has awarded Apple Tree Learning Centers 5 stars (the highest rating possible), families that qualify for subsidy will be awarded the highest rate available.

We have two separate fenced-in, state-of-the art playground areas that are age specific and age appropriate. In addition, children play games in an open grassy space with swings, and enjoy planting (weeding, watering, shoveling, hoeing, raking) and harvesting our summer vegetable garden. Apple Tree Learning Centers is located adjacent to the Stowe Recreation Path, and children use the path and access streams (the West Branch), forests, and fields.

You are best to contact us as soon as you think you may have an interest in enrolling a child. We regularly have a waiting list for classrooms, but the number of students in each classroom often fluctuates. If you have a particular need for certain days of the week, please detail your needs when you contact us. Each of our classrooms has a maximum number of students so that we maintain favorable student/teacher ratios. We do our very best to accommodate family needs and enroll students on a first come first served basis, when all paperwork is complete. If interested in enrollment, we recommend that you submit an application form.

School-aged children (5 years and older) can join our After School Program. We have two classes for After School care. One class is transported by our bus directly from the elementary school to an off-site location to receive professional instruction in activities such as horseback riding, rock climbing, tennis lessons, swim lessons, and more. The other class meets at our center and sometimes stays in the classroom, but is more often outside and active with our own outdoor education activities.

During school breaks and vacations, we offer full day Discovery programs that take advantage of the opportunity to travel a little further for enriching field trips to farms, orchards, and museums, as well as engage in special activities such as dog-sledding, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating, and much more.

There are two sets of programs for visitors to Stowe. Our school vacation programs are open to our fully enrolled students as well as any other children who want to visit us for the week or by the day. Visitors traveling to Stowe are welcome to join these programs. Our Stowe Summer Camp program is a nice mix of campers from across town, across the state, across the country, and around the world. The second option that families visiting Stowe should consider is our Family Guide Services. We provide customized family programs, catering to an individual family's interests and desires while helping them to discover some of the local secrets of Stowe, Vermont.