The SCCC is a volunteer Board of Directors, serving as the Governing Body for Little Dippers Learning Center, as well as advocating for and supporting Childcare in Skagway.
Current Board of Directors
Katie Auer , President
Juliene Miles, Vice President
Eliza Russell, Treasurer
Kaylie Smith, Secretary
Rachel Dewan
Skagway Child Care Council
SCCC is looking for Board Members. Interested in joining? please contact us at: SkagwayChildCareCouncil@gmail.com
Next SCCC Meeting:
4/9/2025, 5:30PM @ Skagway Development Corporation
Annual Fundraiser
Little Dippers 26th Annual, Wine Tasting Fundraiser with Live & Silent Auction
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6pm-9pm
Location: Alaska360 Dredge Town
Current Projects
Skagway Innovates Program: A Collaborative Effort with Thread Alaska
About the Innovation Grant
The Skagway Innovates program was developed and implemented by the Skagway Child Care Council (SCCC) between June 2023 and December 2025, thanks to the support of an Innovation Grant from Thread Alaska.
The Innovation Grant, was created to address child care challenges and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions, provided the necessary resources for communities to take a transformative approach to child care.
With the unique needs of the community in mind, the SCCC created the Skagway Innovates program focused on evaluating and enhancing the child care landscape in Skagway. The initiative included five key tasks: conducting a Child Care Needs Study, creating a Program Evaluation and Improvements action plan for the Little Dippers Learning Center, launching the Skagway Kids 360 pilot summer camp, supporting the start-up of two licensed child care providers, and advancing the education of up to two employees of the Little Dippers Learning Center . These efforts not only addressed the immediate needs of local families but also laid the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient child care system.
This collaborative effort is focused on ensuring that children and families in the community have access to high-quality, sustainable child care services to support the well-being of families and create lasting impacts in Skagway and beyond.
The Skagway Innovates program is still ongoing and evolving to meet the child care needs of Skagway. However, the first two tasks have been successfully completed and are available for the community to reference.
Skagway Child Care Start-up Program
Funded by the Skagway Child Care Council (SCCC) through grant funds from thread Community Innovation Grant program and managed by the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children (SEAAEYC), the Skagway Childcare Start-up Grant program offers approved applicants start-up assistance funding for newly licensed childcare facilities in the community that serve ages 6 and up for minimum annual service from May 12th – August 15th. Maximum grant awards for any one project will be $25,000 for a family childcare home, $30,000 for a group home, and $50,000 for a center. To apply, applicants must first submit a letter of Interest (LOI) and application, which seeks to identify individuals or organizations interested in expanding licensed childcare services in Skagway and ensure equitable access to grant funds. The LOI/application deadline is February 28, 2025. Selected projects will be required to complete an interview before final approval.