STEAM Family Fun
Free, Ages 2 – 5
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:00am – 3:00pm
OneStop Centerville
Building Brains Anywhere
Brainchild of Gwinnett
Building Brains (B2) Anywhere: A Shirley Carver Miller Learning Initiative is a countywide, early learning brainchild of Gwinnett County. The initiative aims to serve children, parents, and care givers by providing safe, fun, and engaging early learning opportunities for children.
B2 Anywhere emphasizes literacy and early learning in both new and existing programs. We’re collaborating with various partners such as Gwinnett County Public Schools and the Building Babies’ Brains Initiative. An early learning strategy is critical as statistics show that only 52 percent of Gwinnett students enter kindergarten ready to learn. This issue is a matter that impacts all regions of Gwinnett as 100 percent of the county’s public elementary schools have students enrolling without the skills needed for kindergarten.
B2 Anywhere is closing the literacy and academic preparation gaps in our community. We are committed to serving and growing with Gwinnett’s residents. We believe there is opportunity to educate in any and every environment, so we’re committed to building brains anywhere! Please feel free to email us at B2Anywhere@GwinnettCounty.com.
CAPS – Boosting Kids, Helping Families
Click to learn more and apply for Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program | Georgia.Gov
The Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program supports early education by assisting low-income families with childcare costs while they work, go to school or training, or participate in other work-related activities.
CAPS is funded by the Child Care and Development Fund and administered in Georgia by the Department of Early Care and Learning.
The purpose of CAPS:
• To provide access to high-quality, affordable early learning environments for low-income families
• To support efforts to increase positive school readiness outcomes
• To help families become self-sufficient by assisting with childcare costs
Gwinnett offers several programs that are CAPS-eligible, including:
• Summer Camp: Weekly Adventure Camps held at multiple locations around Gwinnett, and weekly Discovery Camps at Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford
• Out-of-School Time: Camps held at multiple Gwinnett locations during breaks in the academic year; camps must be a minimum of three consecutive days
• Afterschool Program: Offered at select elementary schools in Gwinnett
B2 Anywhere
Being playful is critical to engaging young minds and meeting them where they are. B2 Anywhere is unleashing knowledge through exciting early learning programs throughout Gwinnett. These mobile units travel to parks, childcare facilities, community centers, apartment complexes, places of worship, libraries, and other community locations.
The mobile units provide literacy programs and fun, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) enrichment for children starting at birth through age eight. Programs highlight play, nature, and hands-on learning for Gwinnett’s youngest residents. Plus, they demonstrate learning concepts for parents and caregivers to help their little learners prepare to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
If you are interested in current program offerings or in having B2 Anywhere visit your location, please call 770.822.7371.
B2 Afterschool
Children are naturally curious, so learning doesn’t stop when they are out of school. The B2 Afterschool program is held at select schools throughout the county. The program is a value to families by providing a safe and fun environment where children can participate in recreational, educational, social, cultural, and physical afterschool enrichment activities - all at their own school!
Currently, the B2A Afterschool program operates in eight elementary schools:
- Britt Elementary
- Freeman’s Mill Elementary
- Jenkins Elementary
- Meadowcreek Elementary
- Peachtree Elementary
- Rockbridge Elementary
- Rock Springs Elementary
- Taylor Elementary
All sites are Child and Parent Services (CAPS) eligible, so qualified families may be able to attend at little to no cost. For information about the specific site your child may attend, please email B2anywhere@GwinnettCounty.com or call 770.904.3500.
G.R.E.A.T. Minds Book Exchanges
Initiated by the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, the G.R.E.A.T (Gwinnett Reading Exchange & Art Transforms) Minds is a selection of small book exchanges located throughout Gwinnett.
Members of the community can help steward a child’s love of reading in a fun and interactive way! Simply drop off books, suitable for children ages birth through 14 at a book exchange near you.
Not only are the G.R.E.A.T. Minds book exchanges a fun find for inquisitive children, they also encourage an appreciation for public art for everyone!
If you are interested in more information on providing books, becoming a book exchange steward, or requesting a book exchange to be installed at your location, please email B2Anywhere@GwinnettCounty.com.