Childcare Facilities Open on Camp Ripley Training Center
CAMP RIPLEY, Minnesota – With the opening of a series of childcare facilities on Camp Ripley, the Minnesota National Guard, expands to join Guard organizations in over 20 states that are now able to access childcare options for their service-members.
“The daycares here on post are open to all Camp Ripley employees as well as Minnesota National Guard members in the local area,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Rian Hofstad, the Camp Ripley Garrison Command Sergeant Major.
On May 13, 2024, then Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army General Daniel Hokanson signed the expansion of a pilot program to offer drill weekend childcare to Guard members. The program’s purpose was set to enhance unit readiness, support retention, alleviate financial burdens and harmonize military commitments with parental responsibilities.
Additionally, the program provides childcare to the dependent children of married Service-members with spouses working on drill weekends, families with both parents serving in the Guard, and single Guard member parents. The initiative works to help reduce the additional concern parents balance while functioning between service commitments and family obligations.
“By providing these childcare incentives truly benefits National Guard members and employees on Camp Ripley and the State of Minnesota,” said Public Affairs Officer 1st Lt. Colton Rossow. “We are always looking for ways to support those working and training on the installation and how that support will make us mission ready,” he added.
The installation has opened full-time childcare facilities for the first time in Camp Ripley’s over 90-year history. Three total childcare facilities will be opened by early 2025, with two already being opened, that can care for eight to twelve children at a time.
Two current childcare programs open on Camp Ripley in mid-October of 2024. The Karissa Gross Family Childcare and Little Wonders Academy were selected from several programs that were interviewed and evaluated to provide reliable service, occupy safe and refurbished space on Camp Ripley and meet necessary guidelines for childcare. A third program is intended to be welcomed to Camp Ripley within the next several months.
“I’ve been working in early childhood education since I was in high school when I started working at a daycare center and I’ve worked at a couple other daycares, the Little Falls School District, and owned my own out-of-home family childcare since then,” said Nicole Rhode, the owner and childcare provider of Little Wonder’s Academy. “I’m excited to get back into it and work with kiddos again and so when I heard about this opportunity, I jumped on it. It’s a really great opportunity for our community and for Camp Ripley and I’m really excited about it.”
“What excites me is being able to watch the kids grow up intellectually, knowing and seeing what they love and want to do during their day,” said Karissa Gross excitedly, the owner and childcare provider of Karissa Gross Family Childcare, as her own daughter played with the numerous toys in the home. “Just watching them grow up basically and teaching them how to be kids.”
According to the Pentagon, the men and women of the National Guard make up the primary combat reserve of the Army and Air Force manning structure. More than 430,000 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen comprise the current National Guard to include nearly 25,000 on duty supporting overseas combatant commands, with another 20,000 serving domestic operations here at home.
Story by Staff Sgt. Jordan Newbanks – Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs
