Welcome to Children of the Valley, where children in need are provided a safe and supportive after-school environment that celebrates each child’s unique potential and cultivates connection, learning, and confidence.
Annual Art Auction
Join us April 25 for a vibrant evening in support of COV with live mariachi music and a Mexican street-style dinner by COA Mexican Eatery.
Get Involved
With four total sites in Skagit Valley, our need for support is greater than ever. Learn how you can get involved, whether it’s by becoming a donor or volunteer!
Cornerstones of Care
COV provides a place of nurturing for under-resourced children through academic assistance, social-emotional learning, and enrichment activities.
A Partnership in Bloom
This spring, Skagit Acres is adding even more beauty to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival with a new tulip field, alongside a refreshed Garden Center, Gift Shop, and Café featuring a brand-new beer and wine garden for tulip season.
We’re excited to share that Skagit Acres is making it easier than ever to support Children of the Valley. Starting March 20th, guests will have the option to donate during checkout, directly helping the children and families we serve. Skagit Acres will also be joining us in our Back-to-School Supply Drive, Coat Drive, and Giving Tree, strengthening our community impact throughout the year.
Meanwhile, Skagit Acres’ sister farm, Tulip Town, is also stepping up for our cause. They’ll donate $1 for every bouquet purchased during Locals Night, Wednesday, April 9. We’ll be there to celebrate—come say hello and support a great cause!
Our Cornerstones of Care
Our afterschool program is built upon four cornerstones of care aimed at addressing the unique needs of the children in our care. These cornerstones of care include academic assistance, enrichment activities, social-emotional learning, and family support. By participating in COV, children achieve academic gains, increased attendance and engagement at school, and increased confidence and compassion.
Academic Assistance
COV instructors provide hands-on tutoring that directly correlates with where each child is in his or her unique learning journey. Through regular correspondence with each child’s school teacher, we are able to tailor our efforts specific to each student’s individual academic needs, helping them develop better study skills, increase knowledge of core classroom curriculum, and boost overall self-confidence while igniting excitement for learning.
• Regular communication with each child’s school teacher
• Tutoring for reading and math as needed
• Daily reading support to meet Mount Vernon School District requirement
• Assistance with student homework assignments to ensure completion and comprehension
Enrichment Activities
COV strives to provide its children with a holistic, whole-circle approach to education which means opening the door to enrichment opportunities that may not be offered to them otherwise. Through an exploration of wide-ranging activities, our children gain real-world experiences and knowledge. This exposure enhances each child’s appreciation for diversity and expression, while also improving fine motor skills and confidence in their decision-making abilities.
• Fun and engaging life skills such as sewing and cooking
• Inter-generational experiences with senior community
• Special activities with local student-athletes
• Various field trips throughout Skagit Valley
Social-Emotional Learning
A child’s social-emotional well-being is one of the largest factors in his or her ability to learn. Our goal is to provide COV children with the necessary tools to understand and manage their unique, and often confusing, emotions. By using the Zones of Regulation curriculum which associates feelings with colors, COV children are taught strategies for responding appropriately to each related emotion. With these tools, the children are able to set and achieve positive behavioral goals, learn and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
• Staff and volunteers receive ongoing special training to address the emotional needs of the children we serve.
• Instructors use a daily “check-in” system at the beginning of each day to see where each child is emotionally.
• Students have multiple opportunities to express their emotional needs and be cared for in a safe environment with empathy and compassion.
Family Support
COV provides support to the families of the students we serve. Our goal is to establish meaningful relationships with families to better understand the challenges they may be experiencing and how we can be of assistance. Whether it’s through direct support or connecting COV families to community resources, we help families through any challenges that may arise in their lives. COV children have the best chance at success in life when their family’s basic needs are met.
• Utility and housing assistance
• Gifts from holiday wish lists
• Food baskets and gift cards
• School-related expenses
Mentorship
To create positive and lasting change, we provide ways for COV children to stay engaged with the program through volunteering and employment opportunities. Community partnerships in higher education also allow COV to be a site for work-based learning.
• Volunteer opportunities
• Work-based learning
• Middle school support services
• Hiring and training educators
Upcoming Events
Annual Art Auction
Join us April 25 for a vibrant evening in support of COV with live mariachi music and a Mexican street-style dinner by COA Mexican Eatery.
COV Merch Store
Our new merch store is live! Shop to make an impact and wear your COV swag with pride.
Together, we can make a difference.
Since 2006, Children of the Valley has been at the forefront of local efforts to ensure that children in need are given equal opportunity to learn, feel supported, and thrive in all aspects of their young lives. We believe that every action taken on behalf of these children – positive word-of-mouth, donation, sponsorship, or volunteer hours – starts a ripple of change that reaches far and wide. It is our goal to positively impact the lives of the children and families we serve, creating a better future for us all.
Leadership Circle
In Skagit Valley, we’re blessed to be part of a community where businesses and organizations step up to support those in need. The organizations in our Leadership Circle have made a commitment to support Children of the Valley and our efforts for a minimum of three years. Thank you, Leadership Circle, for providing access to education, enrichment, and social-emotional support for our most under-resourced children!
