Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Webcam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

Brainerd’s Fun ‘N’ Friends Celebrates 30 Years Of Programming

Rachel Johnson — Apr. 23 2019
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

The Brainerd Public School District’s child care program, Fun ’N’ Friends, is celebrating 30 years of programming this year.

Fun ’N’ Friends was was established in 1989 in order to provide before-school and after-school child care to students in kindergarten through 4th grade. The program employs over 55 staff members and has over 700 students registered this year.

“We really want kids to feel valued, feel capable, have really good experiences that challenge them in all the right ways. So the things that we like to do, we kind of have four keywords that we use: caring, guiding, connecting, and educating,” said Brainerd School District child care coordinator Lisa Henry-Stawarski, who founded Fun ’N’ Friends 30 years ago.

Besides being a place for children to go when their parents are at work, Fun ’N’ Friends allows students to learn social, creative, and interpersonal skills. The program has grown significantly over the years from enrolling around 150 kids when the program first started to now over 700.

“It’s hands-on. It’s social and emotional. It’s real, it’s not something behind a screen. It’s putting that down and having a connection with youth,” added Kari Roberts, Fun ’N’ Friends programming and inclusion supervisor.

“I have kids, their kids are now coming because they’ve started their own family. To see them return and come, it’s been very, very rewarding,” said Fun ’N’ Friends family account supervisor Maureen Riles.

Fun ’N’ Friends offers all-day programming during the summer while students are out of school. People are able to register by stopping by the program office in the Washington Educational Services Building in Brainerd.

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

By — Rachel Johnson

Lakeland News Lead Reporter

Related Posts

Brainerd Police Department Pulls School Resource Officers from District

Discussion on Childcare in Minnesota Held at Pine Pals in Bemidji

Brainerd Public School Board Agrees to Put Snow Days Back on the Calendar

Retired Brainerd Educators Gather for Annual Reunion Luncheon

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Lakeland PBS Live Stream!

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands the media that people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming