NEW GLARUS — On Friday, March 3, State Senator Dianne Hesselbein and Representative Mike Bare toured their district, stopping at Landmark Creamery and Seven Acre Dairy Company in Belleville after starting their day playing with the young children at Corrine’s Little Explorers Family Child Care in New Glarus. 

“It was great to visit Corrine’s little Explorer’s in New Glarus and see first hand the importance quality childcare has on our kids and their parents,” Rep. Mike Bare said. “We need to support childcare workers and providers and give families access to quality and affordable childcare.”

The representatives and staff members were welcomed by the children who invited them into their  play. They played with the trains, play phones, dug in the moon sand while conversing with the children. As they visited they took a few moments to speak with Corrine about the business aspect and what her day entails, starting at 6:30 a.m., then 7 a.m. when children start arriving, then  interacting with the children both inside and outside to support their curiosity and ability to interact positively with others, meals, snacks, nap, finally sending the last child home around 5 p.m. then clean up and the business end begins. 

She shared that she frequently works 70-80 hours a week running her business, working on county initiatives and trainings with Child Care Matters, Green County Child Care Network and statewide groups like Main Street Alliance and Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed she co-founded with Brooke Skidmore of The Growing Tree.  

“I was impressed with Corrine’s love and care for the children. Child Care counts is an important investment Wisconsin needs to make so parents can go to work and know their children are in loving hands,” Senator Hesselbein after the visit.