Lion's Eye Favorite: Kids Meet the Animals at Harris Family Children's Center

Exeter's Harris Family Children's Center (HFCC) is a place of fun and discovery for kids. 

Last week, over 30 children – aged 3 to 8 – watched a special animal presentation by Wildlife Encounters Zoo. The children loved the animals – hairy and scaly, large and small. 

Mary Driscoll, the center's director, was delighted to invite the animals for a visit.  "We are always looking for ways to provide the children with unique, hands-on learning experiences, and Wildlife Encounters does just that," Driscoll said.

  See what it's like to pet a lizard (yuck!) and listen to the cockatoo (wow!)…

  Hear children talk about their animal favorites…

The 8,000-square-foot center opened in 2006. It has the capacity to offer full- and part-time care for 58 children of Phillips Exeter Academy families and the surrounding community. It features two blended-age classrooms for infants and toddlers, a preschool program, a 3/4-day kindergarten, an after-school program, and summer camp for children through 3rd grade. Contact the center via email at childrenscenter@exeter.edu or phone 603-777-3150.

Interested in learning more?

Read more about the Harris Family Children's Center…

Learn more about the center's award-winning architectural design…

Find out more about HFCC's summer camp program…

Lion's note: this story first appeared on July 16, 2009.