Cultivating kids of wonder & kindness.
Our Growing Grove (formerly His Growing Grove) is an extension of ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward. A historic congregation now invested in the shalom of our whole community, OGG is how we have nurtured our youngest generations, for almost 40 years.
We are committed to providing quality care and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children as they explore their environments, engage with peers, and are supported by caregivers through a play-based approach. Play-based education is founded in research that shows a relationship between play and the cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual development of early childhood. We know that play is the “work” of childhood, and is fertile ground for cultivating resilient, life-long learners who approach the ever-changing complexities of our world with wonder and kindness.
From our Directors:
After working for years in the spiritual development of our children and youth on staff at FirstPres, and after raising children through OGG ourselves, we could not be more glad to now be leading the work of OGG as we look towards what the next 40 years holds. We deeply believe that our work as educators is a joint effort with you as family, and that together we can raise kids who will make this world a little better, by being exactly who God created them to be.
We’d love to connect, and be in relationship with you however that is helpful.
With love,
Chizu Buckalew & Lauren Gibbs-Beadle