ABOUT THE ASPEN HOUSE
Our mission is to care for the whole family as a community-focused center dedicated to an environment that supports thriving, not just surviving, the early childhood years.
Artwork by Bee Johnson. All rights reserved.
The Aspen House is a multi-generational, flexible, hourly childcare model center that offers pay-per-hour rates and an affordable monthly membership for the families we serve. With a focus on ages 0-5, The Aspen House will serve the whole family from babies through the preschool years with on-site care, community spaces, coworking and independent workspaces, and in the future, rooms for independent parent-centered care services. The whole family model will ensure that the growing number of parents with young children in Leelanau County will have an option for childcare that allows for flexibility, affordability, and most importantly — resiliency.
“Shouting ‘self-care’ at people who actually need community care is how we fail people.”
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Vision
The Aspen House will create a third space that bridges the gap between home and center-based childcare so families can be part of an active community of other parents in the early childhood life stage. This space will serve as core social infrastructure in Leelanau County for families to find the support of their village.
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Values
We believe in the dignity and intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support parents of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religious participation, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We strive to create an environment that puts a young family’s well-being and ability to thrive truly in the forefront of building resilient, healthy, and happy communities.
Kendall Rose
Founder
Since becoming a mother and connecting with so many other wonderful parents in our rural community of Northern Michigan, I knew I wanted to create a space that could meet multiple needs at once; space for childcare specifically geared towards infants and toddlers, space to work on-site and manage a business, and opportunities for people to connect through their shared stories and experiences in the childbearing and early childhood years.
The Aspen House idea was born in the midst of my early years as a mother, but it really begins with a deep sense of longing so many of us have to see and be seen in the purpose of our work, both at home and in the community. I’m so glad you found your way here and look forward to sharing this journey with you!
When I’m not living and breathing The Aspen House, you can find me working on our family’s 1970s fixer-upper bungalow in the community of Cedar, chasing our toddlers around the woods or on the Sleeping Bear Heritage trail, cooking and reading, and spending time with friends and family who come to visit us in the place we love to call home!
Who We Serve
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Women & Mothers
Our mothering-centric spaces are intuitive and comprehensive, designed to put mothering needs first in public spaces rather than as an afterthought. The ADA-accessible and universally designed space is designed for strollers and diaper bags, bottles and breastfeeding, functional enough for childcare, beautiful enough to enjoy a respite from home.
The Aspen House offers group and individual pre and postpartum services in partnership with area providers who will offer services on-site.
Women no longer have to go far to seek essential physical, mental, and social well-being services and know that their children are in good hands.
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Infants
Newborns and infants are welcome in all of the spaces at The Aspen House. We offer comforting spaces for rest and relaxation with a breastfeeding room, accessible bathroom, pumping station, and infant-centric play space.
Ages 6 weeks and up are welcome in the childcare program.
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Parents
All parents are welcome at The Aspen House. Inviting and inclusive spaces ensure that parents can thrive with room to work, rest, play, socialize, and enjoy community with other parents of young children.
Fathers, partners, and co-parents are invited to be a part of this nurturing environment and to help improve the experience of all people who are involved in building families.
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Toddlers
Toddlers and children are introduced to socialization and play in a large, open-ended space and environment. Lightly structured days and activities help to support the “home away from home” model.
Coming soon
The Aspen House is a dynamic team of people who are passionate about families, children, and community.
Behind the scenes, this start-up business receives incredible in-kind support from business mentors, accountants, branding and marketing gurus, copy editors and writers, and people with specialized skillsets in early childhood development and health and wellness services.
We’ll be growing and adding staff in 2025 and will be seeking caregivers with Early Childhood Education credentials, caregivers interested in acquiring training and credentials, and support staff such as administrative, accounting, and facilities management.
Please email hello@ouraspenhouse.com to stay on our radar and connect!