Joshua Vissers/Daily Mining Gazette The new outdoor classroom area includes climbing and building areas, a mud kitchen and sand box, a stage, bamboo chimes and more, all made from natural materials.

L’ANSE — The kindergarten readiness program offered by Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) celebrated the opening of their new facility on Tuesday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. Migiziinsag (Little Eagles) Preschool Program is open to 4-year-olds and is free to parents, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Great Start Readiness Program.

“I’ve heard nothing but excellent things from parents,” KBOCC president Lori Sherman said.

The program has also received a 5-star rating from Great Start for Quality, a state assessment organization. A big part of the positive feedback is due to the high teacher-student ratio of one to eight.

“There’s a lot of individualized attention given to each student,” Sherman said.

KBOCC students in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program also help out at the preschool, giving extra attention to the kids and gaining valuable experience for their careers.

The outdoor area was funded by the American Indian College Fund. It was constructed using natural materials, mostly cedar, by Northern Landscapes in Pelkie. The one big thing not made of cedar or other natural fiber is a plastic slide.

“Can’t do cedar slides,” Cheryl LaRose said. She’s the department chair of KBOCC’s ECE program.

Cedar blocks have been cut for children to build with. A “mud kitchen” lets preschoolers pretend to cook with sand and mud. A real slate chalkboard is available for art, and bamboo chimes are available for children with a musical streak. Rather than a jungle-gym, there”s rope wrapped around cedar columns in the same pattern as a dreamcatcher.

Decorations inside the building highlight Anishinabe clans and history, too.

“The culture is infused all throughout the building,” Sherman said.

Preschool at Little Eagles runs 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. On Fridays, staff makes home visits. Interested parents can apply for enrollment on the KBOCC website.