A wide shot of the Sweatt-Winter Childcare building

Programs for Children

High-Quality Educational Programs

From the Community, for the Community

These programs are carefully designed to benefit the community as well as the University. Our focus is on providing high-quality care and educational experiences for children, while at the same time helping to train future early childhood educators.

In training educators, sites like Sweatt-Winter Early Care and Education Center, our labs provide UMF students opportunities to gain valuable practical experience working with children and families and observing teaching and child development in an on-campus setting.

Sweatt-Winter teacher working with young children inside of a classroom.

Sweatt-Winter Early Care and Education Center

Sweatt-Winter has provided licensed, nature-inspired child care and education for over 30 years in Franklin County. It’s currently located in Ricker Addition on the UMF campus.

In October 2023, a new facility opened on Front Street in Farmington, across from UMF’s Robert’s Learning Center (near McDonald’s). The new site offers:

  • Full-day and part-day Preschool (ages 3–5)

  • Before-and-after school care (ages 5–8)

  • Infant and Toddler care

Hours: 7:00am–5:15pm, Monday–Friday, year-round.

We’re still accepting children, though space is limited. We’re currently enrolling for the Part-day Preschool program, held Tues–Thurs, 10:00am–12:30pm.

Contact: umf.sweattwinter@maine.edu or 207-778-7480 for updates and openings.

child looking at table

UMF / RSU9 Public Pre-K Collaboration

The UMF / RSU9 Public Pre-K Collaboration operates a short walk from the campus in Farmington’s W.G Mallett School and serves eligible 4-year-olds from the Mallett School Catchment area. The collaboration involves the University of Maine at Farmington, RSU9, and Child Development Services. For information about enrolling children and UMF student involvement, see The Mallett Pre-K Program and call (207)778-3529.
pool

Youth Recreation Camps, Youth Swim Lessons, and More

The UMF Fitness & Recreation Center also offers a number of programs for children throughout the year. These programs are not affiliated with the UMF Early Childhood Education Department but are offered by the University’s Fitness & Rec Center.