EarlyON Child and Family Centres
EarlyON Child and Family Centres are where children, parents and caregivers can laugh, be curious, play, learn, make friends and feel a sense of belonging. We offer a wide range of free programs and services that help your child reach their full ability:
- Programs for children from birth to six years old
- Play-based and fun learning activities
- Information on programs on services where you live
- Opportunities to meet other families with young children
- Advice from trained professionals
Our programs
EarlyON Northumberland offers free indoor, outdoor or virtual programs for families, including creative activities, hikes, story time, programs for new and soon-to-be parents, and more.
Learn more about the programs we offer:
Indoor and Outdoor Exploration programs |
| Have fun learning as you connect and play with your child, meet other families, and receive parenting information from trained Early Childhood Educators. When you attend an EarlyON Exploration program, you can expect opportunities for creative art, songs and rhymes, story readings, science and nature activities, dramatic play and active play. |
Evening Exploration program |
| We offer a monthly evening program of indoor exploration at all locations. This program is accompanied by a light meal. Registration is required. |
Childbirth and prenatal programs |
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Join an expert prenatal educator for programs focused on physically and mentally preparing for childbirth and welcoming a newborn baby to your family. This program will explore the process of labour, birth and breastfeeding through the practice of labour positions, massage and birthing balls. Topics may include:
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New Parent program |
| During this program, new parents/caregivers and their babies can have fun socializing, playing and learning together. This program may include guest visits from community partners, driven by the interests and needs of parents in the program. This program is available in Cobourg and Trent Hills. |
Indigenous programs |
| Our Indigenous team provides children and families with programming that incorporates Indigenous cultural teachings and knowledge, traditional songs, dancing, drumming, and Ojibway language teachings into the learning experience. The program works to promote cultural awareness, while fostering healing and reconciliation for urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous children, youth and families. |
EarlyON guest visits |
| EarlyON guest visitors may attend our programming to share resources with parents and to make further connections with families. Visitors may include resource consultants, nurses from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and more. |
Grandfriends program |
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Families can spread joy and make friends with EarlyON’s Grandfriends Program. Join EarlyON Northumberland for parachute fun, songs, stories and engaging activities with our Grandfriends at the Golden Plough Lodge long term care home. |
Hiking programs |
| Explore Northumberland County Forest with EarlyON as we hike together. Some hiking programs are offered in partnership with the County’s Natural Heritage team and will include a guided hike with a Forest Technician to answer our curiosities about the forest and its unique habitats! |
Library programs |
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We offer programming in partnership with local libraries, including programs delivered at local libraries throughout Northumberland and visits from local librarians to our EarlyON centres. |
Outreach programs |
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If there is no dedicated EarlyON site in your area, we also offer outreach programs, which bring EarlyON programs to additional locations throughout Northumberland. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and our online program calendar for information about outreach programs coming to your community. |
Special events |
| Join EarlyON as we explore the unique places Northumberland County has to offer, including Sandy Flat Sugar Bush, Haute Goat Farm, Barrett’s Christmas Tree Farm, Old Mill Alpacas, Roseneath Carousel, and local fire stations. Registration is required for these special programs. |
For additional program details and schedules, please refer to our program calendar or follow our Northumberland EarlyON Centres Facebook page, or download our PDF program guide.
Our locations
EarlyON Northumberland has eight locations across the county. Families are invited to visit us at the following locations during our scheduled programming:
EarlyON Brighton |
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Address: 71 Dundas Street, Brighton (East Northumberland Secondary School – west entrance) Educator: Sam Foote Contact email: brightonearlyon@gmail.com |
EarlyON Campbellford |
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Address: 179 Saskatoon Avenue, Campbellford (Rotary Hall – south side of the building) Educator: Amanda Flood Contact email: campbellfordearlyon@compasselc.com |
EarlyON Cobourg |
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Educator: Kelly Robinson Contact email: Kelly.Robinson@nrt.ymca.ca Division Street location800 Division Street, Cobourg (beside Five Counties Children’s Centre) D'Arcy Street location919 D'Arcy Street, Cobourg (St. Joseph Catholic School – south entrance/east door) |
EarlyON Colborne |
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Address: 80 Division Street, Colborne (Upstairs in the Keeler Centre) Educator: Natalie Hansey Contact email: Natalie.Hansey@nrt.ymca.ca |
EarlyON Grafton |
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Address: 718 Station Street, Grafton (behind the Grafton Library) Educator: Natalie Hansey Contact email: Natalie.Hansey@nrt.ymca.ca |
EarlyON Hastings |
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Address: 6 Albert Street, Hastings (Hastings Civic Centre) Educator: Rachel English Contact email: hastingsearlyon@compasselc.com |
EarlyON Port Hope |
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Address: 90 Rose Glen Road, Port Hope (Beatrice Strong Public School – south side parking lot) Educator: Cindy Marshall Contact email: Cindy.Marshall@nrt.ymca.ca |
Outreach programs and partner locations
EarlyON Northumberland also partners with local libraries and community centres to provide outreach programs with unique learning opportunities, activities and outdoor experiences:
Baltimore Recreation Centre |
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Address: 23 Community Centre Road, Baltimore Educator: Samantha Kelly Contact email: samantha.kelly@nrt.ymca.ca |
Bewdley Community Centre |
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Address: 7060 Lake Street, Bewdley Educator: Samantha Kelly Contact email: samantha.kelly@nrt.ymca.ca |
Brighton Public Library |
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Address: 35 Alice Street, Brighton Educator: Sam Foote Contact email: brightonearlyon@gmail.com |
Codrington Community Centre |
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Address: 2992 County Road 30, Codrington Educator: Samantha Kelly Contact email: samantha.kelly@nrt.ymca.ca |
Old Camborne School House |
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Address: 3441 Albert's Alley, Camborne Educator: Samantha Kelly Contact email: samantha.kelly@nrt.ymca.ca |
Hastings Public Library |
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Address: 6 Albert Street, Hastings Educator: Rachel English Contact email: hastingsearlyon@compasselc.com |
Northumberland County Forest |
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Educator: Kelly Robinson Contact email: kelly.robinson@nrt.ymca.ca Carstairs Trail1270-1296 Bowmanton Road, Roseneath Beagle Club Trail |
Port Hope Public Library |
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Address: 31 Queen Street, Port Hope Educator: Samantha Kelly Contact email: samantha.kelly@nrt.ymca.ca |
Roseneath Public Library |
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Address: 9059 Highway 45, Roseneath Educator: Rachel English Contact email: hastingsearlyon@compasselc.com |
For information about upcoming outreach programs, please view our view our program calendar or follow our Northumberland EarlyON Centres Facebook page.
Virtual learning resource
Looking for a fun way to learn together at home? Check out our Language on the Land website to explore the language of the Anishinaabe people, through child-friendly characters that provide cultural tales, word games, and language learning.
Visit the Language on the Land website
Have questions?
Do you have a question about one of our programs or how to register? Please email your local EarlyON educator, using the contact details provided above for each of our locations.