The Cooperation Station Board of Directors voted to close the childcare facility in Grand Marais effective Friday, October 6 due to an unexpected lack of available staffing alongside a failure of the parent cooperative model to maintain the administrative resources to keep the program operational.

Since receiving our director’s resignation notice, the parent-run Board has worked hard to reach out to parents, staff, and outside support professionals to explore if and whether the daycare could remain open in the short term.  We currently do not have the resources to keep the doors open.  This is not a decision that was made lightly, as the Board understands very clearly the stress a lack of childcare will cause families.

The current Cooperation Station Board, along with support from the local Small Business Development Center and the Childcare Coordinator at Cook County Public Health and Human Services, are committed to working together to find a way for Cooperation Station to open in the future with a more resilient organizational model that better meets the needs of children, families, and staff.  Current and past families, along with interested community members are invited to join this effort by emailing [email protected].  

About Cooperation Station  

Cooperation Station is a non-profit, parent-run childcare cooperative that has provided nature-based care to children in Grand Marais since 1999.  It operates under a C3 license issued by Cook County in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.  This license allows for care of a maximum of 14 children with two adults, or 12 with one adult.