Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation Celebrates Community Partnership

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation Celebrates Community Partnership with Columbia Gorge Community College for new play structure.

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, formerly known as Mid-Columbia Medical Center, is proud to celebrate the 42-year anniversary of its pioneering on-site childcare, Great N Small. Founded with the vision of recruiting and retaining staff in the rural community of The Dalles, Oregon, the daycare has grown into an esteemed institution. Unlike typical childcare facilities, Great N Small was designed to prepare children for school with a structured educational environment, inspired by the government’s Head Start program. This innovative approach was realized by employing certified teachers, ensuring that children received quality education from the start.

In 1986, only about 2,500 companies across the U.S. offered on-site childcare, with hospitals being the primary providers. Offering such a forward-thinking service in The Dalles was a groundbreaking move. Today, Great N Small boasts multiple generations of graduates, many of whom have returned to work for the hospital, continuing the legacy of community and care.

Recently, Robert Wells-Clark, Director of Technology &Trades, Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication at Columbia Gorge Community College, identified an opportunity for his students while dropping off his child at Great N Small. Observing the playground in need of upgrades. He envisioned a project where CGCC students could apply their skills in a real-world setting. The students from the college’s Manufacturing and Construction programs took on the task of designing, engineering, and constructing a new play structure. This included fabricating unique components and ensuring the design was modular, inclusive, and easy to modify or expand.

To enrich the educational impact, local high school students were invited every Friday to gain hands-on experience in the building trades, exploring potential career paths. Additionally, elementary school students toured the college’s facilities, learning about manufacturing and construction processes. This collaborative effort truly embodied the spirit of a community-driven project.

Financed by the Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation, this year-long initiative benefits the children of Great N Small by creating a safe and inclusive play structure. Further extending its reach, additional grant funding has been secured to replicate the fabrication for a new play structure at Chenoweth Elementary, supporting their Head Start Program.

This project has touched countless lives, from engaging local college students in this hands-on design and fabrication project to providing safe play spaces for children at two locations for generations to come. It underscores the crucial role community colleges play in equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in rural communities. It also highlights the power of community partnerships in meeting shared goals.