Steamboat Resort Creates Employer-Based Child Care Center
Published January 2023
Steamboat Ski Resort has long believed that taking care of people is fundamental to taking care of a community. When access to quality childcare emerged as one of Routt County’s most urgent challenges, the resort took meaningful action—investing in a solution that supported working families while strengthening the broader Yampa Valley.
That commitment led to the creation of the Steamboat Child Care Center, an employer-supported, licensed childcare facility designed to serve children ages 8 weeks through 7 years. Opening its doors in December 2022, the center primarily supports resort employees and their families, while also helping ease demand on the local childcare system by freeing up space at other community providers when possible.
Guided by a nature-based, relationship-focused philosophy, the program emphasized outdoor play, environmental learning, and consistent caregiver relationships. The approach reflected Steamboat’s mountain culture and family-friendly values—giving children space to learn, grow, and connect to the outdoors while their parents worked nearby.
Bringing the center to life required thoughtful planning and collaboration, from site selection and licensing to staffing and program design. Steamboat Ski Resort also participated in a statewide employer design lab through Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), helping ensure the program was built for long-term sustainability and high-quality care.
The impact extended beyond the resort. By providing childcare directly to its workforce, Steamboat helped remove a significant barrier to employment, supporting recruitment and retention while contributing to economic stability in a region identified as a childcare desert by the Colorado Office of Early Childhood.
The Steamboat Child Care Center became more than an employee benefit—it stood as an example of The Steamboat Way in action: investing locally, thinking long term, and showing up for the people who make Ski Town, U.S.A.® what it is. Through this effort, the resort reinforced its commitment to community wellbeing, shared responsibility, and a strong future for Routt County.
To learn more about the Steamboat Child Care Center, visit steamboat.com/childcare.
rich-text, responsive-table
Steamboat Ski Resort has long believed that taking care of people is fundamental to taking care of a community. When access to quality childcare emerged as one of Routt County’s most urgent challenges, the resort took meaningful action—investing in a solution that supported working families while strengthening the broader Yampa Valley.
That commitment led to the creation of the Steamboat Child Care Center, an employer-supported, licensed childcare facility designed to serve children ages 8 weeks through 7 years. Opening its doors in December 2022, the center primarily supports resort employees and their families, while also helping ease demand on the local childcare system by freeing up space at other community providers when possible.
Guided by a nature-based, relationship-focused philosophy, the program emphasized outdoor play, environmental learning, and consistent caregiver relationships. The approach reflected Steamboat’s mountain culture and family-friendly values—giving children space to learn, grow, and connect to the outdoors while their parents worked nearby.
Bringing the center to life required thoughtful planning and collaboration, from site selection and licensing to staffing and program design. Steamboat Ski Resort also participated in a statewide employer design lab through Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), helping ensure the program was built for long-term sustainability and high-quality care.
The impact extended beyond the resort. By providing childcare directly to its workforce, Steamboat helped remove a significant barrier to employment, supporting recruitment and retention while contributing to economic stability in a region identified as a childcare desert by the Colorado Office of Early Childhood.
The Steamboat Child Care Center became more than an employee benefit—it stood as an example of The Steamboat Way in action: investing locally, thinking long term, and showing up for the people who make Ski Town, U.S.A.® what it is. Through this effort, the resort reinforced its commitment to community wellbeing, shared responsibility, and a strong future for Routt County.
To learn more about the Steamboat Child Care Center, visit steamboat.com/childcare.
rich-text, responsive-table