{"id":77343,"date":"2026-03-23T11:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T18:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=77343"},"modified":"2026-03-23T11:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T18:09:32","slug":"three-years-eldc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/three-years-eldc\/","title":{"rendered":"Three years of growth and recognition for NAU\u2019s Early Learning and Development Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Back in fall 2023, as the weather turned cold, spiders and ants sought refuge inside NAU\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/early-learning-development-center\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Early Learning and Development Center<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. The young students, ages 2-5, noticed\u2014and they had some thoughts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cSome said, \u2018Whoa, cool, let me look closer,\u2019\u00a0while\u00a0others went, \u2018Gross, get it away, squish it!\u201d\u00a0said Rebecca\u00a0Cirzan, director of the center. \u201cAll of them had opinions. All of them cared about the bugs in some way.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Kids learn more when they care\u2014so the ELDC took advantage of this moment. They parlayed a single bug encounter into a three-month\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/early-learning-development-center\/2024\/01\/30\/the-bug-project\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">student-guided project<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0on creepy crawlies, culminating in one big,\u00a0beautiful bug presentation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The kids led their own learning journey each step of the way, employing a rare method called inquiry-based learning.\u00a0They\u00a0took the helm every step of the way:\u00a0Developing\u00a0their own research questions, examining\u00a0\u201cspecimens\u201d (read: dirt-covered worms) taken from their own backyards, comparing\u00a0human life\u00a0cycles with those of beetles, put on their own production of \u201cThe Grouchy Ladybug\u201d and\u00a0seeking\u00a0input from expert scientists, including NAU\u00a0professor Rich Hofstetter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NAU ELDC&#039;s The Grouch Ladybug\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I0tac2w_EH0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cI found the kids well informed, particularly for that age group\u00a0and excited about entomology,\u201d Hofstetter said. \u201cTwo college students also came with me and were impressed. The kids shared what they knew about insects and were familiar with insect classification and biology.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Plus, he noted, they handled everything from Madagascar hissing cockroaches to tarantulas without fear.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">At the end of the season, the kids worked together on a final project they chose themselves: a bug lab where family members could get hands-on encounters with the wide world of insects.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThis kind of inquiry-based learning is one of the unique things we do,\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said. \u201cInstead of teaching in a traditional way where we\u00a0pick\u00a0the subjects, we do investigations on topics based on what the children\u2019s interests are.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0very cool to see it in action.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why inquiry-based learning?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Since opening in March 2023, the ELDC has used the unique inquiry-based learning model to nurture inquisitive and creative young people in northern Arizona. Students at the center are mostly children of NAU\u2019s diverse, vibrant community of students and employees. In 2025, 59% of those enrolled at the ELDC were children of color, with many hailing from rural areas and tribal lands. Available subsidies and grants have allowed 40% of parents to pay reduced or no tuition.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThat\u2019s what you want, right?\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said of the vibrant student population. \u201cIt builds the capacity for children to work with people of all backgrounds, all\u00a0abilities. It allows children to look at everyone and see the different strengths everyone brings.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8640_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-77347\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8640_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg\" alt=\"Kids standing around a craft table in an outdoor park\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/8640_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg 640w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/8640_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A peer-reviewed\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.iadb.org\/en\/inquiry-and-problem-based-pedagogy-evidence-10-field-experiments\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">working paper published by the Inter-American Development Bank<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0found that inquiry-based learning gives young kids a better understanding of subjects such as math and science, increasing their standardized test scores by up to 18%. Yet in the United States, there are few early\u00a0childhood care centers using this learning model aside from a handful of pricey private schools.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Inquiry-based learning found its way to northern Arizona thanks to Tori Damjanovic, then a Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida.\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cIn my doctoral studies, I was particularly drawn to research and educational models from Scandinavian and Nordic countries, where inquiry is not seen as an \u2018add-on,\u2019 but as the foundation of learning,\u201d Damjanovic said. \u201cIn these contexts, children are viewed as capable thinkers, problem-solvers\u00a0and contributors to their learning communities. That perspective deeply resonated with both my research and my experiences working directly with young children and educators.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Damjanovic, now an assistant professor and incoming chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning, said the model works because young children are inherently curious. They learn best by asking questions, testing\u00a0ideas\u00a0and making sense of the world through hands-on exploration.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWhen educators build on that curiosity rather than replacing it with predetermined answers, children develop deeper understanding, stronger language and critical thinking skills and a greater sense of agency,\u201d Damjanovic said. \u201cThey are not just memorizing information; they are constructing knowledge in ways that are meaningful and lasting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ELDC\u2019s growing community<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ever since Damjanovic\u2019s vision came to life at the ELDC, her theories have been proven right.\u00a0Last year, 100% of families said they were extremely satisfied with the center, and despite expanding enrollment by 40% since 2023, the center still has dozens of families on its wait list.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_77349\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-77349\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8753_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-77349\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8753_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg\" alt=\"Two parents posing with their kids in a park\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/8753_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small.jpg 640w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/8753_eldc_family_meetup_20240910-Enhanced-NR-small-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-77349\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Last year, 100% of families said they were extremely satisfied with the center.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The ELDC also recently received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children\u00a0(NAEYC), the highest recognition possible in early childcare. At their first NAEYC conference, center staff gave talks that drew wide interest and attention from educators across the country. And a recent one-day workshop led by\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0and her colleagues attracted so much interest that the ELDC is planning to host a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/events.nau.edu\/event\/eldc-early-childhood-innovations-conference\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">national\u00a0conference<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0on the subject\u00a0on campus April 18.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWe had a wait list of people trying to get into the workshop,\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said. \u201cThen, at the NAEYC conference, a lot of educators heard our talks on inquiry-based learning and said, \u2018This is incredible; I didn\u2019t know we could teach like this.\u2019\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0had people circling back to us and asking for more information.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0clear people want to hear more.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Interest in the ELDC\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just coming from the education sector\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0also coming from local government. The Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Workforce Development Board\u00a0recently asked\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0to give a presentation on the connection between childcare and economic development, which\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0hopes translates to policy changes that help the community thrive.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t realize that when children don\u2019t have access to high-quality childcare, we see destabilization in households and the workforce,\u201d she said. \u201cWe treat childcare as something families need to figure out on their own, but we need to flip that script. Childcare should be a community resource.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A living laboratory<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Inquiry-based learning\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0the only thing that makes the ELDC unique. Since moving from a cramped Flagstaff Middle School building to a larger location on NAU\u2019s\u00a0Flagstaff mountain\u00a0campus, the center has also grown to become a hub for NAU research that\u00a0benefits\u00a0both early childhood researchers and young children.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_77350\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-77350\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eldc-bug-lab.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-77350\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eldc-bug-lab.jpg\" alt=\"Collage of photos showing students holding bugs and designing a bug lab inside a daycare\" width=\"780\" height=\"585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/eldc-bug-lab.jpg 800w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/eldc-bug-lab-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/eldc-bug-lab-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-77350\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids at the ELDC learn alongside an array of faculty and students from NAU, who visit to share their expertise and study early childhood education.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Nursing Lumberjacks have used the ELDC as a training ground, doing some of their required rotations there to prepare for careers in pediatric care. Graduate students in speech language pathology have provided interventions in group and one-on-one settings to improve speech and language delays ELDC staff have\u00a0identified\u00a0in some children. Some of Arizona\u2019s future art and music teachers have come to the center to exercise the children\u2019s creative muscles and gain valuable classroom experience.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">And of course, some of the center\u2019s own teaching staff are undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Education.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cIt\u2019s a unique opportunity for students to build real-life job skills,\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said. \u201cMost first-year teachers feel overwhelmed with things like classroom management and student behavior, but\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0giving them the tools to deal with those things now, which means\u00a0they\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0way more\u00a0prepared going into their first year of teaching.\u201d\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Last year, Marisa Edrozo, an\u00a0Honors\u00a0College student, won a Hooper Undergraduate Research Award to study ELDC teachers\u2019 experiences with culturally sustaining pedagogy\u2014that is, teaching that helps underscore the importance and value of kids\u2019 own cultural practices and traditions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cirzan\u00a0said Edrozo\u2019s work helped inspire one teacher, a native Spanish speaker, to change tactics in the classroom.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWhen she came to the ELDC, she said she wasn\u2019t going to speak Spanish to any kids in the classroom,\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said of the teacher. \u201cI said, \u2018We have kids who speak Spanish, and you can if you want.\u2019 We worked through this process of building her comfort in matching the cultural needs of the kids. Marisa\u2019s research helped her take components of her\u00a0kids\u2019\u00a0lived experiences and embed them into her teaching, which has\u00a0actually helped\u00a0her understand her own culture and background.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What\u2019s\u00a0next for the center<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In the years to come, the ELDC hopes to serve even more children in northern Arizona. That\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0just apply to its daytime teaching.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_77352\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-77352\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-11.07.06\u202fAM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-77352\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-11.07.06\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"People sitting around conference tables looking at a projector with a slide that reads &quot;how are you building bridges between home and school?&quot;\" width=\"450\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-11.07.06\u202fAM.png 1021w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-11.07.06\u202fAM-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-11.07.06\u202fAM-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-77352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The ELDC&#8217;s recent one-day workshop on inquiry-based learning attracted so much interest that the center will host a\u00a0national\u00a0conference\u00a0on campus April 18.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Last year, the center used grants to\u00a0purchase\u00a0a Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener, a handheld device that can quickly detect potential vision issues in kids 6 months and older.\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said the device has been a\u00a0game-changer\u00a0for spotting correctable vision problems in their own enrolled kids. Now,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0wondering how to bring the device to more northern Arizonans who need it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cA lot of our student parents are coming to us from rural communities and tribal lands, where they haven\u2019t necessarily been able to test their kids in this way,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to write for some grants to be able to expand those services beyond our walls, because we know there are so many more rural and tribal residents who might not otherwise have access.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cirzan\u00a0said she also hopes to build on the ELDC\u2019s existing research partnerships,\u00a0perhaps even\u00a0creating apprenticeship programs and residencies.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0confident that more research on inquiry-based learning will only further support the theory that it builds more creative,\u00a0resourceful\u00a0and resilient communities.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWe really want to be a nationally recognized hub that shows what\u2019s possible in early childhood education,\u201d\u00a0Cirzan\u00a0said. \u201cTraditionally, early childhood education has not been treated as a profession, but we\u00a0have the ability to\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0to policymakers and educators that that needs to change.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:180,&quot;335559739&quot;:180}\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-56007\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514.png\" alt=\"Northern Arizona University Logo\" width=\"134\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514.png 905w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-600x426.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 134px) 100vw, 134px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\nJill Kimball | NAU Communications<br \/>\n(928) 523-2282 | <a href=\"mailto:jill.kimball@nau.edu\">jill.kimball@nau.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/three-years-eldc\/\">Back in fall 2023, as the weather turned cold, spiders and ants sought refuge inside NAU\u2019s\u00a0Early Learning and Development Center. The young students, ages 2-5, noticed\u2014and they had some thoughts.\u00a0 \u201cSome said, \u2018Whoa, cool, let me look closer,\u2019\u00a0while\u00a0others went, \u2018Gross, get it away, squish it!\u201d\u00a0said Rebecca\u00a0Cirzan, director of the center. \u201cAll of them had opinions.&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":77348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77343\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}