Welcome to our 30 for 30 page! This is a very special school year at Coastal Kids Preschool as we celebrate 30 years of learning, laughter, inclusion, and community. Thirty years of muddy boots and big hugs. Thirty years of curious questions, brave first days, and joyful discoveries. Thirty years rooted in the belief that every child belongs.

Coastal Kids began in 1995 when our founder, Priscilla Congdon, noticed something missing in Lincoln County—and decided to do something about it. At the time, many children were entering kindergarten without ever having the chance to attend preschool. This was especially true for children with special needs and children from low-income families who didn’t qualify for existing programs. Priscilla believed preschool should be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all children—and she helped make that vision a reality.

What began as a collaborative effort with Lincoln County Children’s Services and School Union 74 (now AOS 93) grew into something lasting. When budget changes meant Coastal Kids would not become part of the public school system, the program didn’t disappear—it evolved. In 1998, Coastal Kids became an independent, mission-driven nonprofit, committed to providing an inclusive, developmentally appropriate education for preschool children of all incomes and abilities.

Over the years, Coastal Kids moved, adapted, and grew—always guided by children’s needs. In 2006, we put down roots in Damariscotta, and in 2012 opened the doors to our expanded classrooms, made possible by an extraordinary community effort. Since our founding, more than 2,300 children have learned, played, and grown at Coastal Kids—each one leaving their mark on our story.

Today, Coastal Kids continues to thrive through strong partnerships, dedicated educators, engaged families, and a shared belief in the power of early childhood education.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re excited to launch 30 for 30—thirty days of celebrating kids, community, and Coastal Kids. We invite you to explore, reminisce, and celebrate with us as we honor the past and look ahead to what’s next.

We’re so happy you’re here—and even happier you’re part of our story.

Warmly,

Jenn

Executive Director