- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Reviews
- Schedule Options
About Lil’ Explorers Preschool in St. Michael, MN
Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center is a childcare facility and preschool serving the St. Michael area of Minnesota. Established in 2003, Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center continues to provide a safe environment for children ages 6 weeks through fourth grade that is centered on exploration and development.
Our expansive facilities offer plenty of room for your children to learn, grow, and develop, while our caring staff provides a nurturing and enriching atmosphere. Each facility features Infant Rooms, Toddler Rooms, Preschool Rooms, dedicated Pre-Kindergarten Rooms and School-Age Rooms, along with a large gross motor room inside each location. It is the mission of our childcare staff to provide top-notch service for all families and provide an enjoyable and exciting time for all children in our care.
Ascend Curriculum
Thanks to the flexibility of our Ascend Curriculum, we take an individualized approach to early childhood education and encourage every child to progress towards age-appropriate goals at their natural pace. New skills are introduced sequentially in 9 different learning domains each month and activities are modified to fit the interests and current skill level of each child. This skill-based approach to early education ensures that every child feels engaged, supported, and challenged and makes learning fun!
Kind Child Program
Another significant part of our curriculum is our Kind Child program. Kind Child is a year-long program for children ages two and older that helps our teachers nurture and strengthen every child’s social and emotional skills. We have found that when we focus on the emotional well-being of each child in our care, we strengthen our school as well. We are confident that Kind Child will continue to strengthen the culture of our entire preschool center by elevating every child’s feelings of happiness, improving their well-being, and enriching their friendships.
Getting To Our Preschool
Our St. Michael center is located at 4123 Oakwood Pkwy, St Michael, MN 55376, situated just off Highway 241 (Central Ave E) near 42nd St NE. We are conveniently close to St. Michael Elementary and Big Woods Elementary schools, Welter Park, and neighborhood shopping and dining, making morning drop-offs and daily errands seamless for local families.
With immediate access to Highway 241 and fast connections to I-94 and County Road 19, our location provides an easy, straightforward commute for parents traveling toward Rogers, Maple Grove, Monticello, Minneapolis, or surrounding northwest metro communities.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer
Big Fun. Little Players. Growing Confidence.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer is a high-energy enrichment program designed to build confidence, coordination, and teamwork through fun, age-appropriate soccer play. Led by the teachers your child already knows and trusts, it’s seamlessly built into the school day.
Program Highlights:
Designed for ages 3–5
12-week program (once per week)
40–50 minute sessions
Builds balance, coordination, and motor skills
Encourages listening, teamwork, and confidence
Integrated into your child’s daily schedule
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Kids Cafe Preschool Cooking Program
Cooking Up Confidence, One Recipe At A Time!
Kids Café is a hands-on cooking program where children explore new foods, build confidence, and develop essential life skills through fun, guided kitchen experiences.
Program Highlights:
- Designed for ages 3+
- Weekly sessions over a 12-week program
- Hands-on cooking activities and kid-friendly recipes
- Builds teamwork, sharing, and communication skills
- Encourages problem-solving and following directions
- Supports early math, literacy, and critical thinking
- Includes a take-home cooking kit for continued fun
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Programs Offered
Our Team
Josie Lynch
School Director
Josie Lynch is the School Director at Lil Explorers Childcare Center, bringing a career rooted in hands-on experience and a genuine love for early childhood education. She began her journey as a Toddler Room Aide, quickly discovering how meaningful it is to help children learn and grow, and worked her way up through a Lead Teacher role before stepping into school leadership in 2025. She is honored to now serve the St. Michael community as Director.
Josie is passionate about creating a school that truly feels like home — a safe, welcoming environment where every child can build confidence, develop a love for learning, and feel supported every step of the way. She is equally committed to her teaching team, believing that when educators feel valued and supported, they are able to give their very best to the children and families they serve. Outside of work, Josie loves spending time at her family’s cabin in Battle Lake, Minnesota, and is happiest outdoors, surrounded by family and making memories to last a lifetime.
Mya Russell
Assistant Director
My name is Mya, and I’m the Assistant Director of Lil’ Explorers Childcare of St. Michael. I have my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I moved to Otsego with my boyfriend in 2020, and started with Lil Explorers in 2021. I love spending time with my family and puppy Nellie, and we are expecting a baby girl in September! We love to go to the cabin, ice fishing, and traveling! I love watching kids learn and grow and watch teachers grow as well!
Ms. Amanda
Teacher of the Year
I have been with Lil’ Explorers since 2018. I started as a support staff in infants and took on the Lead Infant 1 role shortly after. While I love working with all early childhood ages, my absolute passion is infants. Being a part of all those major milestones in their first year makes my job so rewarding. Even more important to me, though, is building those meaningful bonds and relationships with the babies and their families that come through my classroom. While I’m not at work, Jake and I have 6 kiddos of our own at home! We stay busy with sports, camping and lots of traveling!
Reviews from Parents
Lil' Explorers Childcare Center, St. Michael
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Childcare Schedule Options That Work With Your Life
Every family’s routine is unique — and your childcare should be too. With Cadence Education, our Family of Schools may offer various schedule options designed to fit your life.
Each of our school’s are unique, and may not offer all of the options listed below. Talk with your School Director to learn what options are available for your family at this location.
FlexiPass — New Flexible Care Option!
When schedules change, or the grandparents cancel, or life just gets busy, FlexiPass gives you five prepaid days of care that you can use whenever* you need them, one at a time or all at once. No registration fees. No ongoing tuition. Just dependable care when you need it most.
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