Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, Inc.

Come See Us at Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day
2026-04-25 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala, FL, 34470, United States
Join City of Ocala to celebrate Arbor Day in beautiful Tuscawilla Park for a full day of fun. Enjoy this family-friendly event from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Earthfest features tree giveaways, youth fishing derby, rock climbing, eco-friendly vendors, live music, food trucks, and more. Come visit us at the Early Learning Coalition booth!

Come See Us at the Second Chance Job Fair
2026-04-23 11:00 - 14:00 | Revealing Truth Ministries Outreach Christian Center, 7575 SW 62nd Ct, Ocala, FL, 34476, United States
Job seekers facing barriers to employment will have the opportunity to connect with hiring employers during a Nationwide Days of Second Chance job fair at Revealing Truth Ministries Outreach Christian Center.

Come See Us at Nationwide Days of Second Chances Job Fair
2026-04-23 11:00 - 14:00 | Revealing Truth Ministries Outreach Christian Center, 7575 SW 62nd Ct, Ocala, FL, 34476, United States
Come find us at the Nationwide Days of Second Chances Job Fair! We’ll be offering resources to help those looking for a second chance.

Program Committee Meeting - CANCELLED
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
PURPOSE: Coalition Business
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in these meetings should contact us at (352) 369-2315 ext. 211 or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice) Florida Relay Service at least 48 hours proper to the meeting.
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by any of the Committees or Board noticed above with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Notice has been made of these meetings to cover the Government in the Sunshine Law through publication and distributions of same.

Board Meeting - CANCELLED
2026-04-23 08:30 - 09:30 | FL
ATTENTION: At this time no meetings will be conducted in person until further notice. If you would like to attend please reach out to Beatriz Montalvo at hr@elc-marion.org for info.
PURPOSE: Coalition Business
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in these meetings should contact us at (352) 369-2315 ext 211 or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice) Florida Relay Service at least 48 hours proper to the meeting.
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by any of the Committees or Board noticed above with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Notice has been made of these meetings to cover the Government in the Sunshine Law through publication and distributions of same.

Diaper Assistance
2026-04-23 07:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-16 07:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-09 07:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-02 07:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-26 07:00 - 18:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
Diapers and wipes are available to eligible families, while supplies are available. No appointment is required. Walk-ins are welcome.
Bring the following documents to confirm eligibility:

Marion County residency: Provide valid driver’s license/ID, current lease, or utility bill from within the past 60 days
Child from birth to age five: Provide Medicaid card or birth certificate
Financial need (provide any one of the following): Referral from certified homeless shelter, Medicaid card, Foster placement letter, School Readiness child care subsidy eligibility (verified by Coalition staff), or SNAP letter

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Play Group
2026-04-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
Kaleidoscope is a free weekly playgroup for children birth to age five and their parent or caregiver. Play, sing, create art, tell stories, while enjoying a snack.

VPK Orientation
2026-04-21 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-07 09:30 - 11:30 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
Please limit attendance to Directors/Owners or contract designees only.
VPK Orientation will offer an overview of the functions required to perform within the contract requirements of the VPK program. Childcare providers wishing to contract with ELCMC will learn the basic functions of attendance tracking and submission, working within numerous online systems, and general requirements outlined in the VPK contact. Participants will receive two in-service training hours for attendance.
Attendance is mandatory in order for the VPK contract to be initiated.

Provider Meeting
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
All meetings are in person and are recorded for those who are unable to attend.
Recorded meetings are saved to the ELCMC YouTube Channel here: Early Learning Coalition of Marion County – YouTube
2 Hours of In-Service Training will be awarded to in-person attendees only.
Attendance is counted for those who arrive within 15 minutes of the start time and who remain until the end of the meeting. Certificates are given as attendees exit.
Both meetings contain the same information and are repeated to allow providers to attend at their convenience.

Help Me Grow Leadership Meeting
2026-04-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States

Come see us at Boomtown Days
2026-04-11 09:00 - 17:00 | Downtown Dunnellon, W. Pennsylvania Ave. & Cedar Street, Dunnellon, FL, 34431, United States
Dunnellon Chamber & Business Association’s Boomtown Days returns, bringing a full day of family fun celebrating Dunnellon’s rich history. Stop by and visit the Coalition while you enjoy live entertainment, local vendors, history, kid’s activities and food. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to experience the charm of Dunnellon while supporting local organizations and small businesses.

CPR/First Aid
2026-04-11 09:00 - 13:30 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
Class Description: Furtherance Safety Associates CPR & First Aid /AED is a course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage a first aid, choking or sudden cardiac arrest emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. This course provides a 2-year certificate approved for use in childcare facilities. Registration starts at 8:45 am & class starts promptly at 9:00 a.m. No refunds for any cancellations. Credit available with notice-see confirmation details.
Location: ELCMC – 2300 SW 17th Road, Ocala, FL 34471
Instructor: Nelson Greene
Cost: $20.00
CEU’s: .4 CEU’s

Executive Committee Meeting
2026-04-09 08:30 - 09:30 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Play Group
2026-04-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala, FL, 34475, United States

Governance Committee Meeting - CANCELLED
2026-04-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States

FLIP IT: Parents Learn They Can Transform Challenging Behavior
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:30 | FL
Class Description: The FLIP IT strategy is an effective four-step process for addressing challenging moments with young children, and it can now be used to address additional challenges you experience with yourself and with other adults. The four steps are embodied in the FLIP mnemonic, which stands for F-Feelings, L-Limits, I-Inquiries, and P-Prompts. No matter what kind of challenge you are facing, these four supportive steps can help you identify underlying feelings, establish healthy limits, explore alternate solutions, and gain healthy coping skills. For parents with children ages 3 – 8 years.
Instructor: FDLRS
Cost: Free
CEU’s: 1.5 in-service hours
Location: Virtual

Marion County Day 2026
2026-03-28 10:00 - 15:00 | McPherson Complex, 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, FL, 34471, United States
Join us at Marion County Day 2026 as Marion celebrates America’s 250 anniversary! This free event will be held at the McPhearson Complex from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on March 28. Come enjoy the vendors, school bands, food trucks, kids zone, and family fun.
For more information, please visit marioncelebrates250.org.

CF Early Childhood Conference Keynote: Gerry Brooks
2026-03-28 07:15 - 16:00 | College of Central Florida Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL, 34474, United States
Class Description: Join us for the 37th Annual Early Childhood Conference to be held at the Ocala Campus Ewers Century Center on March 28, from 7:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The conference workshops provide information on best practices and techniques to engage and nurture children.
Cost: Early Bird Registration: $50. Payments must be received no later than March 12, 2026. Registration/payments received after March 12 and onsite: $70
CEU’s: 0.8 CEU’s

Board Meeting
2026-03-26 08:30 - 09:30 | FL

Rethinking Behavior for Young Children: Ages Toddlers - 8 Years
2026-03-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, FL, United States
Come join us and leave with the following:

Knowing – Strategies for effectively managing the classroom
Understanding – That behavior management is essential for creating a positive early childhood learning environment
Doing – Participate in a variety of activities that encourage structure, positive reinforcement, and behavior

Training Dates: March 24 and March 26, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: FDLRS
Cost: Free
CEU’s: 3 in-service hours
*You must attend both sessions to receive credit.

Marion County World's Greatest Baby Shower
2026-03-20 14:00 - 19:00 | Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala, FL, 34475, United States
Expecting a baby? Come see us as we sponsor the World’s Greatest Baby Shower! Parents of infants up to 1 year old are also invited. The event will have exhibitors, games, and prizes. Fathers are encouraged to attend.
The event will be held at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center on March 20th and will be held in two separate sessions. The first session runs from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and the second session runs from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
