Walk into a WCASS center and just listen. There is a current of sounds and movements that rise and fall, like a subtle symphony. Children are engaged in soft conversation punctured by giggles. Chairs slide quietly across the floor as children get paint, paper and other supplies to make a giant solar system. Others are in the block area pushing cars across a wooden highway while making a “brooom, brooom” sound. Water tinkles in the sink as two children wash their hands for snack. One child has knocked over the ball bin, and the balls are making a hollow thumping noise on the tile floor. Music is heard in the background as a small group practices a dance routine. These are the daily “rhythms” of a WCASS center.

These “Daily Flows” are also the sounds of experiential learning. WCASS Staff use experiential learning to teach competencies and skills that will stay with the children throughout their lives. Experiential learning is the process by which children develop skills through play using real objects such as a sewing machine, microscope, or hand tools. This play allows children to acquire information and concept development through direct hands-on experiences and long-term projects.