Reston Children’s Center Prepares for 60th Anniversary

by Kaydence Smith, staff writer

Reston Children's Center has been in business since Reston's early years. Photo contributed by RCC

Reston Children’s Center will celebrate 60 years of service next year, marking decades of growth from a small parent cooperative into a cornerstone of early childhood education in the community.

Founded in 1967, just a few years after Reston itself, the center began in a church near North Shore Drive. It later relocated before settling into its current wooded campus in 1981 and expanded with an additional building in 2005.

“RCC started as this small parent cooperative, and it’s turned into a much larger education facility in the area,” said executive director Brian Raubacher. “I didn’t fully realize that until I became executive director and started visiting other schools.”

Despite its growth, the center has maintained a strong emphasis on parent involvement and community. Families contribute 24 hours of participation annually. “The spirit behind that is that parents are involved in their child’s education and development,” Raubacher said.

That continuity extends to the staff, with some teachers remaining for decades and reaching 30 to 40 years of service. “We have teachers here now who attended as children,” he said. “People leave and come back, and that’s a nice reminder we are doing something right.”

The center positions itself as more than a child care provider. With highly trained educators, many holding advanced degrees, and a full-service kitchen providing hot meals, it operates as a comprehensive early childhood education program.

Outdoor play remains a defining feature. Surrounded by wooded areas, the campus offers space for exploration and unstructured activity.

“When we go outside, there are lots of opportunities for kids to be kids—to get dirty, dig, find bugs,” Raubacher said. “You see so many child care [providers] in office buildings where playgrounds are in parking lots or similar spaces.”

The curriculum is secular and culturally inclusive, introducing children to a range of global traditions and experiences. “We try to expose them to things they might not otherwise experience,” he said. “It’s about building awareness beyond their immediate surroundings.”

As the center approaches its 60th anniversary next February, plans are underway for a community celebration. It will also host its annual spring carnival on June 6.

Demand for enrollment remains high. Waitlists span multiple age groups, with infant care often requiring a year or more of advance planning. “If you’re thinking about having a child, get on the waitlist,” Raubacher said.

After nearly 60 years, Reston Children’s Center continues to reflect the town’s founding ideals while emphasizing connection, care and community.