A Chance To Grow (ACTG)

02/12/2026

❤️ One Father’s Love. Thousands of Lives Changed.

43 years ago, Bob DeBoer chose hope when others saw limits — creating A Chance To Grow so kids and families could find healing, confidence, and real change.

17 years ago, one of those kids was Jayna.
“I didn’t realize how much ACTG mattered to me when I was little… I was just trying to get through hard things. Now I’m 22, living a life I never thought was possible — and I’m excited to be able to give back to the place that helped me find hope.”

Right now, kids are walking through our doors feeling just like Jayna once did.

Their stories change because of the passionate staff, dedicated families, and most importantly, because of people like you who want to create change. I

Please keep helping us make Bob's dream come true, where we all come together to create hope for a better future.❤️

01/20/2026

📣 Elementary Educators — Ready to Transform Your Classroom?

Join us for a S.M.A.R.T. Workshop on February 3–5, 2026 in Minneapolis!

This hands-on training will equip you with fun, movement-based, brain-aligned activities that improve student behavior, focus, coordination, and academic readiness — all while making learning more engaging for kids.

✨ Learn practical strategies you can use immediately
✨ Support whole-child development through movement
✨ Earn 24 contact hours + receive the S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide

👉 Register today!
🔗 https://www.actg.org/smartelementary.html

Let’s make learning S.M.A.R.T., active, and impactful! 💙📚✨

01/15/2026

Looking forward to presenting at this conference in the spring. We would love to see you there!

🌟We’re almost there! Registration for Caring For a Lifetime is just days away! Keep an eye out for all the details—coming soon!🌟

In case you missed it—here’s the exciting lineup for Caring! 🎉

Friday: Conscious Discipline

Saturday:
Key Note:
Robyn Gobbel - Making Sense of Baffling Behavior

Morning Sessions:
-Robyn Gobbel – Strengthening the Brain Through Play
-Lakeshore – Understanding Implicit Biases: Do We Really Have Them?
-Kelly Kazeck – What Can I Do Outside Today? Standards-Aligned Outdoor and Nature-Based Learning for Young Children
-Stacy Boysen – Unlock the Magic of Loose Parts Play

Afternoon Sessions:
-Stacy Boysen – Sticks and Stones: Supporting Child Safety and Healthy Risk-Taking in Nature Play
-Lakeshore – Effective Classroom Management: Building Better Routines
-A Chance to Grow – S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K: Movement Anchors Learning!
-Heather Charmolli – Building Relationships for Program Success and Harmony

01/13/2026

🌟 Now Open for Registration! 🌟

Family child care providers—this one’s for you!

SMART Steps: Building the CORE is an online training opportunity focused on helping children ages birth to 5!

In this course, you’ll gain practical insight into how young children grow and learn and walk away with easy-to-implement, age-appropriate, and developmentally sound activities you can use right away with all the children in your care.

✔️ Designed specifically for family child care settings
✔️ Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice
✔️ Practical strategies you can use the very next day

Invest in your knowledge. Strengthen your practice. Support every child’s development. 💛

👉 Register today...our next session begins this week!
https://www.actg.org/smartsteps2026.html

Know an incredible child care provider? Share this link with them!!

01/13/2026

12/18/2025

Some moments change everything.

For Destiny, the heartbreaking search for a safe, caring daycare felt endless…
until the day she walked into A Chance To Grow and instantly knew something was different.

She found what every parent deserves: teachers who listen, notice, and step in when help is needed.

Her daughter Maya entered kindergarten confident—writing her name and knowing her ABCs– her teachers were amazed!

Little Mia found her voice through speech therapy, and Destiny heard those precious first words: “Mom” and “Dad.”

And when Mia struggled to see, our team got her the eye exam that led to glasses that changed her world.

Today, Destiny’s youngest—and even her nieces and nephews—are part of Turnquist. Destiny is now studying early childhood development and even served here through AmeriCorps.

When asked what she wants supporters to know, she simply says, through tears:
“A Chance To Grow literally changes lives. I am so thankful.”

12/16/2025

Give the gift of peace and calm for the entire family! 🎁

Get your family something that will bring focus into the new year and renew their mind with clarity and calm.

The Mind Alive AVE brain training system uses gentle pulsing lights and sound to guide your mind into rest, focus, calm and can even boost your energy and mood!

For more information, please call and ask for Kelly Pittman.

12/11/2025

We want to help you to destress during the holidays :)

If you find yourself at A Chance To Grow with your child, and you have 15 minutes to spare while they are in session, check in with the receptionist upstairs and ask for your 15-minute Brain Spa session!

You'll be able to relax with candle light and aromatherapy, and let your mind clear, moving into your day calmer, lighter, and recharged.

12/10/2025

Ready for a challenge in your balance activities? Try some of the suggestions in our December newsletter:
👉https://www.actg.org/smartnews/smart-spaces8304424

Why does balance matter?
Balance is a powerful tool for social-emotional learning. As students practice steady, controlled movement, they build focus, self-regulation, body awareness, and perseverance—skills that support emotional calm and classroom success 🤸‍♂️ 📚

11/26/2025

🎉 We just wrapped up our S.M.A.R.T. 2025 workshops, and the ideas shared this year have been incredible! One highlight came from Priscilla, a S.M.A.R.T. Teacher from Warren, MN, who shared a fun twist on Rainbow Tracing—having students trace words with a colored pencil, pen, and marker to keep the activity fresh, engaging, and brain-boosting. 🌈✏️

Want to try it? Check your S.M.A.R.T. reference guides for a quick refresher on how Rainbow Tracing can support spelling, sight words, names, and letter formation.
Read more in our newsletter here: https://www.actg.org/smartnews/one-smart-teacher4006702📚