Two Mt. Lebanon families have built a locally rooted childcare brand designed to support children and families from infancy through elementary school.

That brand, Honey Bee Haven, includes two locations with distinct but connected missions: Honey Bee Haven Early Learning in Bridgeville, which opened in March, and Honey Bee Haven Kids in Scott Township, which serves school-aged children through enrichment and out-of-school programming.

“We continued to hear the stress and concern of parents about finding good quality childcare and finding something that was affordable and fit their needs,” co-owner Ashley Hauck said. “We saw a gap in the marketplace for a privately owned center that offered the same services and quality of care you might get at one of the larger chains, but something that’s really rooted in the community.”

Hauck and co-owner Jennifer Boal, both of Cedarhurst Manor, first connected through the Hoover Elementary PTA, where each served as president. Hauck has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, including fundraising for UPMC Children’s Hospital, and is dedicated to cultivating strong community partnerships. Her husband, Ryan, has supported her entrepreneurial journey, ensuring every legal and compliance detail — from contracts to insurance — is in place.

Boal directs The Seesaw Center, a longtime play space in Castle Shannon for young children, and continues to partner with an education consulting business. Her husband, also named Ryan, has applied his expertise in commercial construction and business development to keep the project on budget while elevating the center beyond industry standards.

“This has become a true family business,” Boal said, adding that even their children pitched in, planting flowers and helping assemble playground equipment.

Honey Bee Haven Early Learning, located at 1195 Washington Pike, serves 90 to 100 children ranging from 6 weeks to preschool. Families appreciate the building’s light-filled classrooms and private green outdoor space.

“We have a phenomenal outdoor space in our backyard with grass, trees, fencing and commercial-grade equipment,” Hauck said. “It really feels like a place where children can explore and thrive.”

Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows surround an interior finished with honeycomb-patterned wood — a design that reinforces the center’s name.

Hauck, who has always loved bees, said the name came naturally. “We wanted it to be a haven for kids,” she said. “As soon as we landed on Honey Bee Haven, we just knew.”

Boal added: “When you walk into our building and see the honeycomb wood and all that natural light, it just feels right.”

The program emphasizes play-based learning using the Experience Curriculum, which integrates classroom activities with parent communication tools.

”It’s not about sitting kids down to memorize letters and numbers but inspiring them to love learning through sensory play, STEAM activities and themes that carry through the entire center,” Boal said.

That philosophy continues at Honey Bee Haven Kids, located at 1600 Bower Hill Road. The program serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade and offers enrichment and out-of-school programming, including before- and after-school care, seasonal camps and support on virtual learning days.

Honey Bee Haven Kids also provides a kindergarten enrichment option designed for Mt. Lebanon families navigating the district’s half-day schedule.

Inclusivity is a priority across both locations. Boal recalled how a close friend once struggled to find a preschool willing to enroll her child with Down syndrome.

“That always stuck with me,” she said. “I don’t want a child turned away unless we’ve exhausted every possibility to support them.”

The founders say they have hired “incredible” local refugee women and hope to connect families with community services, from pediatric partnerships to CPR training. They envision extras such as meal kits, library programs and parent nights out.

For Hauck and Boal, the venture is about more than business.

“At the end of the day, it’s about human connection,” Hauck said. “These are people’s kids — the most important thing in the world — and it’s an honor when someone trusts you to care for them all day.”

More information is available at honeybeehavenkids.com.