GO Explore

Childcare & Preschool

At GO Explore, learning will be rooted in play, exploration, and intentional experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, and early problem-solving. Informed by current research in child development, our educators will focus on building strong, trusting relationships that support children’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth through hands-on learning and meaningful connections.

Families will be welcomed as true partners in their child’s learning journey. With individualized care that honors each child’s unique strengths, interests, and pace, GO Explore is being thoughtfully designed as a place where children will feel safe, supported, and inspired—building a lifelong love of learning from the very beginning.

Jessica Downey

Co-Founder & Co-CEO of GO Foundation | Future Executive Administrator of GO Explore

  • Co-owner & operator of Imagination Station Early Learning Daycare since 2011

  • Holds CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential

  • Expert in program administration, licensing compliance, and quality standards

  • Leader of a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 4 accredited program

  • Nationally recognized through NAFCC

  • Experienced with CCDF, On My Way Pre-K, & CACFP

  • Focused on relationship-based care, social-emotional learning, and child-led exploration

Jeannie Owsley

Co-Founder & Co-CEO of GO Foundation | Future Director & Curriculum Specialist of GO Explore

  • Co-owner & operator of Imagination Station Early Learning Daycare since 2011

  • Bachelor’s in Education (Birth–Grade 3 / Mild Intervention), summa cum laude

  • Recipient of the Maud Helm Rockwell Medal for Academic Excellence

  • Leader of a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 4 accredited program

  • Nationally recognized through NAFCC

  • Experienced with CCDF, On My Way Pre-K, & CACFP

  • Focused on inclusive education, whole-child development, and curriculum design

Jessica Downey and Jeannie Owsley bring more than a decade of experience in early childhood education to the vision of GO Explore. Since 2011, they have owned and operated Imagination Station Early Learning Daycare in LaGrange, providing high-quality care rooted in relationships, social-emotional learning, and an emergent, child-centered curriculum.

Imagination Station is proudly accredited at Level 4 of Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY and nationally recognized through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Throughout their leadership, Jessica and Jeannie have remained deeply committed to serving all families, participating in programs such as CCDF, On My Way Pre-K, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, ensuring access to nutritious meals and inclusive early learning opportunities.

Through years of hands-on experience, they have seen both the impact of high-quality early education and the growing need for additional licensed childcare options in LaGrange County. In early 2024, Jessica and Jeannie founded GO Foundation with a shared belief: every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and enriching place to learn and grow. GO Explore is the next step in that commitment—built on proven leadership, thoughtful practice, and a deep dedication to children and families.

Leadership You Can Trust

Our Approach to Early Learning

At GO Explore, every aspect of our program is designed to support curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning. We follow research-based, child-centered practices that nurture the whole child, building strong relationships, fostering independence, and encouraging exploration in both the classroom and outdoors. Our learning approaches are carefully crafted to ensure that every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to grow.

  • Secure attachment, emotional safety, and trust are the foundation of learning. When children feel safe, valued, and understood, they are more confident to explore, take risks, and grow.

  • Children are active participants in their classroom community. They have a voice in their environment, classroom décor, and daily decisions, building independence, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

  • Classrooms are thoughtfully designed to invite curiosity, creativity, and independence. Materials are accessible, purposeful, and arranged to encourage exploration and problem-solving.

  • Learning follows each child’s interests, strengths, and developmental stage. Through play, children build critical thinking skills, social understanding, and a lifelong love of learning.

  • Children learn best by doing. We emphasize meaningful, hands-on experiences and real-world problem-solving rather than worksheets or rote instruction.

  • Outdoor learning is a priority. Each class has its own dedicated outdoor classroom, allowing children daily opportunities for movement, exploration, and connection with nature.

  • We invest in our educators by supporting and encouraging continued higher education and professional development to ensure best practices in early learning.

  • We support social-emotional development, language, problem-solving, and self-regulation alongside cognitive growth, recognizing that all areas of development are deeply connected.

  • Families are respected as children’s first and most important teachers. We value open communication and meaningful partnerships that support each child’s growth and success.