In The Classroom: Copper is the playground at Mountain Sprouts Academy 

Today we are IN THE CLASSROOM at one of Summit County’s newest childcare centers, Mountain Sprouts Academy at Copper, where director Courtney Drabik says her kids are lucky – the entire resort is their playground. 

“Today most of us are on the gondola riding up the mountain,” Drabik tells Krystal 93. “We celebrated International Mud Day, so we had our playground covered in mud. We had a teddy bear picnic, so they all brought their teddy bears. And now we’re getting ready for beach day.” 

You’ll often see infant room teacher Hannah G. cruising the village with a quad stroller full of smiling, waving babies. 

“We’re trying to get on the gondola but that four-seater stroller is wide,” she laughs. “We’re working on it.” 

Mountain Sprouts opened this past winter in a defunct restaurant.  

“It was just cement,” Drabik says. “Wide-open cement. We started construction in August (2023) and we opened at the end of February.” 

Renovations were largely funded by a state grant for employee-based childcare. 

“We are leasing the space, independent, under the Village at Copper,” Drabik says. “I’m constantly looking for grants. Summit Foundation has been amazing with money. It’s just a constant ongoing look for funding.” 

This summer Mountain Sprouts has 34 children, infant to preschool. Enrollment is open first to Copper homeowners and employees, and then to residents of Summit and Lake counties. 

Like the kids, Hannah says she is lucky to be at Mountain Sprouts. She came to Summit from a corporate job in the Chicago area. 

“The more we get them outside and we get them in nature, the more parents are happy, we’re happy, and yes, the children are very happy,” she says. “It’s a good time.” 

Mountain Sprouts has room to grow, but it needs more teachers first. Drabik is licensed for 45 kids. 

Thanks again for going IN THE CLASSROOM, proudly presented by Heavenly Times Hot Tubs and Billiards and The Summit Foundation Bright Futures Fund