Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

All-Electric Mobile Preschool Brings Programming to Colorado

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 09/28/20

A Colorado non-profit will launch a mobile preschool experience in October for families with children ages 3 to 5 years old who do not attend a traditional preschool program. Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365, along with Winnebago’s Specialty Vehicle Division, unveiled an all-electric, emission-free vehicle called the “Magic Bus” Mobile Preschool.

Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365, along with Winnebago’s Specialty Vehicle Division, unveiled an all-electric, emission-free vehicle called the “Magic Bus” Mobile Preschool.

The all-electric bus will join a gas-powered counterpart to serve neighborhoods in Eagle County, Colorado beginning Oct. 5. Classes will be an hour-and-a-half long, four days a week and free of charge to help make early childhood learning available to as many children and families in the community as possible.

“The children and families served by the Magic Bus need to be kindergarten-ready even considering the current crisis,” YouthPower365 PwrUp Senior Manager Kendra Cowles said in a press release. “The Magic Bus plays a critical role in preparing them to successfully transition to school.”

Children will be able to take part in songs, read-alouds, exercise games and vocabulary-building activities in English and Spanish to help prepare fore kindergarten.

 “The bus is customized to operate as a center-based preschool classroom, complete with dramatic play and kitchen areas, building blocks and plenty of dinosaurs,” Cowles says.

The Magic Bus is comprised of Winnebago Industries’ standard J33SE zero-emission commercial vehicle and utilizes Motiv Power Systems’ all-electric EPIC Ford F-53 chassis. Summit Bodyworks worked on the vehicle upfit.

“We are pleased to see our all-electric vehicle platform being used to provide early childcare programs for Eagle County’s low-income families. The all-electric vehicle will enable operation in a quiet, emission-free manner,” Robert Kim, Director of the Winnebago Industries Specialty Vehicle Division, said in a press release.

COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, face masks, frequent hand washing and cleaning will take place on the bus.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.