Busy Bees North America announced it has entered Washington State through the acquisition of 13 early learning centers in the greater Seattle area, adding seven Kids N Us Early Learning Schools and six Birch Tree Academy locations. The company framed the move as a strategic expansion to accelerate growth and expand access to high-quality early childhood education across the region.
The transaction brings two established operators into Busy Bees’ platform. Kids N Us, founded in 1988, has operated for more than three decades with a stated focus on delivering high-quality, caring educational environments and maintaining state-of-the-art facilities supported by educators and leadership teams. Birch Tree Academy offers STEM-based programs for infants through pre-kindergarten, combining academic enrichment with nurturing environments intended to support both individual and social development.
Busy Bees said the Washington expansion will add about 380 educators and staff and bring more than 1,575 children and families into its network. Following the acquisitions, Busy Bees North America said it operates 270 centers across the United States and Canada, with a presence across 13 U.S. states.
KEY QUOTES
“We’re thrilled to welcome both Kids N Us and Birch Tree Academy into the Busy Bees family. These partnerships reflect our shared commitment to giving every child the best start in life. Both organizations bring long-standing reputations for providing nurturing, high-quality early learning environments and our priority is to continue the exceptional education experiences for families across the region.”
Darla Kestle, Chief Executive Officer, Busy Bees North America
“From the very beginning, our mission has been to provide spaces where children can thrive. Joining Busy Bees is a great opportunity for not only our families but our educators to continue with giving the children in our schools quality early childhood education.”
Lori Blades, Founder, Kids N Us
“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for Birch Tree Academy. With Busy Bees’ support and shared values, we can reach more families and continue delivering innovative, high-quality learning experiences.”
Natalie Levy, Founder, Birch Tree Academy
