AppleTree & Gilden Woods
AppleTree & Gilden Woods operates 24 owned daycare and preschool centers across Michigan serving children 6 weeks to 12 years, a subsidiary of Learning Care Group. Revenue comes primarily from recurring tuition, Flex Care drop-in cards, employer-sponsored solutions including an on-site Wolverine Worldwide center, and Michigan's GSRP-funded Pre-K.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersMichigan City, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AppleTree & Gilden Woods does
AppleTree & Gilden Woods is a privately held early childhood education and childcare provider operating 24 owned centers across Michigan under the legal entity AppleTree & Gilden Woods, Inc., a subsidiary of Learning Care Group (US) No. 2 Inc. The company delivers daycare, preschool, and before/after-school care for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years through age-staged curriculum programs (Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Before & After School), supported by the proprietary SproutAbout family communication app that streams live classroom video, photos, and daily updates to parents. Enrichment add-ons include the Spotlight Series (Phonics, Spanish, Kindergarten prep), Grow Fit wellness programs, Wondercamp 15-week summer camp, School Break Camps, and third-party offerings such as Kindermusik and Soccer.
The company's revenue model is predominantly recurring tuition billed weekly or monthly, with three streams: standard full-time and part-time enrollment, Flex Care pre-paid drop-in cards sold in five-day increments valid for one year, and B2B employer-sponsored solutions including an exclusive on-site center at Wolverine Worldwide's corporate headquarters. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer through owned Michigan locations, supplemented by an employer channel and a dedicated GSRP pathway that funnels state-funded Pre-K enrollment from eligible Michigan 4-year-olds. Marketing is run primarily through the company website with online tour scheduling, local SEO, and the post-sale SproutAbout app for ongoing engagement.
The operating model is asset-heavy and labor-intensive: 501-1,000 employees staff the centers, with NAEYC accreditation pathways, certified directors with 12-30+ years of tenure, and proprietary curriculum and brand assets (registered trademarks across all sub-brands) collectively forming the differentiation stack. Strategic positioning emphasizes kindergarten readiness (over 90% Pre-K mastery on the Bracken assessment) and flexible scheduling, with the company explicitly pursuing acquisition growth through its parent's School Acquisitions program.
AppleTree & Gilden Woods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AppleTree & Gilden Woods
- Legal name
- AppleTree & Gilden Woods, Inc.
- Website
- https://gildenwoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- AppleTree & Gilden Woods operates 24 owned daycare and preschool centers across Michigan serving children 6 weeks to 12 years, a subsidiary of Learning Care Group. Revenue comes primarily from recurring tuition, Flex Care drop-in cards, employer-sponsored solutions including an on-site Wolverine Worldwide center, and Michigan's GSRP-funded Pre-K.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AppleTree & Gilden Woods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Childcare and Early Childhood Education Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers (EDACAHAB), Drop-In / Flexible Infant & Toddler Care (EDACAGAG), Part-Time / Drop-In Preschools (EDACABAN)
Keywords
Where AppleTree & Gilden Woods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Michigan City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices24 records
Markets served
AppleTree & Gilden Woods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Childcare Tuition: Recurring tuition revenue from full-time, part-time, and drop-in childcare services. Weekly billing for some schools, monthly billing for others. Tuition varies by program and schedule.
- Flex Care Cards: Pre-paid drop-in care cards sold in five-day increments, valid for one full year. No registration fees at time of purchase.
- Employer Solutions: Custom workplace childcare solutions for employers, supporting workforce needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Full-time childcare with weekly or monthly tuition billing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Part-time schedule options for flexible family needs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drop-in Flex Care cards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
AppleTree & Gilden Woods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AppleTree & Gilden Woods operates 24 daycare and preschool centers across Michigan providing full-time, part-time, drop-in, and before/after-school care for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Core offerings include age-based curriculum programs (Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten) plus seasonal programs such as Wondercamp summer camp, School Break Camps, and the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) state-funded Pre-K. The company also supports employer-sponsored workplace childcare solutions and provides the proprietary SproutAbout family communication app with live classroom video streaming.
Product overview
AppleTree & Gilden Woods is a daycare, preschool, and early learning center brand operating 24+ locations across Michigan, providing care for children 6 weeks to 12 years. The core offering consists of age-based curriculum programs (Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Before & After School) delivered in a safe, secure environment. The portfolio includes proprietary technology products like SproutAbout (family communication app with live streaming video), seasonal programs (Wondercamp summer camp, School Break Camps), and flexible care options (Flex Care drop-in care, part-time schedules). Enrichment add-ons include Spotlight Series (Phonics, Spanish, Kindergarten prep), Grow Fit wellness programs, and third-party offerings like Kindermusik and Soccer. Several Michigan schools participate in the state-funded Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) for free Pre-K education. The company is part of the Learning Care Group family of brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SproutAbout: Exclusive family communications app offering live streaming video of classrooms, real-time photos, videos, and care updates.
- Wondercamp
- Wonderment Workshop
- Flex Care
- Spotlight Series
- Grow Fit Series
- GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program)
Products and services
- AppleTree & Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschool Core daycare, preschool, and early learning service for children 6 weeks to 12 years delivered at 24+ physical centers across Michigan, with safe environments for social, academic, and emotional development.
- Infant Care Program Early learning program for infants starting at 6 weeks with milestone-based curriculum and dedicated caregivers.
- Toddler Program Early learning program for toddlers designed for highly mobile learners, supporting developmental progress in an engaging environment.
- Twos Program Early learning program for two-year-olds focused on making learning fun while building foundational skills for energetic learners.
- Early Preschool Program Early learning program helping children gain skills and become independent on their way to preschool.
- Preschool Program Preschool program with kindergarten readiness as the core focus, preparing children academically and socially for the transition to formal schooling.
- Pre-K Program Pre-kindergarten program designed as an important stepping stone to elementary school, with over 90% of graduates showing mastery of kindergarten skills.
- Junior Kindergarten Program Transitional program for young 5- and older 4-year-olds who may benefit from additional skill development or missed the kindergarten age cutoff.
- Before & After School Program Extended care program providing morning and afternoon support for elementary school students, including transportation to and from local schools.
- Flex Care Drop-In Child Care Flexible drop-in child care program allowing families to purchase prepaid cards for five days of care, valid for one full year, with no registration fees at time of purchase or utilization.
- Wondercamp Summer Camp Summer camp program for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children up to age 12, featuring themed Wonder Weeks with activities, field trips, arts and crafts, and healthy meals.
- School Break Camps Winter and spring break care programs featuring themed activities including Wonders of the Season (Light, Travel themes) and spring break camp experiences with field trips and group activities.
- Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Michigan's free, state-funded Pre-K program for eligible 4-year-olds, ranked #1 in the U.S., offered at participating locations to support kindergarten readiness.
- Employer Solutions Workplace Childcare Workplace childcare solutions for employers, including on-site centers such as the exclusive AppleTree at Wolverine Worldwide facility serving only employees and their children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 90% of children show mastery of kindergarten skills after Pre-K program
Companies that use AppleTree & Gilden Woods
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AppleTree & Gilden Woods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AppleTree & Gilden Woods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Wolverine WorldwidecoreAppleTree at Wolverine Worldwide is an exclusive on-site childcare center located inside the Wolverine Worldwide corporate headquarters in Rockford, MI. This location serves only Wolverine Worldwide employees and their children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The center offers full-time, part-time, and drop-in care, with programs for Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Early Preschool, and Preschool, plus enrichment programs including Yoga, Spanish, and Soccer.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AppleTree & Gilden Woods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KinderCare Learning Companies: One of the largest U.S. providers of early childhood education and before/after-school care, operating more than 1,500 centers nationwide. Comparable core offering (infant care through before/after school) and similar diversified revenue model.
- Learning Care Group: Parent company of AppleTree & Gilden Woods; operates multiple early childhood education brands (La Petite Academy, Childtime, Tutor Time) nationwide. Comparable because it shares curriculum, technology (SproutAbout), and back-office systems with AppleTree, but operates at much broader national scale.
- Cadence Education: Large private operator of more than 200 early childhood education centers across the U.S. Comparable in scale and business model (tuition-based center care with employer partnerships), though broader geographically than AppleTree's Michigan-only footprint.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly traded provider of center-based early education and employer-sponsored childcare. Directly comparable business model (tuition + employer solutions) and overlapping employer-sponsored childcare capabilities that AppleTree demonstrates with Wolverine Worldwide.
Direct peers
- La Petite Academy: Sister brand within Learning Care Group offering the same curriculum, technology stack (SproutAbout), and age range (6 weeks to 12 years). Directly comparable because AppleTree & Gilden Woods shares LCG's operating playbook, curriculum libraries, and corporate support functions.
- Goddard School: Franchised early childhood education provider with strong curriculum focus and proprietary programs. Comparable as a private-pay, premium preschool operator targeting similar working families, with comparable NAEYC-aligned quality positioning.
- Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers: Sister brand within Learning Care Group sharing curriculum and the SproutAbout technology platform. Directly comparable operating model, age range, and tuition structure to AppleTree & Gilden Woods.
- Childtime Learning Centers: Another sister brand under Learning Care Group with overlapping programs (infants through Pre-K, before/after school) and shared proprietary assets. Comparable because the operating model, curriculum, and pricing structure are essentially the same as AppleTree's.
- Primrose Schools: Franchised provider of early childhood education and care with a proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum. Comparable as a tuition-driven, multi-state preschool operator with a strong franchise brand and similar kindergarten readiness outcomes messaging.
Regional players
- Evergreen Academy (Spring Education Group): Spring Education Group brand operating preschool and elementary programs in select regions. Comparable as a tuition-based, multi-site early childhood operator; relevant regional comparison for Michigan-market dynamics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AppleTree & Gilden Woods social profiles
Digital presenceAppleTree & Gilden Woods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AppleTree & Gilden Woods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
AppleTree & Gilden Woods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AppleTree & Gilden Woods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AppleTree & Gilden Woods
What does AppleTree & Gilden Woods do?
AppleTree & Gilden Woods operates 24 daycare and preschool centers across Michigan providing full-time, part-time, drop-in, and before/after-school care for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Core offerings include age-based curriculum programs (Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten) plus seasonal programs such as Wondercamp summer camp, School Break Camps, and the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) state-funded Pre-K. The company also supports employer-sponsored workplace childcare solutions and provides the proprietary SproutAbout family communication app with live classroom video streaming.
Is AppleTree & Gilden Woods a public or private company?
AppleTree & Gilden Woods is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AppleTree & Gilden Woods founded?
AppleTree & Gilden Woods was founded in 2012. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is AppleTree & Gilden Woods based?
AppleTree & Gilden Woods is headquartered in Michigan City, United States, in the North America region.
How does AppleTree & Gilden Woods make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Childcare Tuition is the primary driver. The others are flex Care Cards and employer Solutions.
Who are AppleTree & Gilden Woods's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KinderCare Learning Companies, Learning Care Group, Cadence Education and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Direct peers are La Petite Academy, Goddard School, Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers, Childtime Learning Centers and Primrose Schools. Evergreen Academy (Spring Education Group) is listed as a regional player.
Does AppleTree & Gilden Woods have an API?
No public API is recorded for AppleTree & Gilden Woods.
What industry is AppleTree & Gilden Woods in?
AppleTree & Gilden Woods's product category is Childcare and Early Childhood Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAL, Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDACAHAB, Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.