Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Bangerter.
Hi Camille, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began in 2022, when my daughter was born. I was just one month away from the end of my maternity leave, and I couldn’t imagine being away from her. That’s when the “crazy” thoughts started creeping in — thoughts about quitting my job so I could stay home with her full time.
But every time I let myself dream, reality would pull me back down to earth with the same question: How could we possibly make this work financially?
My therapist knew how heavily this weighed on me, so she suggested I look into starting a small in-home daycare with just a few children. At the time, we were living in a small townhome, which in Oregon could not be licensed due to fire exit requirements. As much as I wanted it, the dream simply didn’t fit our circumstances. I had to put it on the shelf and tell myself, maybe someday — maybe if we move in a few years.
During my daughter’s first year of life, she attended a childcare center. My husband and I did everything we could to make it part time, limiting it to just three days per week. Even then, I could never have anticipated how often I would spend weekends caring for her through the “illness of the week,” how emotionally difficult frequent staff turnover would make drop-offs, or how little the cost seemed worth it in the end. For just three days a week, we were still paying more than half of our mortgage toward childcare. Once we factored in the days I had to call out of work for either my daughter or myself, it barely made financial sense at all.
The beginning of the end came one morning when I dropped my daughter off later than usual. My arrival was unexpected. I walked into the infant room to find two babies crying hysterically with no teacher in sight. I called out, but no one answered. When I alerted the manager, she rushed in and found the teacher in the back kitchen area. As the manager comforted the babies, the teacher reached out her arms to take my daughter from me. I couldn’t do it. I was completely shaken by the realization that this could have been my daughter any day of the week.
I walked back out with my daughter in my arms and immediately began searching for another option.
That search led us to Emily — a kind woman whose son was just a few days older than my daughter. Our experience with Ms. Emily was night and day. Our daughter was hardly ever sick anymore, she adored her caregiver, and we were finally able to save a significant amount on childcare costs. More importantly, we felt peace.
As we got to know Emily, we learned how she had started her own daycare business. For the first time, this dream had a face. It wasn’t just a fantasy anymore — it was possible.
Fast forward to 2024. I was seven months pregnant with my son, and buying a home to start a daycare still felt like a complete pipe dream. At that point, the plan was simple: stay where we were, and I would leave my job to stay home with the kids. Even though we had accepted that reality, I still found myself scrolling Zillow late at night, dreaming about what could be. If I could just make it make sense. If I could just be brave enough.
With interest rates hovering near 7%, the idea felt absolutely crazy.
But as my due date got closer, the dream became impossible to ignore. Finally, I decided I had to say it out loud to my husband.
“I have an idea… and it’s crazy. If you think it could work, let’s really talk about it. And if your answer is absolutely not, at least I can finally put these thoughts to rest.”
One month later, we had flipped our townhome, rented it out, and purchased our very first standalone home.
All of my nesting energy went into moving and creating our daycare space. During sleepless maternity leave nights, I built our online presence, taught myself marketing, and prepared to launch the business. Soon, I was conducting daycare tours downstairs while my husband cared for our toddler and two-month-old son upstairs.
What once felt impossible had suddenly become real.
A year and a half later, we are fully enrolled and still receive several inquiries a week. What we built has become so much more than a business. The families we work with are not simply clients — they have become an extension of our family. Together, we’ve created the kind of community we always longed for: a true village of parents who genuinely care for and support one another. We celebrate birthdays together, plan park meetups, and show up for each other through every season of parenthood. And through it all, the greatest gift has been the one that started this entire journey — I get to spend these precious years alongside my children while building something meaningful for other families, too.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most meaningful things in life, this journey came with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was simply the financial leap it required. Starting a business while purchasing a new home, preparing for a second baby, and stepping away from the security of a traditional career felt incredibly overwhelming at times. There were many moments where the numbers on paper felt impossible, and we questioned whether we were making the right decision for our family.
Another major challenge was navigating the licensing process in such a short amount of time. We essentially had just a couple of months to ensure our home, policies, training, and business structure met every requirement set by the state of Oregon. It often felt like I was learning an entirely new language overnight while also preparing to welcome a newborn.
On a personal level, I also wrestled deeply with uncertainty and imposter syndrome. While I had experience working with children through nursery programs, volunteer work, and nannying in my younger years, this felt entirely different. Suddenly, I wasn’t just caring for children — I was running a business, supporting families, and carrying the responsibility of creating a safe and nurturing environment every single day. There were moments where I questioned whether I was truly capable of doing all of it well.
And perhaps the hardest challenge of all was the mom guilt that came alongside such a massive life transition. My daughter was not only adjusting to sharing her parents with a new baby brother, but also with several other children five days a week. There were moments where I worried endlessly about whether the stress, sacrifice, and uncertainty would ultimately be worth it for our family.
Looking back now, I can honestly say those fears shaped me into a more compassionate caregiver, parent, and business owner. Building this business required an enormous amount of faith — in ourselves, in our vision, and in the belief that creating community and connection for families truly mattered.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At its heart, our program is centered around childhood the way I believe it was always meant to be — slow-paced, connected, play-filled, and deeply rooted in relationship. We are a child-led, play-based program with a strong emphasis on outdoor time and creating an environment that feels like a second home rather than a traditional childcare setting.
We operate out of our 1990s family home on just under a quarter-acre lot, which allows the children to spend a large portion of their days outside exploring, creating, and simply being kids. One of the things I value most is giving children opportunities to connect with the natural world in meaningful ways. The sound of the wind moving through the trees, dirt on their hands, and real grass beneath their feet may seem simple, but I truly believe those experiences are incredibly grounding for children in today’s fast-paced world.
We also grow much of our own produce and keep chickens on our property, which naturally creates opportunities for children to build a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and how to care for living things. Some of our sweetest moments happen in the garden, collecting eggs in the morning, or watching the children proudly taste something they helped grow themselves.
What sets our program apart most, though, is the sense of connection and community that exists within it. From the very beginning, my goal was never just to provide childcare — it was to create a space where families felt seen, supported, and genuinely cared for. I wanted parents to feel the kind of trust and peace that I had searched for myself as a mother.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that we have stayed true to that vision. In a world that often pushes children toward constant structure, screens, and overstimulation, we have intentionally created a space that protects the magic of childhood. Our days are filled with imagination, outdoor adventures, meaningful relationships, and the simple rhythms of home.
More than anything, I want readers to know that this business was built from lived experience. It was born from the fears, hopes, and desires of a mother searching for something different — not just for her own children, but for other families, too. Every part of our program has been shaped with the intention of creating the kind of environment I would want for my own kids, because they are right there growing alongside it every single day.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is getting to witness relationships bloom every single day — between the children, between myself and each child, and within the families we serve. There is something deeply meaningful about being part of those early bonds as they form and grow, and feeling like I get to play a small role in something much bigger than myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littlesproutsdaycarellc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlesproutsdaycarellc?igsh=dnQ2dzViNnR0enJj&utm_source=qr
