Hidden Gems: Meet Jennifer Tripet of Owl’s Nest Child Care LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Tripet.

Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Kailua, Hawaii, but Burbank is home. I grew up here, graduated from John Burroughs High School, and come from a family that believed in showing up for this community. I’m a second-generation Burbank volunteer, and that sense of service has shaped everything I’ve built.
Working with young children has been my calling for more than 30 years. Along the way I’ve served as a child development specialist, earned my AMS Montessori teaching certification, and completed UCLA’s Child Development Administration Certificate. Those years taught me something important: children thrive when the adults around them are supported too.
That belief led me to open Owl’s Nest Childcare, a licensed large family child care home right here in Burbank. Owl’s Nest is a boutique Montessori program for children from infancy through preschool, and we keep it intentionally small, with room for just 12 children, so every child is truly known. Our days are built around the Montessori philosophy: respecting children as capable little people, letting them learn through hands-on exploration, and giving them a calm, beautiful, home-like space to grow in. I’m in the classroom every day alongside a dedicated team, including Ms. Jackie, who has been a steady, caring presence for our families. We also work with CCRC and Lanterman Regional Center, so families using subsidized care and children with developmental needs can access the same nurturing environment. Quality early education shouldn’t depend on a family’s income or a child’s abilities.
But my “why” goes deeper than my career. I was a single mother, and I know what it’s like to go without while navigating a very difficult relationship and working to keep my child safe and supported. In those years, I needed help for my whole family, not just one piece of it, and that kind of support was hard to find. That experience is why I founded Family Growth & Wellness Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the whole family, parents and children together. Today Owl’s Nest operates as part of the FGWC family, and we’ve been honored to receive a City of Burbank Community Development Block Grant to bring parenting education to local families at a reduced cost.
Along the way, I’ve stayed involved in the community that raised me, through the Burbank Tournament of Roses, Job’s Daughters Bethel 208, and advocacy with Child Care Providers United, where I’ve spoken up for better child care funding and fair pay for providers.
Looking ahead, my vision is to take what we’ve built here in Burbank and grow it into a model other communities can use. Every family deserves a village, and I’ve spent my life building one.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My struggles started early. I grew up with a learning disability, and school didn’t always come easily. I know what it feels like to be a child who learns differently and needs someone to be patient and believe in you. That experience is a big reason I’m so passionate about Montessori and about welcoming children of all abilities at Owl’s Nest.
Later came one of the hardest seasons of my life, as a single mother navigating a very difficult relationship. I was stretched thin emotionally and financially, and I learned firsthand how isolating it is when you need help and don’t know where to find it. That season shaped me more than anything else, and it’s the reason I fight so hard for the families I serve now.
Running a small child care program has its own challenges. Child care is essential work, but it’s chronically underfunded, and providers are often underpaid for how much we give. Keeping tuition fair for families, paying a great team, filling enrollment, and finding and keeping good staff is a constant balancing act. That’s why I’ve become involved in advocacy through Child Care Providers United.
Building a nonprofit from the ground up has been a learning curve too, from governance and contracts to grant writing and fundraising, often while still caring for children during the day.
Through all of it, my faith is what has kept me going. On the hardest days, it gave me strength and reminded me there was purpose in what I was walking through. Every challenge has made me a better advocate. When a parent comes to us overwhelmed, or a child is struggling to learn, I don’t just understand it in theory. I’ve lived it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Owl’s Nest Child Care LLC ?
Owl’s Nest Childcare is a boutique Montessori program in Burbank serving children from infancy through preschool. We’re a licensed large family child care home, and we keep our program intentionally small, with space for just 12 children. That size is by design. Every child here is truly known: their personality, their pace, what makes them light up, and what they need on a hard day.
What we’re known for is bringing authentic Montessori education into a warm, home-like setting. Children here are treated as capable little people. They pour their own water, care for their environment, choose meaningful work, and build independence and confidence one small success at a time. Our infants and toddlers get the same respect and intention, with a calm, nurturing space designed for how young children actually learn.
What sets us apart is experience paired with heart. I bring more than 30 years in child development, AMS Montessori certification, and UCLA training in child care administration, and I’m in the classroom every day, not just running things from an office. Our team, including Ms. Jackie, Ms. Riley, and Ms. Lena, shares that same commitment to patience and gentle guidance.
I’m especially proud that Owl’s Nest is inclusive. We work with CCRC and Lanterman Regional Center, so families using subsidized care and children with developmental needs have access to the same high-quality environment. Having grown up with a learning disability myself, that matters deeply to me. Every child deserves a place where they’re understood.
Because Owl’s Nest is part of the Family Growth & Wellness Center family, our families also have a bridge to wider support, from parenting education to community resources. We care for the whole family, not just the child at drop-off.
We’re open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and we’re currently welcoming new families, especially infants. Readers can learn more at owlsnestcc.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @owlsnestcc.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I believe the next 5 to 10 years will be some of the most important our field has ever seen.
The biggest shift is that people are finally recognizing child care as essential infrastructure. The pandemic showed everyone that when child care falls apart, families and the whole economy feel it. I expect to see more public investment, and I’m hopeful that includes fair pay for providers. Through Child Care Providers United, family child care providers in California have gained a real voice, and I believe that momentum will keep growing.
We’re also seeing a shift in who programs like mine serve. With California’s expansion of transitional kindergarten, more four-year-olds are moving into school settings, which means infant and toddler care is becoming even more critical, and harder for families to find. Those first three years are when the brain develops fastest, so I see small, nurturing programs like ours playing a bigger role than ever.
Staffing will be one of the industry’s biggest challenges. Early educators are often underpaid and burned out, and many programs struggle to find qualified, caring teachers. The programs that thrive will be the ones that invest in training, support, and respect for their teams.
Finally, I see the industry moving toward a whole-family approach. Families are carrying more stress than ever, and we’re learning that a child’s well-being can’t be separated from their parents’ well-being. Mental health, parenting support, and inclusive care for children with different needs will become central, not extras. That’s exactly why I built Owl’s Nest and Family Growth & Wellness Center the way I did. I think the future of early childhood is about caring for the whole family, and I’m excited to be part of shaping it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Owlsnestcc.com
• Instagram: Owlsnestcc
• Facebook: @owlsnestcc.com