After language instruction and lunch on Monday, we gathered at Engelplatz in the city center to catch the tram out to one of Jena's ten municipal kindergartens. Upon arrival, Frau G. and her colleague treated us to fruit, cookies, and coffee. They told us about some of the goals and challenges of providing quality childcare in Jena. This year 130 children from ages 1 to 6 are enrolled at this location. The youngest children are cared for in age groups, but the 3 to 6-year olds are in mixed-age groups. Following the introduction we toured the kindergarten building. Resourceful staff members have managed to transform a conventional structure into a creative learning environment. Children can move freely among rooms designed to permit a wide variety of activities, as well as enjoy the outdoor playground. The first Kindergarten ("garden for children") was opened in 1840, in a town just about 20 miles from Jena. We left with a sense that Jena is willing to conceive of kindergarten quite literally as a place to nurture the growth of children.