ESCANABA -- Childcare providers have a big job when it comes to continuing to provide quality care and education to children, but Friday, they got some extra support.
    
The 27th Annual Upper Peninsula Early Childhood Conference was held in Escanaba for the first time.  The two-day event is for educators, home daycare, and childhood center workers.
    
About 225 people registered to take part in the six workshops and listen to keynote speakers.
    
Vendors also sold educational products.

"But being a home provider myself, every time I go to a conference, I learn or relearn something new.  I have an opportunity to find something else to try out," said home child care provider, Amy Ahola. "You're always learning new, different ideas for activities, ways to design your environment for young children."

Caregivers are required by the state to have a certain number of training hours in order to keep their license.