Before & Afterschool Program

Before and Afterschool child care is part of the YMCA’s history of dedication to youth development.

It was established to meet the needs of working parents while providing children with a fun, safe, enriching environment. Our program offers a variety of daily activities focusing on the following:

Parents Give Us an A+!

The First Coast YMCA’s Before and Afterschool Program is ranked #1 in the country for impact among the best YMCA child care programs nationwide according to April 2018 SEER Analytics parent surveys. Here are some of the responses:

“Both of my children are more active and want to learn and do more. I absolutely love the staff they are amazing at what they do!”

“Children get to experience what being part of a community is all about. The YMCA is fantastic.”

“My son is able to get his homework done before I pick him up and go to his sport activities. The counselors are always willing to help him.”

“She has learned to take on responsibility, to share tasks, and to be understanding when things do not go the exact way she wants them to. The Y has given very good role models.”

Registration & Payment

Before and After School child care is available for children in elementary school ages 5 – 12 at more than 40 sites across the First Coast. Some of our sites also offer Before and Afterschool care for middle school students. Please contact your nearest Y location for specific details and to register today.

Once registration has been completed at the branch, payment options are available at MY ACCOUNT.

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Before & After School Locations

*If your child attends a Duval County school that is not listed, please contact the duPont Y as we are always interested in expanding our services.

Learn, Grow and Thrive

Every effort is continuously made to ensure the safety and well-being of children in our programs each day. Our experienced staff team is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of all children under our care in a safe, nurturing environment. Take a look at how we help all children learn, grow and thrive in our Before and After School Program.

Academic Support

Children receive help on their homework and take part in educational activities that reinforce what is learned at school. Research shows that children who spend time in constructive learning activities after school perform better in the classroom.

Character Development

Our program encourages positive behavior and good choices through character development activities. Children learn the importance of many values, particularly the YMCA’s core values – caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Children learn how to interact with other children and adults. They learn how to share, make friends and understand other people’s feelings. Through the integration of values-based curriculum and recreation, participants learn and grow while having fun.

Qualified, Professional Staff

YMCA Before and After School staff must meet state licensing requirements. In addition to YMCA training, many staff hold professional certifications in childcare and advanced degrees in early childhood education.

Physical Fitness and Nutrition

YMCA Before and After School ensures children are given a unique mix of activities that focus on health, fitness and nutrition. Children also receive healthy snacks based on the guidelines from the USDA.

Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important…behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity in children and adolescents. We are proud to incorporate Youth Fit For Life™ into our curriculum – a physical activity and health behavior change program specifically designed for elementary-aged youth. The program consists of cardiovascular exercise three times per week in the form of non-competitive activities and cooperative games, and resistance training using bands two times per week, as well as interactive, age-appropriate behavioral skills training, like goal setting, progress feedback and facilitative self-talk.

Financial Assistance

Scholarships, in the form of financial assistance, are awarded to families interested in participating in YMCA programs, like our Before and After School Program. To determine eligibility, a family must complete a financial assistance application and supply all necessary supporting documentation. A member of the YMCA professional staff team will review applications confidentially and make award determinations based on a sliding scale. We are sensitive to extenuating circumstances, and will readily discuss needs a family may have beyond what their household income would indicate.

Give to the Y

Through support raised by the YMCA’s Annual Giving Campaign, we are able to reach out to families throughout the community to provide Before and After School care and other opportunities they may otherwise not be able to afford. Donations made to the Y’s Annual Giving Campaign provide scholarships for children to participate in recreational, learning and life-enhancing experiences that will enable them to grow and develop into well-rounded, healthy and productive adults. Anyone interested in sending one or more children to Before and After School by donating to the campaign may do so in person or on online.