Before & After School Care

There is an annual $30/child registration fee. The non-refundable fee is eligible for financial assistance. Please contact the YMCA at BeforeAndAfterSchool@indymca.org if you have questions.

We believe every kid deserves to be a Y kid and have opportunities to grow in a positive and enriching environment. We provide financial assistance through the generous support of donors. Learn more about our financial assistance program, and CLICK HERE to apply!

If you are interested in utilizing a CCDF voucher, please contact the Youth Development office at BeforeAndAfterSchool@indymca.org. Find more information on CCDF and see if your family qualifies. If you interested in using a CCDF voucher at a location that does not currently accept vouchers, please let us know.

Your child’s safety is our top priority. To achieve this, many of our programs have enrollment capacities to ensure we are able to meet our child to staff ratios. We recommend enrolling early to secure your child’s spot in the program. If you are interested in using Before & After School care at a site that is currently full, please enroll in that district’s waitlist. We will notify you as soon as openings are available.

READY, SET, EXPLORE!

The YMCA’s Before & After School program curriculum includes a wide range of activities to keep your child engaged and active! These components make our programs so much more than childcare- it is a safe space for your child to learn, grow, and have fun!

Physical Activity

Participants will have a chance to be physically active every day at the Before & After School program. This could include time spent outside on the playground and sports fields or inside in the gym or other open space. No matter where we play, we are sure to have a blast!

Homework Help

We set aside time everyday to focus on getting homework completed with the help from YMCA staff. If participants do not have homework, alternative quiet activities are available.

Snack/Dinner

An afternoon snack (or dinner at some locations) is offered to every participant. The Y follows the HEPA (Healthy Eating and Physical Activity) standards which outlines specific nutritional guidelines that must be met.

Arts

Art projects can be done individually or as a group. These projects allow participants to use their creativity and fine motor skills to create works of art (and sometimes get a little messy along the way)!

Academic Enrichment

Academic activities are offered daily to participants, and could include math, literacy, or STEM activities. Often times, these activities are connected to what your child is learning in the classroom as an extension of the school day!

Leadership Development

The Y offers “youth led programming” which allows participants to develop critical leadership skills. Often times, participants are able to teach others about their interests and passions, like soccer or making friendship bracelets.

Global Learning and Inclusion

We spend time every week learning about different cultures and events that celebrate diverse perspectives, ideas, beliefs, and customs.

College and Career Readiness

Guest speakers and activities are offered that focus on the different people and jobs within their communities!

Family and Parent Engagement

We offer multiple ways for parents and families to engage including monthly events, interactions with staff, and volunteer opportunities.

Service Learning

Participants help to plan and implement projects designed to give back to the community. Examples include a recycling program or donating homemade items to animal shelters.

Achievement, Relationships, Belonging

In the Y’s Before & After School programs, we focus on three main outcomes that drive all of our programs.

Achievement

We want to make sure that every child tries something new and leaves the Y with a new skill. This could be trying kickball for the first time, learning how to make friendship bracelets, or even developing their leadership skills by leading a group activity. Every child should have the chance to step outside of their comfort zone to experience new things.

Relationships

We want to make sure every child makes a connection at the Y with their fellow classmates and the staff. We want to help kids not only make new friends, but learn how to be good friends, too. We do this through being intentional with team building activities, opportunities to learn about those around us, and using our four core values.

Belonging

Every child should feel safe and at home at the YMCA Before & After School program. The Y is a space to be yourself and be welcomed by the people around you! We create this sense of belonging through the relationships we build and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis works to accomplish its mission by living and sharing the following core values:

• Caring: considerate to the needs and feelings of others
• Honesty: being trustworthy and truthful
• Respect: treating others, the environment, and yourself with dignity
• Responsibility: accepting accountability for your actions and role in the community