Afterschool Care

The YMCA of Austin offers afterschool care for children in grades K - 5 at sixteen licensed sites in three Austin area school districts. The Afterschool Care Program provides on-site care for your child, beginning when school is dismissed and continuing until 6:30 p.m.

Participating children learn valuable social and scholastic skills in a safe, fun, and supervised environment.

The afterschool care program offers a constructive balance of counselor led activities and free time for child exploration. Daily theme activities include arts and crafts, science/math activities, character development activities, presentation activities (music, theater, cooking, etc) and literacy. In addition, the YMCA of Austin has partnered with and will be delivering the curriculum on a daily basis of Active Life, a non-profit group whose aim is to "inspire and empower youth to effectively manage their health, education, and communities."

The end of each afterschool day will include Centers: Board Game Blvd., Hard Hat Highway (building), Craft Court (art), Drama Drive, and Literary Lane. Last, all days include time for homework, a daily snack, and outside-playground time.

Children are divided into age-appropriate groups for many of the daily activities. Special day-long programs, called All Day Cares, are available for most school holidays (see calendars below) and for all early release days. Care on these days is included with your monthly fees. As with all of our programs, the after school program emphasizes our five character values: respect, responsibility, honesty, faith, and caring. Additionally, after school curriculum is built on the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets. (Assets for 5 - 9 yr olds; Assets for 8 - 12 yr olds)

For more information, contact the Program Services Branch at 512-236-9622. Financial assistance for the YMCA of Austin's afterschool care program is available.

Registration for the 2011-2012 School Year

New registration forms must be completed by new and returning participants. Enrollment Forms for the 2011-12 school year

Registration began Wednesday, April 13th. The following sites are on waiting lists: Baranoff, Boone, Cowan, Laurel Mountain, Negley, and Villas.  To add your child's name to a waiting list, please complete and submit the enrollment forms. The Y will not charge a registration fee or monthly fee until we have a space for your child.

Monthly program fees will be found on page three of the enrollment forms. Fees for the 2011-2012 school year are divided equally into nine payments (September - May) for all schools.

A $30 Registration Fee per child is due with all registrations.

How To Register for 2011-2012 School Year 

Please do not send a fax or email and assume that your child has been added to the program. When your child is admitted to the program, you will receive a confirmation call or email as well as a confirmation packet in the mail.

1. Online: Online registration ended 8/11 and is no longer available for this school year.

2. In person at the Program Services YMCA, 2121 E. 6th St. Suite 203, Austin, TX 78702

3. By Mail to Program Services YMCA, 2121 E. 6th St. Suite 203, Austin, TX 78702

4. By Fax to Program Services YMCA, (512) 478-8065  

5. By Email by attaching scanned enrollment forms to programservices@austinymca.org

2011-2012 Afterschool Care Parent Handbook

Tax Receipts

2011 child care tax receipts have been mailed. If you did not receive yours, please email programservices@austinymca.org.

Testimonials from Parents

Here are few notes for the spring '10 parent survey:

"I'm really happy with the YMCA staff and [afterschool care] program. My daughter loves to come to YMCA and in my opinion, it's the best after school program my daughter could be in."My son loves the program. It is his first year in public school and his favorite part is YMCA."

"This is our first year to do this and it has been awesome! We especially love the staff- Josh and all the counselors are awesome and as a parent I appreciate the consistency. And that my child doesn't want to leave when I come to pick her up!"

"I love this program!!! My child has benefited tremendously from the YMCA programs!!! We go onto middle school otherwise we would be attending next year."

"Everything is good and the counselors are great role models for my child. They have a great attitude and are very respectful."

"I don't know what I would do without you!! My child loves and respects the YMCA teachers."

Afterschool Care Financial Assistance

All financial assistance dollars for the 2011-12 school year have been allocated. Registration for the 2012-13 school year and the opportunity to apply for assistance will occur in April 2012.

Financial Assistance Policy: YMCA of Austin programs and activities are designed to benefit persons of all backgrounds, and fees are based on the cost of providing each program. While participants are expected to pay their fair share, when financial assistance dollars are available, the YMCA will assist any individual or family that wants to participate in the afterschool care program but cannot afford the fee.

Financial Assistance (FA) applicants are required to complete the packet below.

• Financial Assistance Packet 2011-12
• Paquete de Asistencia Financiera 2011-12

Only completed packets (including proof of income) will be accepted and processed. The YMCA strongly encourages parents to apply early for financial assistance as funds are limited.

Afterschool Care Sites

We currently offer programs at the following elementary schools:

Austin ISD: Allan, Baranoff, Blackshear, Boone, Cowan, Ridgetop, Rodriguez, & Zavala

Round Rock ISD: Canyon Creek, Caraway, Jollyville, Laurel Mountain, & Spicewood

Hays CISD: Negley, Carpenter Hill

Charter and other schools: UT Elementary School & Santa Cruz Catholic School

Afterschool Care Calendars 2011-2012

Austin ISD | Round Rock ISD | Hays CISD | UT Elem | Santa Cruz

Afterschool Care Directors

Canyon Creek, Caraway, and Spicewood Whitney Flynt

Jollyville and Laurel Mountain: Mitzi Neville

Baranoff, Carpenter Hill, Negley, and Santa Cruz: John Deaso

Allan, Blackshear, Ridgetop, and Rodriguez: Marisol Prins

UT Elementary, Boone, Cowan, and Zavala: Charles Looney

Business Director: Shayna Santiago

Executive Director: Andrew Wiggins

Consumer Product Safety and Gang Free Zone

As per Texas Department of Family and Protective Services licensing requirements, the YMCA of Austin certifies that all bulletins and notices issued by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding unsafe products have been reviewed. 

As per Texas Department of Family and Protective Services licensing requirements, the YMCA of Austin is required to inform parents that YMCA Afterschool Care programs operate within Gang-Free zones. A gang free zone is a designated area  around a specific location where prohibited gang related activity is subject to increased penalty under Texas law. Zones are withing 1000 feet of all afterschool centers.