Kids Zone
Drop in your child for fun and activity under the supervision of trained staff while you work out at the Y! This included family membership benefit provides a safe space for kids to interact while you get some much-needed time for you.
Drop in your child for fun and activity under the supervision of trained staff while you work out at the Y! This included family membership benefit provides a safe space for kids to interact while you get some much-needed time for you.
Kids Zone is a unique drop-in care program for ages 6 weeks to 13-years-old that allows adults to focus on pursuing their Whole Person Health goals at the Y, while their kids are engaging in a fun, safe, and caring environment.
As experts in youth development, you can count on the Y to not only ensure your children are having fun, getting the wiggles out, and making new friends but also learning through thoughtfully planned, play-based, and age-appropriate activities. Benefits of Kids Zone include:
Your child will have a blast interacting with other kids through age-appropriate activities that get their brains and bodies moving. Opportunities to learn new skills, play games, and make new friends are endless. Activities may include:
Y Kids Zone staff are empathetic leaders who go through a rigorous screening process that includes proof of Covid-19 and MMR vaccinations and background checks. Youth Development best practices certifications are required in:
Kids Zone is an included benefit for members with Family 1 and 2 memberships that provides kids a safe, secure, and fun environment while their adults have 120 minutes all to themselves to:
Our Kids Zone play-based program follows the seven core elements of our LEAPING into Fun activity framework which focuses on:
Literacy through engagement in reading aloud and discussion, book inspired creations, word games, and more to instill the love of reading books at a young age.
Enrichment activities promoting investigation, inquiry, and discovery are explored through activities ranging from STEM projects to learning sign language and more!
Hands-on arts & crafts projects with a variety of art techniques that allow kids to creatively express themselves and take home a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Structured and freeform activities, group games, and free play that engage kids in a noncompetitive environment to get the wiggles out while learning new skills.
Fueling the imagination through role play, puppet shows, and more to promote freedom of expression, social-emotional learning, and creative problem-solving.
Number and letter recognition, letter sounds, and counting through game play and concept activities that challenge kids to grow their math and literacy skills as they do.
Physical activities and craft projects that intentionally utilize gross and fine motor skills such as beading, scissor use, balance and movement games, and more.
See below for the schedule at your local Y. Offerings may vary on holidays, during school breaks, for staff development days, and non-school days.
Hours effective Monday, January 1:
Contact: Kasey Boettcher, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Friday, September 1:
Contact: Desiree Johnson, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Tuesday, September 5:
Contact: Erika Mendoza, Family Programs Supervisor
Hours effective Monday, June 24:
Contact: Colin Kinnaird, Operations Director
Hours effective Monday, June 24:
Contact: Eli Shank, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Monday, June 24:
Contact: Chris Dunford, Operations Director
Hours effective Monday, January 1:
Contact: Nikita Love, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Friday, June 21:
Contact: Becky Cherry, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Monday, June 24:
Contact: Kristin Rosenthal Corcoran, Senior Director of Operations
Hours effective Monday, June 24:
Contact: Zachary Wells, Family Programs Director
Hours effective Saturday, June 1:
Contact: Chris Chavez, Family Programs Director
Children can stay for up to 120-minutes or two hours per visit.
Children are divided into groups by age to allow them to engage in age-appropriate activities. Ages for rooms and spaces vary based on time of day and location.
Our staffing plan varies by the age of child. We strive to maintain the following best practices by age:
No. Kids Zone is a flexible, drop-in care program offered on a first come, first served basis to those with a Family 1 or 2 membership.
Each location has a maximum capacity based on staff-to-child best practices and occupancy of the space. If you arrive and we are at capacity, we have a lobby area where you can interact with your child until a space becomes available.
Some children may feel comfortable immediately in Kids Zone, and other children may need some time to adjust. Here are some tips for helping your child transition.
Our goal is for every child to be successful in our programs. This means meeting children at their level and sometimes making adjustments to help them reach their potential. If our ideas do not work for your family, we are happy to team up with you to create a plan that does.
Our staff make every effort to keep your child happy and content in Kids Zone. In the event that your child is not able to be consoled and has consistent crying for a period of over 10 minutes, we will seek you out, as the parent or guardian and ask for your assistance in soothing the child.
Please bring the following items:
We provide activities for the children and ask that you not bring toys or electronics from home. All personal belongings including bottles, cups, pacifiers, and other infant items must be labeled. We are not responsible for any lost, stolen, or broken belongings.
In order to keep our Kids Zone safe for all children, including those with food allergies, food, gum, candy or drinks are not permitted except a non-glass, labelled water bottle.
If your infant will need a bottle, please make sure that the bottle is clearly labeled with your child’s name.
Please feel free to nurse or feed your baby anywhere in the building that is comfortable for you, including our Kids Zone program space.
We will locate you in the facility if your child needs a diaper change. We encourage you to check-in your child freshly diapered.
Following the guidelines below will allow us to maintain everyone’s health and well-being. We appreciate you respecting the health of the other children in Kids Zone by cooperating with us. An ill child will not be admitted and children who become ill may not remain in Kids Zone. For the safety of your child as well as the other children in Kids Zone, you may not bring a child to our program for one business day after having any of the following symptoms:
We are pleased that you feel comfortable and confident in our employees and that you may want them to babysit or transport children after hours; however, it is against the Y's policy without a pre-authorized consent form and a relationship that was established outside of the Y. Please don’t ask our staff to break this rule as it could be grounds for termination.
Depending on the type of guess pass, Kids Zone may or may not be included.
As the largest provider of swim lessons in the country, we strive to help all ages learn how to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living.
The YMCA has been the leader in Summer Camp for over 130 years. Over this time, we’ve fine-tuned our programs to meet youth and their families wherever they are in their journey with the outdoors.
With a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, improving health and well-being, and supporting our neighbors, your membership will not just bring about meaningful change in yourself, but also in your community.