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Childcare
At the YMCA, we believe that quality childcare should be available for everyone. In fact, the YMCA is the nation’s largest childcare provider. At the Missoula Family YMCA, we care for more than 250 children in licensed childcare each day. We know that having quality childcare is important to the well-being of children and families. Parents can feel comfortable going to work knowing their children are being cared for in a healthy, loving, safe environment. We provide childcare that supports and strengthens families and nurtures the healthy, successful growth and development of each child involved.
We have several different childcare settings, each specifically geared to the different stages of child development. We are unique in that we have the opportunity to provide consistent care for children from as early as 6 weeks all the way through fifth grade. Missoula Family YMCA childcare prides itself on teaching our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility to children at an early age. On a daily basis, our childcare programs encourage healthy habits and incorporate exercise and nutritious food. In addition to the programming in our classrooms, we often utilize other YMCA facilities such as the gymnasiums and the pool, where children can participate in swimming lessons as part of their day.
To learn more about our specific childcare sites, please click on one of the links below.
Child Watch Center
YMCA child care is provided for children between the ages of 6wks and 7yrs** while parents are in the facility exercising. There is a one and a half-hour limit for children 6wks to 24mos and a two-hour limit for children 25mos to 7yrs** of age. Space is limited and a waiting list will be taken (first come, first served) during peak hours. Please check with the attendant for the next available opening. This is a non-licensed drop-in sitting program. Parents must remain in the YMCA at all times.
M 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / 4:15 – 8:45 p.m.
T 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / 4:15 – 8 :45 p.m.
W 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / 4:15 – 8:45 p.m.
Th 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / 4:15 – 8:45 p.m.
F 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / 4:15 – 8 p.m.
Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.Hourly Fees:*
First Child: $2.50 (Members: $1)
Second Child: $2 (Members: $.50)Monthly Pass
$10 first child
$6 second child
$4 third child
$2 fourth child
*Free with Family MembershipStaff/Child Ratio:
Toddlers 1:11
Infants 1:4
Limit: 50 children**Child care for 7 year olds is only available evenings and Saturdays.
Please note: There is a limit to the number of children we can accept in the Child Watch Center based on room capacity and ratio of children to caregivers. There may be times when parents will be asked to wait 5 – 15 minutes when bringing in children. We encourage parents to arrive 10 – 20 minutes early for scheduled classes to ensure space in the Child Watch Center.
Childcare & Preschool Centers
Enroll your child in one of the premiere preschool settings in Missoula. Like all YMCA programs, financial assistance is available for childcare. Cutting-edge curriculum mixed with guest presenters and YMCA activities help stimulate your child’s physical, emotional and social development. Our qualified, licensed staff creates a warm and positive environment that instills the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in the education process. Nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks that meet the USDA food program guidelines are provided.
We have childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, available at two sites:
YMCA Learning Center
The YMCA Learning Center, located at 2683 Palmer St., Suite A, is NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited. Children ages 6 weeks to 5 years enjoy days spent playing and learning from one another and from our trained staff. Each classroom provides age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities. We believe that each child is special and a unique individual. Our curriculum is child-focused and thus we work with the children’s individual needs to help each meet his or her fullest potential. All teachers at the Learning Center have an education background in early childhood development or are actively persuing a degree in early childhood education.
For more information on the YMCA Learning Center, please contact Nanette Melzer at nmelzer@ymcamissoula.org or call 728-1243.
YMCA Childcare programs are licensed through the state of Montana and we adhere to all requirements and regulations. Recommended child-to-staff ratios are never exceeded. Registration for our YMCA Learning Center must be done in person by contacting Nanette Melzer. She will gladly assist you by checking availability, scheduling tours and assisting in the registration process.
YMCA Development Center
The YMCA Development Center is split into two locations. Our “little yellow building,” located at 2900 S. Russell St. (next door to the main YMCA building), is home-away-from-home for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years. Four and 5-year-olds enjoy their own classroom and activities in the main YMCA building, at 3000 S. Russell St. Being located on the YMCA campus allows us the unique opportunity to offer additional programming to the children in our care—such as swimming lessons, music classes, use of the gymnasiums and more. For a change of scenery, we sometimes bring the younger children to the main building to play in the Child Watch Center nursery. Like the YMCA Learning Center, the YMCA Development Center’s curriculum is child-focused and thus we work with the children’s individual needs to help each meet his or her fullest potential. The YMCA Development Center is working toward its NAEYC accreditation and should obtain it in 2010.
For more information on the YMCA Development Center, please contact Katie Brasington at kbrasington@ymcamissoula.org or call 721-YMCA (9622).
YMCA Childcare programs are licensed through the state of Montana and we adhere to all requirements and regulations. Recommended child-to-staff ratios are never exceeded. Registration for our YMCA Development Center must be done in person by contacting Katie Brasington. Katie will gladly assist you by checking availability, scheduling tours and assisting in the registration process.
After School Club
Add a fun twist to your children’s school day by enrolling them in the YMCA After School Club. School-age children in grades K through five join the YMCA’s caring counselors in arts and crafts, field trips, study time, special events, rock climbing and more! A nutritious afternoon snack and safe transportation from school to the site are provided. Our licensed bus drivers will pick up your child when school gets out. Our drivers work closely with elementary school secretaries, teachers and principals to ensure all kids participating in the YMCA After School Club get on the bus and are accounted for each day. Children may participate in After School Clubs until as late as 6 p.m. daily, or can be picked up earlier at their parents’ convenience.
All kindergarteners come to the main YMCA building for After School Club. These kids have access to the playground in our back yard, activities in our Kid’s Gym, special programs in our studio and swimming in our pool. With a 1:10 ratio, our kindergarteners get extra-special attention after school.
Paxson Elementary School is the host site for our After School Club for kids in grades 1st through 5th who attend Lewis & Clark and Paxson elementary schools. Paxson kids simply walk to their cafeteria after school where our After School counselors are waiting for them. Lewis & Clark kids are safely bused to Paxson on one of our YMCA buses and join in the fun and activities. Field trips, arts and crafts projects and swimming are just a few of the many activities children participate in during After School Club. Our knowledgeable counselors also assist participants with homework.
Kids in grades one through five who attend Chief Charlo, Cold Springs, Franklin, Hawthorne, Hellgate Elementary, Lowell and Russell elementary schools are bused to our sites at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. One site is designed for 1st and 2nd graders and the other for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Similar to our Paxson site, kids who attend After School Club at the Fairgrounds participate in field trips, arts and crafts projects, swimming and more. Our knowledgeable counselors also assist students with homework.
The Missoula Family YMCA After School Club is licensed through the state of Montana and we adhere to all requirements and regulations. Recommended child-to-staff ratios are never exceeded.
Registration for our After School Club must be done in person at the Missoula Family YMCA Welcome Center. For more information, please contact Karen Hamilton at khamilton@ymcamissoula.org or by calling 721-YMCA (9622).
School's Out! Day Camp
School’s Out! Day Camp is a great way for children in grades K through 5th with working parents to have fun on school holidays. School’s Out! Day Camp at the YMCA is loaded with supervised activities such as field trips, arts and crafts, rock climbing, swimming and much more. Kids need to bring a swimsuit, towel and lunch. Students attending School’s Out! Day Camp may be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. (we ask that children are here no later than 9 a.m.) and need to be picked up no later than 6 p.m. (or as early as 4:30 p.m.).
Registration is required and can be done online or at the YMCA Welcome Center. Check out the School’s Out! Day Camp Schedule on this Web site under “What’s New, Calendar of Events.”
For more information, please contact Karen Hamilton at khamilton@ymcamissoula.org or by calling 721-YMCA (9622).
Parents Night Out
Parents just need a night out—whether that’s going on a date, relaxing at home, shopping, catching a movie or spending time with other grown-ups—and the Missoula Family YMCA provides the perfect opportunity! One Friday evening each month during the school year, the Y Childcare and After School program staff will entertain and supervise your children. From 6:30 –1 0 p.m., kids will have pizza for dinner, then enjoy a variety of activities like arts and crafts, rock climbing, swimming, playing Wii and DDR, pool, air hockey, shooting hoops, playing in the Kid’s Gym and more! A healthy snack will be served later in the evening. Children from 6 weeks old through 5th grade are invited to attend. Kids in kindergarten through 5th grade should bring a swimsuit and towel if they plan to swim. Cost is $20/child, or $15/child with a Family Membership.
Schedule of Activities:
6:30-7:30 p.m / Dinner and games
7:30-8:30 p.m. / School-age kids will swim or rock climb; younger children will play in our Kid's Gym.
8:00-8:30 p.m. / Little ones will go into our Child Watch Center for activities.
8:30 p.m. / Snack time
8:45-10:00 p.m. / G-rated movie and/or quiet play time in the Child Watch Center.
Parents Night Out is regularly scheduled on the third Friday, September through May. Parents may register online or at the YMCA Welcome Center. Cost is $20/child, or $15/child with a Family Membership.
For more information, contact Karen Hamilton at khamilton@ymcamissoula.org or call 721-YMCA (9622).
