YMCA After School Program

Click here to view a photo gallery of the YMCA After-School program at Bailey

Bailey’s YMCA after school program is directed by Nancy Gannett. This is not just a child care service: learning continues after school.  The program works on character-building skills, expanding upon similar lessons from the classroom, and on developing the students’ mind, spirit and body to shape them into good citizens. 

The students perform volunteer work in the community. Currently, they are participating in the Jump for Heart program, which emphasizes physical activity and improving eating habits.

Students also help out at school, performing tasks such as sorting and counting the box tops for education labels that provide equipment for the school. As part of the community spirit activities, the students visit senior citizens and nursing homes. During the spring, students go outside to learn about the environment and how to keep in good condition.

As part of an exercise in decision-making, students participate in voting for some of the day’s activities. They also “take charge” of encouraging playground safety by inspecting the equipment and grounds to note damage or unsafe situations and conditions.
This month, the students will jump rope for charity, and counselors will match donations of $1 per hour.

Catch Program
Gets the students involved in physical activities during the hours that they spend in after school child care. No Thank You Bites teaches healthy eating habits involving grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

Arts & Crafts
Students make their own environmentally friendly play dough with flour and practice recycling by making papier-mache with shredded paper. Other crafts include knitting, sewing and drawing which can be tied to academic learning. For example, students learn about the human heart and how it works, then design a four chambered heart.

Guest speakers include a Drug Enforcement Agent discussing the dangers of drugs – including caffeine, Plattsburgh police officers, dentists speaking about nutrition and dental health and a veterinarian who spoke about pets loose in the community.  Students, always ready with a solution, suggested using a dog walk area to keep them safe.