VENTURA COUNTY — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s three branches are now taking sign-ups for summer child care. Child care will take place at each branch from June 1 through August 14 with strict health and safety guidelines in place.
The three Southeast Ventura County YMCA branches are Yarrow Family YMCA (serving Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Oak Park) Conejo Valley YMCA (serving Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark and the Santa Rosa Valley) and Simi Valley Family YMCA (serving Simi Valley). The Simi Valley YMCA camp runs through August 7.
“We’ve been working with the national YMCA and local health officials on how to operate summer child care safely,” says Mac Hahn, VP of Youth Development. “Safety procedures will be implemented throughout each day.”
Some of the measures include:
–Children and staff will have their temperature checked upon arrive and at lunch.
–Curbside pick-up/drop-off only.
–Group activities are designed to incorporate social distancing.
–Staff will wear masks at all times.
–Staff and participants will wash their hands after every activity transition.
–High-touch surface areas will be sanitized after every use.
–Children will have an individual storage area for their items.
–Parents/guardians will need to fill out a YMCA Daily Wellness check for their child before admission.
–Offsite field trips will be replaced with guest speakers/shows and virtual experiences.
“We’re asking parents to discuss social distancing and proper handwashing with their children and to remind them often,” says Hahn.
The YMCA has been offering summer camps locally for over 40 years. “Our emphasis is still on fun, character-building and creating lifelong, rewarding memories,” says Hahn. “Our theme this year is ‘Unplugged.’ No cell phones or other electronic devices, just creative ways for kids to explore the world around them.”
Participants are grouped by age: kindergartners through third graders, fourth and fifth graders and sixth through eighth graders. Counselor-in-Training is available for students in ninth and tenth grades.
Children can attend full time or part time (three days a week, $180, five days a week $230). Financial assistance is available. Drop off times are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. with pickups from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, go to the Southeast Ventura County YMCA website, http://www.sevymca.org, click on “Find A Branch” and select one of the three branches.