Childcare
School Year Programs
YWCA childcare offers quality, affordable childcare for children 1 ½ – 12 years of age, including an all-day preschool and pre-kindergarten, after school programming, and all-day programming during school closures.
In our preschool, we offer three classrooms to meet the different developmental needs of children of different ages, each serving free breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day. The YWCA before, after, and all-day school aged programs serve children in kindergarten through sixth grade, with bus transportation provided directly to and from most L/A schools. School-aged children can expect a hearty and healthy snack after school, or breakfast, lunch, and snack during all-day care. We also provide all-day care during school vacations, most holidays, and professional development/early release days, as well as unplanned school closures for emergencies.
All programs include swim time in the YWCA pool to support children’s development of swimming skills and enjoyment of the water. We encourage children to take part in weekly swims that includes lessons and unstructured play times in the pool.
We’re working hard to provide the best quality care for your child(ren) and family.
YWCA childcare programming provides an affirming and supportive atmosphere for children to learn, play, and develop meaningful friendships. Preschool programs utilize a research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum in the classrooms and children are assessed on SEL and developmental standards throughout the year. For school age children, our staff provides special interest and enrichment activities, games, arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, sports, and more. All of our programs balance free play with significant adult and peer social interaction and engaging programming designed to develop self-esteem, self-awareness, and a sense of community.
At YWCA Central Maine, we’ve developed programming that instills appreciation of diversity and recognizes the importance of each child’s unique talents, interests, and needs. All of our teachers have been trained in our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, and work to bring this mission to life in the classroom. We firmly believe that our mission to eliminate racism and empower women while promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all starts from the beginning of education and are proud to offer quality, affordable childcare to our community that centers this mission.
During the 2022-23 school year, we are excited to invite parents back into our facility (as COVID precautions allow). You can expect invitations to parent nights and parent teacher conferences, special events and mission-based family trainings, newsletters and updates on your child’s progress throughout the year, and direct access to communicating with your child’s teacher(s) via a secured app.
Current rates for our programs are published in corresponding registration forms.
Calendar
YWCA Central Maine is closed on the following holidays and in-service days for the 2023-2024 school year:
- November 23-24
- December 25
- January 1
- January 15
- May 27
- June 19
YWCA Central Maine is often open on days that public schools are closed (holidays, school vacation weeks). Please note that space may be limited and pre-registration for vacation care may be required. Email Birdie Gay for more information or to sign up today.
April Vacation Camp
Now Registering for April Vacation Care!
Registration is open for April Vacation care. For children in kindergarten to age 12.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, and snack, multiple swim days, and fun activities!
We have limited spots. You MUST register. To register email Crystal or Birdie
$190 for the whole week or $50 a day. Hours are 7:30-5:30
To see the Flyer click here
Summer Camp
Our YWCA summer camp offers a different theme each week so children can explore diverse activities that meet the needs and interests of all participating children. Some of our 
past themes have included: art, animals and outdoor adventure, circus, and performance. YWCA summer camp includes daily swimming and weekly field trips to beaches and lakes, museums, parks, and other activities. Enrichment programming, STEAM activities, and special guests that are related to each week’s theme are provided to engage children’s interests and prevent summer learning loss. Children are provided breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Programming is led by young adult camp counselors who bring diverse skills and experiences to the program.
YWCA summer camp is open to all children in first through sixth grade.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN – click here for the form
Scholarships are available
Register
Download the registration forms below and return in person to our facility (130 East Ave. in Lewiston) or via email to Crystal.
Required Forms for All Programs
mailto:cparritt@ywcamaine.org
Preschool Programs
Preschool Handbook Preschool Registration
School Age Programs
Food & Nutrition
YWCA Central Maine launched its Food & Nutrition Program for our childcare in 2017 to address children’s food insecurity in Lewiston and Auburn communities. We now provide up to two meals and one snack every day to children in our care.
Because all our programs are developed in line with our mission to create equitable, just, and dignified resources for all, we believe that offering food to families in need is essential for continued health and well-being and should also be provided in a dignified manner. A primary objective of our Food & Nutrition program is to ensure all children attending our childcare programs have equal access to fresh, healthy, well-balanced, culturally-appropriate, and delicious breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day, regardless of socioeconomic barriers.
In addition to addressing the immediate, short-term concerns of food insecurity for children and families, YWCA Central Maine’s Food & Nutrition programs also prioritize longer-term outcomes by introducing new foods to expand children’s exposure to various flavors and textures, as well as providing nutrition education, gardening, and cooking opportunities. We believe this will break cycles of food insecurity and reliance on highly processed and nutritionally inadequate foods. It is our goal that this will help children to learn more about food and nutrition as a regular part of our childcare educational curriculum, which are lessons that will be transformative and last a lifetime.
Paying for Care
At YWCA Central Maine we know that providing safe and affordable care for children is crucial for working women and families. We believe that all families, regardless of income, should have access to childcare that fits their needs. In addition to self-pay tuition agreements, the YWCA accepts State of Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP)
vouchers, partners with FedCap, and offers need-based scholarships for summer camp to help families pay for the care they need.
So that all families with children have access to programs to make childcare more affordable, YWCA Central Maine recorded the following videos to help families learn about the State of Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) and the application process.
To learn about CCAP in English, watch the video here. For a walk through of the CCAP Application in English, watch this video.
For application instructions in Arabic, watch this video.
Tozali ko pesa service ya crèche oyo eza na prix ya bien pona ba mama to ba famille oyo nionso azo sala musula. To za kodima ete ata salaire eza ebele mais famille nionso il faut bazala na option ya ko zua crèche oyo ekozala na ba besoin na bango. Po ete famille nionso azala capable yako tia bana na crèche. Pona kosunga ba famille ba yeba ba information ya crèche. YWCA Central Maine ezo sala audio oyo pona ko sunga mutu nionso azu ba information oyo. Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) process ya application.
Au YWCA Central Maine, nous croyons que toutes les familles, quel que soit leur revenu, devraient avoir accès à des services de garde adaptés à leurs besoins. YWCA Central Maine propose cet video afin d’aider tout le monde à découvrir des moyens de rendre les services de garde d’enfants avec un bon prix. Dans cette video, allons commencer l’ application pour l’aide financière pour la garde d’enfants (Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) auprès du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Maine (“Department of Health and Human Services”, DHHS).
YWCA Central Maine, waxaan aaminsanahay in bixinta daryeel la awoodi karo oo la awoodi karo ee carruurta ay muhiim u tahay haweenka shaqeeya iyo qoysaska. Qeybta Caafimaadka iyo Adeegyada Dadweynaha waxay siisaa kaalmo lacageed waalidiinta ama dadka ardayda masuulka ka ah ee haysta caruurta heshana xanaanada cunugga. Si looga caawiyo dhammaan qoysaska carruurta leh inay helaan habab ay daryeelka carruurta uga dhigaan kuwo la awoodi karo, YWCA Central Maine waxay bixisaa dukumentigan si looga caawiyo qof walba inuu barto sida daryeelka carruurta looga dhigo mid la awoodi karo.
Instructional videos in Somali are coming soon! Please check back in a few days.
Thank you to Maine Women’s Fund for supporting this work to make the CCAP accessible to more Maine families!
USDA Disclosure
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.