CHILDCARE & SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
ANNUAL REPORT • 2025 - 26
Working Together For A Greater Purpose Dear Families, Partners & Supporters, We are honored to share the Channel Islands YMCA 2025–2026 Childcare & School Enrichment Impact Report with you. Because of the continued dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and school district partners, we are able to provide high-quality programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families across our communities. Together, we are expanding opportunity’s and creating pathways for every child to succeed. For more than 139 years, the Y has remained a trusted and vital resource in our region—not by chance, but through a shared commitment to responding to the evolving needs of families. Today, access to affordable, high-quality childcare remains one of the most critical issues facing working families. We also know that the demand for expanded learning opportunities continues to grow, as communities seek safe, enriching spaces where children can learn, build relationships, and thrive beyond the school day. At the Channel Islands YMCA, we remain focused on meeting this need with intention and impact. Over the past year, we have continued to strengthen our programs by investing in staff training, deepening partnerships with school districts, and enhancing the quality of our curriculum and learning environments. We are proud to deliver programs that support the whole child—academically, social-emotionally, and physically—while also providing critical support systems for working families. In our school-age programs, SCALED Learning™ continues to provide hands-on, engaging enrichment opportunities that spark curiosity and build real-world skills. Our ongoing focus on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity has empowered children to develop lifelong healthy habits through fun and interactive experiences, including our annual Healthy Kids Day™ celebrations. In our early childhood programs, we are excited to fully implement Creative Curriculum™, strengthening our ability to provide developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences. This approach supports language, literacy, and cognitive growth while nurturing social-emotional development and creativity—ensuring that our youngest learners are prepared for success in school and beyond. As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding access, advancing program quality, and ensuring equity in the communities we serve. We know that our work is not done—but with your partnership, we will continue to grow our impact and reach more families who need us most. Even in a changing world, our mission remains constant. We believe in the potential of every child and in the power of community to help them achieve it. Thank you for standing with us, investing in our programs, and helping us build a brighter, stronger future for the next generation.
Thank you for inspiring us and supporting the Y! Jennifer Heinen-Stiffler, Chief Operating Officer
THE IMPACT WE MAKE 2025 - 26
Over 1,400 Teens 5,454 Youth Served
DURING SUMMER AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
99
Students Served In
2,693 Students Served In
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL TK-8TH CHILDCARE PROGRAMS
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Our Programs Preschool/Pre-K Each day at our YMCA centers, preschoolers are exploring, building confidence, enhancing their creativity, and growing their critical thinking skills. At the YMCA, we believe in purposeful play as the tool for early education. The classroom and outdoor spaces are structured to provide the tools and educational support that children need to succeed in Kindergarten and life. Our program supports cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language, and literacy development for all children in care. From the screening of staff to the playground to nap time, we maintain a safe environment where teachers can give attention to each child. We are licensed by the State of California to ensure the quality of care.
School-Age Care As a parent, you know that the hours before and after school are critical times for a child’s development. Before and after school care at the Y provides you peace of mind, knowing your children are safe and in an environment where the learning taking place at home and school will continue. The Y partners with families to offer homework support, healthy snacks, physical activity such as games and sports, as well as arts, science, and plenty of opportunities to try new things and make great friends. We do all of this while also making safety our number one priority.
YMCA Summer and Enrichment Camps At Y Camp, the possibilities are endless! Y Summer Camps provide children and teens with supervised activities that cultivate values, develop skills, nurture relationships, and actively explore children’s imagination. Day Camps at the YMCA are packed with activities and new friendships. YMCA campers will experience art, STEM activities, sports and outdoor recreation, field trips, and much more. Weekly themes bring energy to camp and ensure that each week is a different adventure. YMCA Enrichment Camps are an exciting way for campers to dive into an interest for a full week. Enrichment Camps provide many opportunities for campers to learn and grow in skills around areas of interest.
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Youth Programs Through the Y’s activities for kids, we develop the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement. Classes teach the fundamentals of program areas in a supportive environment. Programs at the Y encourage personal expression and the freedom to create and provides new experiences for kids. Our programs run in several-week sessions throughout the year. Each Y location offers unique programs to fit that community’s needs.
School’s Out Care YMCA programs operate year-round and when school is out to ensure children have academic enrichment and recreational opportunities when they need them most. School’s Out Care is available on most school holidays including winter and spring break. During the summer, Before & Afterschool Programs transition to Day Camps and are accredited by the American Camping Association.
Enrichment Programs Our enrichment programs provide a space for transformative learning experiences in a caring setting during critical after school hours. Our staff are carefully screened using standards set by the State of California, completing extensive training, and participating in ongoing education. We also understand the role that YMCA staff play in exposing youth to positive role models who build their self-esteem and sense of community.
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Our Partners
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School-Age Curriculum
SCALED Learning™, the Y’s holistic before and after-school curriculum, presents kids with new challenges as they reach each stage of their development. SCALED Learning™ helps kids grow in the classroom and out in the world through engaging in STEM, hands-on arts, literacy, career-connected learning, diversity and global education, social development, and fun! Kids who participate in the Y’s before and after-school programs expand the school day through active play with classmates and a curriculum that augments what they’re learning in school. Discovering the world is fun and safe with the experts on helping kids grow and learn. The core components of SCALED Learning™ are: S.T.E.M., Career-Connected Learning, Arts, Literacy, Education & Classroom Confidence, and Diversity & Global Learning.
Preschool Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum for preschool is a comprehensive curriculum for preschool that builds children’s confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills through hands-on, project-based investigations. Trusted for decades by early childhood educators, our curriculum: respects and nurtures individual skill progression for the whole child, inspires children with project-based, investigative learning, seamlessly connects families to their children’s learning, and supports teacher retention with embedded high-quality, flexible professional development, improves quality by giving teachers the curriculum materials, support, and training they need to succeed.
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Our Report Card
99%
of students are safe at Y programs
98%
of families provided an overall satisfaction rating
96%
of families would recommend Y programs to a friends/family
What families are saying...
“Our son has really enjoyed doing “Clubs” on Thursdays and he’s always excited for club presentation days. I love that he’s engaged, trying different things, but most importantly, I think it has been giving him a foundation for communication and public speaking. He’s so quick to get stage fright, but watching him participate with speeches, it is clear that this feels like a safe space for him.”
“I needed to enroll my son in the YMCA after a big life change and shift in working hours. I was nervous to do so as I had been his primary caregiver. I need not have worried, it’s his second year and I am so thrilled and thankful for the program but mostly the staff who are warm, thoughtful and caring.”
“My son doesn’t want to go to school sometimes but when I remind him about going to the Y after school, he changes his mind about going to school!”
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Our Report Card
100%
of students are safe at Y programs
100% of students receive enriching and quality activities
100%
would recommend the Y program to families at the school
What principals and partners are saying...
“Our students genuinely enjoy attending before and after-school care. There are some students who, when asked whom they look to for support, answer with a Y staff member first.”
“We are very happy to host the YMCA at our district. While we have our state required ELOP program, having the YMCA ensures that all families who need or want access to an after-school program can get one. We do not have families on wait lists and I love that. The YMCA has been a great partner with our district for a long time and I hope to continue that partnership for years to come.”
“I really love the extras that the Y provides such as ceramics, music, and homework support. Many students may not have the opportunity to experience these activities out of school, so I believe that it is a win win for them.”
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Moments Worth Celebrating S.T.E.M. afterschool
National Reading Month
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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Afterschool Art Classes
Healthy Eating
Channel Islands YMCA 2025 - 26 Annual Report • ciymca.org
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CAMARILLO FAMILY YMCA 3111 Village at the Park Drive Camarillo, CA 93012 805.484.0423
VENTURA FAMILY YMCA 3760 Telegraph Road Ventura, CA 93003 805.642.2131
MONTECITO FAMILY YMCA 591 Santa Rosa Lane Montecito, CA 93108 805.969.3288
SANTA BARBARA FAMILY YMCA 36 Hitchcock Way Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805.687.7727
ST. GEORGE YOUTH CENTER 889 Camino Del Sur Isla Vista, CA 93117 805.685.9170
STUART C. GILDRED FAMILY YMCA 900 North Refugio Road Santa Ynez, CA 93460 805.686.2037
LOMPOC FAMILY YMCA 201 West College Avenue Lompoc, CA 93436 805.736.3483
SAN LUIS OBISPO FAMILY YMCA 1020 Southwood Drive San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.543.8235
CHANNEL ISLANDS YMCA • 1180 Eugenia Place, Suite 104, Carpinteria, CA 93013 • 805.569.1103 • ciymca.org