Parents looking for before- and after-school care will have a new option this year: The Federal Way Community Center.

The community center will offer the program for kids ages 6-12. The program is for students attending Twin Lakes, Brigadoon, Adelaide and Olympic View elementary schools.

The center will also be open for child care during the district in-service days on Oct. 9, 20, 30 and Nov. 11 for children from all schools.

“We’ve been wanting to do a program like this for the last couple years,” coordinator Kimberly Shelton said. “But there was no facility before the community center was built. We’ve seen such a growth in our summer program and this is a natural extension.”

Parents can drop off kids at 6:30 a.m. Community center staff will drive them to their schools, then pick them up after school and drive them back to the community center.

At the community center, students will do about an hour of physical activity each day, including swimming as well as access to the gym and rock climbing wall. Another hour will be spent on homework with staff. There will also be time for a snack as well as time for playing pool and the Nintendo Wii.

Parents must pick their children by 6 p.m. each night at the community center.

“We want to prepare them for a good healthy dinner with mom and dad, and have their homework done before going home,” Shelton said.

Cost for the program can vary from month to month. For Sept. 28 through Oct. 28, the cost is $420, which averages out to $20 a day. From Nov. 1-30, cost is $340, and from Dec. 1-20, the cost is $280.

The in-service days are separate and cost $40 for a whole day and $30 for the early dismissal day on Nov. 25.

“It’s rather expensive, but look at what we provide,” Shelton said. “The kids are well cared for and transported. Kids get so excited when they see what we have to offer here. Come look at the facility if you are having difficulty making a decision.”

There is space for 28 kids this year.

Learn more

For more information, contact Kimberly Shelton at (253) 835-6932 or kimberly.shelton@cityoffederalway.com.