Who
For youth in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.
When
School Year: Monday through Friday from 2:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. afterschool.
Summer: Monday, June 16 – Tuesday, August 19, 2025
(No program June 19 & July 4) from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where
ISD709 Elementary Schools: Congdon Park, Homecroft, Lakewood, Laura MacArthur, Lester Park, Lowell, Myers-Wilkins, North Star Academy, Piedmont, and Stowe
IS K.E.Y. ZONE RIGHT FOR MY CHILD?
To ensure your child is successful in our program, they must be able to do the following:
- Stay with the group at all times for safety and staff ratio compliance.
- Participate in structured activities and transition independently. We cannot provide one-on-one or small group support (staff ratio: 12–15 children per staff member).
- Be fully toilet trained and use the bathroom without assistance. We cannot assist in the bathroom or change soiled clothing.
If these requirements are not met, your child may be removed from the program, and fees will still apply.
Children with special needs are welcome. If your child requires accommodations or has an IEP, please contact the site coordinator before starting. Note: Most IEPs do not extend beyond school hours, and we do not have access without a caregiver request. While programs are held in ISD709 and Charter Edison schools, we do not have the same staffing or resources as during the school day.
2025-26 School Year Registration
Register online at duluthymca.org/register or contact 218-722-4745 x140 /x103
Be sure to have your child's current medical information, health history, and vaccination records available when registering. As a Minnesota state-certified program, we require vaccination records during registration to meet state-level certification requirements. If your child is exempt for immunizations, families must fill out an exemption form and be notarized. To access this form, please call the Out-Of-School Time Director at 218-722-4745 x124 or at kcorbett@duluthymca.org.
Summer 2026 Registration Information Coming in January 2026
To register for the Out-of-School Time program, visit www.duluthymca.org/register. A non-refundable $35 registration fee is required at the time of enrollment. Families must complete all registration forms and payments before their child can begin attending any program.
A non-refundable $35 fee is required at enrollment for both programs.
Attendance Options & Pricing
| Program | Schedule | Option | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Year 2025–26 | 2:15 PM – 6:00 PM | Full-Time (5 days/week) | $219/month/child |
| Flex Time (12 days/month) | $157/month/child | ||
| Daily Rate (Break Days only) | $48.50/day/child | ||
| Summer 2026 | Weekly (June–Aug) | Full-Time (5 days/week) | $249/week/child |
| Part-Time (3 days/week) | $149/week/child |
Payment Schedule
Families pay two weeks in advance for the upcoming month.
Example: September billing occurs mid-August.
| Month | Autopay Date |
|---|---|
| September | 8/18/2025 |
| October | 9/17/2025 |
| November | 10/18/2025 |
| December | 11/17/2025 |
| January | 12/18/2025 |
| February | 1/18/2026 |
| March | 2/15/2026 |
| April | 3/18/2026 |
| May | 4/17/2026 |
Payments are processed two weeks before each week of care.
Example: June 16–20 week is billed June 2.
| Week | Payment Due |
|---|---|
| June 16–20 | June 2 |
| June 23–27 | June 9 |
| June 30–July 3 | June 16 |
| July 7–11 | June 23 |
| July 14–18 | June 30 |
| July 21–25 | July 7 |
| July 28–Aug 1 | July 14 |
| Aug 4–8 | July 21 |
| Aug 11–15 | July 28 |
| Aug 18–19 | Aug 4 |
- Families must register for at least 7 weeks for summer care (mix of 3-day or 5-day weeks allowed).
- Late payments incur a $10 fee; past-due accounts may result in termination of care.
- CCAP families remain responsible for balances until funding is confirmed.
- Vaccination records or exemption forms are required for summer registration.
2025–2026 Break Day Care Options
- Online: https://www.duluthymca.org/register
- Call: 218-722-4745 x140 or x103
Program Options & Pricing
| Program | Location | Time | Daily Fee | Ages/Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K.E.Y. Zone | Select Duluth Public Elementary | 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM | $48.50 (+$5 deposit) | Grades K–5 |
| Fun Days | Select YMCA Locations | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | $52 | Ages 5–12 (open to all) |
- Must register 3 days in advance or prior to the week for February and Spring Break.
- Minimum of 20 youth required for K.E.Y. Zone.
Break Care Calendar
| Month | Dates & Locations |
|---|---|
| Sept | 1: Holiday – No Care |
| Oct | 16: K.E.Y. Zone (Congdon, Piedmont) 17: Fun Days (Downtown Y) |
| Nov | 3: K.E.Y. Zone (Lester Park, Laura MacArthur) 27–28: Thanksgiving – No Care |
| Dec | 8: K.E.Y. Zone (Congdon, Piedmont) 29–31: Fun Days (Essentia Wellness Center) |
| Jan | 2: Fun Days (Essentia Wellness Center) 16: K.E.Y. Zone (Congdon, Piedmont) 19: Fun Days (Downtown Y) |
| Feb | 16: Fun Days (Woodland Community Center) 17–20: Winter Break – K.E.Y. Zone (Lester Park, Lowell, Laura MacArthur) |
| Mar–Apr | 2: K.E.Y. Zone (Lester Park, Laura MacArthur) 20: Eagle’s Nest (North Star) 30–Apr 3: Spring Break – K.E.Y. Zone (Congdon, Lowell, Piedmont) |
| May | 4: K.E.Y. Zone (Lester Park, Laura MacArthur) 25: Memorial Day – No Care |
| June | 8–12: Fun Days (Downtown Y) |
| Aug | 24–28: Fun Days (Essentia Wellness Center) |
Sample Daily Schedule (Summer & Break Days)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00–9:00 AM | Check-in & Choice Time |
| 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Morning meeting, snacks, team-building, gym games, lunch, clubs |
| 4:00–6:00 PM | Choice Time & Check-Out |
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP)
The Duluth Area Family YMCA will send you an invoice at the beginning of every month for the outstanding balance. Please be advised that the county payments are often behind on their periods of service payouts and the bill may not reflect all periods of service that we have received payment on from the county.
All CCAP families must fill out a “CCAP Families Payment Agreement” that will be provided upon receipt of CCAP paperwork. It is the caregiver/guardian responsibility to:
● Know what you have been awarded from the county.
● Know your co-pay amount.
● All communication with the county is the responsibility of the caregiver(caregiver/guardian).
● The county is not allowed to share information with us beyond your awarded amount of coverage.
● Pay balance in full.
Please notify your case worker directly that you are utilizing the Out-of-School Time program for care and what specific school site your child(ren) will be attending. Out-of-School Time has a child care provider number with St. Louis County. Families must do this at the beginning of the school year, and when the summer program begins if switching to a different school location. We can assist you with your provider number as needed.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We believe every child should experience Out-of-School Time programming. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to offer financial assistance to families in need. Families must apply for Child Care County Assistance prior to applying for financial assistance. Financial Assistance is awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Families are responsible for all child care payments until financial assistance has been awarded. Financial assistance is awarded at a discounted rate based on qualifications and applies only to future enrollments, not past-due balances. Families should wait to receive their financial assistance award notification before registering their child for the program.
Financial assistance applications are available by contacting kcorbett@duluthymca.org or 218-722-4725 x 124.
Regular email about K.E.Y. Zone will be shared with enrolled families. Please follow us on the KEY Zone Duluth Facebook page for updates and pictures.
For questions, please contact:
- Out-of-School Time Director: kcorbett@duluthymca.org or 218-722-4745 x124