"They went to Del Mar and I wanted to put them in summer school, then about a week after I enrolled them I was notified that they were eligible for the camp. It’s right after summer school and was perfect. I was really worried about not being able to have care for them after summer school because it gets out at 12:15 p.m. I was working and it’s really difficult for me to gather up all the money for childcare, especially with a new born. I love it and my kids love it.
One of my daughters is shy and has a hard time making friends. She has been reading a lot better. Her self-confidence and can-do attitude is getting a lot better. Her social skills are definitely improving. She is a little more comfortable approaching and making friends.
They’ve loved the field trips they’ve gone on. I think going to Cuesta College was there favorite. They got a stuffed toy of the Cuesta College mascot, Coogie, and they sleep with it every night.
This is a great program, I’ve loved it."
“My daughter and I moved here 3 years ago. I was looking for an afterschool program. I found the Y and explained our situation. I wanted to know that Grace would be accounted and cared for. The moment we got here I knew she was going to be in good hands. Our first season at the Y rang true on every level with that. I’m a single mom on a shoestring budget. I learned about the Y’s financial assistance program and it helped a lot. The summer program is more than I would have paid for other available programs but the quality and structure of the Y program makes such a difference. The program is built on character and values.
I’m glad you do the farm to table cooking experiences. She wants to take vegetables home and if we take them home she eats them. It has opened her up to trying new foods that she may not have at home. We eat balanced, healthy meals at home and the Y reinforces that with healthy snacks and cooking. I love the exposure to food prep with Grace getting the opportunity to chop the vegetables and learn how to make different dishes with them.
The kids and their safety come first here at the Y. The staff communicate very well about Grace’s behavior throughout the day. Grace's positive behavior is reinforced at the Y. She was so excited to share with me that she earned 3 Y bucks. What a great vehicle to opportunities of conversations about how she earned them. The Y staff are so approachable and open to discuss any questions I might have.”
"Over the years, I’ve been a Y member on and off but last year I got more serious about it. I have 4 kids, ages 8 to 16. I have 8 year old twins, homeschool my kids, and I don’t have much family in the area. My 8 year old son has Asperger’s Syndrome and I feel very comfortable with him here. The childcare staff are so caring, it is homey feeling and I think they understand him. I was able to come over the spring and summer and work out. I’ve lost 30 pounds. I was focused on my kids and their activities and sports. I hadn’t worked out in forever, I used to be in shape. After I had my twins I got caught up in being a mom and doing everything for them and being service oriented as well. I forgot about taking care of myself. I started working out at the Y. I started thinking about how important it is for me to take care of myself. I wanted all of my kids to see me taking care of myself. I started working out and I was enjoying it, having more energy, and feeling good."
"I first discovered the Y when my daughter was 2. We had some friends in the area that recommended it. We came by and met Patti because she was the director at the time. We felt it would be a good fit for my daughter and our family.
Our experience [at the Y] has been really positive. They have a really loving, knowledgeable, and helpful staff. The diversity of the activities throughout the day with structured activities, like circle time, and free play is a really good balance between structure and encouraging the kids to explore on their own.
My son is soft spoken and sensitive and his confidence has really developed and blossomed at the Y. Even the structure of sitting in a circle, being patient, and waiting his turn are all good skills that are really useful and helping to prepare him for school. I think he will be really prepared to start kinder after one more year here. My son has fun, has made great buddies, and feels it’s his little community.
I love how they get boxes from Talley Farms. They have healthy snacks and involve the kids in making them. It’s really awesome. My son has told us what he’s made and has fun doing it. We encourage healthy eating at home and the Y helps to reinforce that.
I definitely see that the [Y’s six pillars of character] are encouraged and emphasized with the daily interactions with the teachers and encouraging that within the students as well."
"I was looking for a program to put my son in while school is out, that I could afford. I’m a single mom and trying to find something that I can actually afford was extremely stressful. The Y has an assistance program that I qualified for so I got a reduced rate for the summer camp. When I asked about financial aid, the staff said absolutely and it was really easy to apply. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the financial assistance. The schedule and hours were really helpful. Then I saw the calendar and all of the activities and field trips they had planned. It was perfect. I was jealous, I had to go to work and he gets to go swimming twice a week. He ended up loving it and having a lot of fun."
“I scrambled around on the phone for a few days and I found the Y. Which was one of the programs that was recommended. First, the Y was what we could get at the time, but it ended up to be the best we’ve had. She really enjoyed the field trips. The camp director was wonderful. She supported us, every time there was an issue she was there with an email or a phone call. She showed us every step of the way. I hadn’t seen my daughter, Allison, have a good time like that anywhere else. The friendships she made meant a lot to her. I appreciated it as her father. After 3 days at the Y she had friends and was arranging play dates. The attitude was child first. The program is about the kids and their perspective. People think of daycare being for the parents, but the Y is oriented for the growth of the kids. We felt taken care of by the Y.
The Y spent time getting to know my kid and giving her exactly what she needed. She was able to flourish under the guidance she received.”
"Forrest has a lot of challenges and the staff were very open to helping him with what they could and were wonderful. I know that he is safe and that he trusts them. Forrest loves field trips. [The Y] has taken that child all over the place. He does really well. He’s so excited for the field trips. That’s the highlight for him, to get to go to these places, to the beach and the pool. Forrest has a lot of anxiety, so the fact that he is excited and happy about something is amazing.
The first time he went to the Discovery Museum in Santa Maria. He was so excited for that. He loves bugs and creating. As soon as I walked in the camp door he’s talking to me and telling me that they went to the museum that day. He just kept talking about it. He was so happy. That was probably the first field trip he went on with [The Y] at his first Winter Camp. Ever since then, he’s like where are we going next. He might worry about where [the camp] is going because he’s not exactly sure, but he’s willing to go and to go without me. That is huge. He trusts these people and they do an amazing job with him. They’ve been a huge part of his support. It’s always been a very caring, helpful, and encouraging atmosphere to him and he feels safe there."
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