YMCA of Southwest Florida - Education Programs

Early Childcare:
6 weeks - VPK
At the YMCA of Southwest Florida, we believe that children learn best through a curriculum that begins with an understanding of early childhood development and the play of young children. Our program uses Learning Beyond Paper to assist in formulating goals and objectives when creating lesson plans. This learning center-based curriculum provides your child a developmentally appropriate classroom experience and a foundation on which to build and strengthen the skills needed to learn, think, reason and become decision makers. This curriculum also develops language and literacy skills by providing your child opportunities to be immersed in literacy activities such as storytelling, singing, rhyming words, finger plays, writing and reading aloud.

Learning Beyond Paper aligns with the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for Birth to Three and for VPK (Voluntary Prekindergarten) Four- and Five-Year Standards. The Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards is "a comprehensive document containing age-appropriate information and reflections about how young children explore, create and think."
With opportunities for self-directed, as well as, group-oriented, learning is supported by child friendly themes, based on the child's interests, to provide inspiration to explore and learn. The activities your child will explore are posted in your child's classroom.

Before & After School Enrichment Program:
Your day doesn’t always end when the kids are done with the school day. That’s why the Y offers afterschool programs that serve thousands of children in Southwest Florida.

SKY Academy:
SKY Academy Charter Schools are tuition-free, public middle schools in Sarasota County. SKY Academy is intrinsically associated with the YMCA, and promotes a culture of acceptance and inclusion among peers. The schools are guided by the Y's core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

YReads:
The mission of YReads is to enable at-risk and disadvantaged children in Kindergarten through third-grade, regardless of their race, economic status, or capabilities, to increase their reading skills through structured after-school reading instruction and mentoring.

YReads is after-school reading remediation and mentoring program where at-risk and low-income children in Kindergarten through third-grade develop the reading skills they need to succeed in school.