YMCA Expands To Alleviate Child Care Wait Lists In Hunterdon County

ANNANDALE, NJ - The Child Learning Center of YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties has announced the first Open House for families to visit its newly constructed classrooms and children’s indoor gross motor play area. The Open House is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, 11 AM-2 PM, at the center at 1410 HWY 22 West in Annandale.

The $250,000 expansion, which began this past spring, sees new construction in the existing space adjacent to the current Child Learning Center. Construction includes two new classrooms accommodating 28 new students ages three and four years old (preschool and pre-K), as well as two new indoor playground spaces featuring new equipment to support the gross-motor development for children enrolled at the center. The new classrooms will feature brand new kitchenettes including a microwave, refrigerator, and separate sinks for hand washing and material sanitization, as well as dedicated children’s restrooms with child-height/sized toilets and sinks.

“There is a tremendous need for more available high quality child care and early childhood education within Hunterdon County,” explained Karin Smith, senior director of child care for the Hunterdon County region of the Y. “The Y has responded to that need by investing in the child care expansion, providing more opportunities for families to have access to safe, affordable, early childhood education in a place they know they can trust.”

In addition, the Y will offer preschool-age children newly-planned Y youth sports programs designed specifically for young children inside the new indoor play-spaces. This includes “Extreme Recess,” the free enrichment program offered to children enrolled at the Child Learning Center.

“Extreme Recess is a weekly, 40-minute program we provide to the three, four and five year olds at the Child Learning Center,” explained Jacob Gleason, associate director of youth development for the Y’s Hunterdon County region. “We work on fitness and character development through fun sports and games. The new indoor playground space allows us to take what the kids love to do and bring it inside a more climate controlled environment all year long.”

Upon completion of the expansion, the YMCA Child Learning Center will house nine early childhood classrooms, infants through pre-K, on its dedicated 26-acre campus, which also includes an outdoor playground, outdoor classroom and nature trail. The Center is a Grow-NJ quality rated school, employing experienced, credentialed staff and the evidence-based, early childhood Creative Curriculum. The center is open Monday through Friday 6:45AM-6:00PM. For more information, please visit https://www.ymcabhc.org/child-care/childlearningcenter.

YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 49,000 members and participants at its six member branches, seven child development centers, and nine camp locations across Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties provides over $5 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcabhc.org.