We offer a variety of early education programs designed to support your child from infancy through elementary school, as well as afterschool programs to keep youth engaged and active.
Children are the future, and our mission to improve the world by eliminating racism and empowering women and girls begins with the littlest ones in our community. At YWCA Minneapolis, we’re proud to provide full-time day care programs built around an anti-bias curriculum that teaches children to foster strong relationships and respect all points of view.
Our Afterschool Youth Programs inspire and challenge 1,200+ young people each year to achieve academic success, develop leadership skills and strengthen positive decision-making skills.
We offer Early Childhood Education services for children ages 6 weeks and up. Our experienced teachers meet education standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the Council on Accreditation, and our programs are 4-Star Parent Aware rated. To ensure the best learning environment for all our young students, we provide only full-time preschool or child care.
Your infant deserves the best care possible, and that’s exactly what she or he will get with our full-time child care program. Children ages six weeks to 16 months receive individualized care from trained YWCA staff, who guide them through early developments like crawling and early speech.
Children from 16 months to 36 months join our toddler program, where they work on basic problem-solving skills, motor skills and language skills. Small groups of four to six children make it easy for our trained instructors to provide individualized attention.
In addition to providing high-quality child care, we make sure that our preschoolers are ready to succeed in kindergarten. Children ages 36 months to Kindergarten focus on early literacy and pre-math skills, with plenty of opportunities to explore creative experiences like fingerpainting.
Kindergarten through fifth grade students join us before and after school, as well as all day on school release and vacation days during the academic year. With the guidance of our experienced staff, children are encouraged to develop their individual interests and talents, while also focusing on anti-bias and conflict-resolution skills.
During the summer, children ages 4 - 17 participate in field trips and fun activities to keep them engaged and learning.
YWCA Minneapolis provides four high-quality afterschool and summer programs. Using a culturally responsive, research-based curriculum, we inspire and challenge over 1,400 young people each year to achieve academic success and develop leadership skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Through our partnership with Girls Incorporated, YWCA Minneapolis equips girls with the skills to achieve a healthy lifestyle, strive for academic success and develop their passions and interests. This program is available to girls in grades four through 12 in Minneapolis Public Schools and at YWCA Minneapolis.
We’re passionate about health and wellness, so we designed a fitness program just for youth ages seven to 17. Twice a week, participants meet to learn about healthy habits and work to meet their fitness goals.
Our Contact Plus Program has provided comprehensive sexual health education to middle school and high school youth for over 30 years. Enrollment is handled through the Minneapolis Public School system.
Located at two north Minneapolis schools, our Beacon Learning Centers offer academic and enrichment activities to students four days a week. Participants work on developing leadership skills, making healthy life choices and preparing for college and careers.
