PITTSBURG, Kan. — Beginning this fall, the Pittsburg Family YMCA will take over operation of after-school childcare for the 2026-2027 school year. Jeff Snyder, CEO, described the new partnership this week.
Snyder said the Y first approached the school board in February, detailing enrollment and fees and providing the board with a copy of the YMCA Handbook.
“Families currently enrolled in the program can expect the same quality care and enriching activities they've come to rely on, now supported by the YMCA's mission-driven approach and commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility,” Snyder said in a press release.
According to Snyder, YMCA members receive a discounted rate on both the Y’s Summer Adventure Camp and afterschool programming. As a state-licensed program, Summer Adventure Camp also qualifies for State Subsidy assistance, which families are encouraged to explore if cost is a barrier. For families who still have need after the subsidy, the YMCA offers its own financial assistance program. Snyder said the Y's promise is simple: no child will be turned away due to an inability to pay.
USD 250 Superintendent J.B. Elliott said the district was excited to partner with the Y for after-school care.
"We are eager to expand this community partnership and create more connections and opportunities for our students and school district,” Elliott said.
Members of the Y will receive a discount for enrolled children. For full-time care, three to five days a week, members pay $40; for one to three days, $30. Non-members pay $60 for a full week and $45 for part-time. These are prices for the first child enrolled; additional siblings received a 20 percent discount.
Full details on enrollment, fees, staff quality, and other pertinent details are provided in the YMCA Parents Handbook.
YMCA Summer Adventure Camp
The YMCA Summer Adventure Camp begins June 1, featuring expanded arts and crafts projects, enhanced STEM programming, more experienced staff, and a weekly theme-based structure that includes field trips and participation in the Frontenac Public Library Summer Reading Program.
“The camp remains committed to building core values — respect, responsibility, accountability, and honesty — in every child who walks through its doors,” Snyder said.
To direct these new programs, the Pittsburg Y has hired Ashlyn Corn who brings a unique and deeply personal connection to the role. Her career in youth development began right where she'll now lead — as a YMCA summer camp counselor. Having experienced camp as a camper, grown into the role of counselor, and is now stepping into the director's chair.
“The Pittsburg Family YMCA has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honored to step into this role,” said Corn. “I know firsthand the impact a great camp experience can have on a child, and I am committed to making sure every camper this summer leaves with memories, skills, and confidence they will carry with them long after the summer ends.”
Y improvements
Snyder also commented on current improvements being made at the Pittsburg Y. Recently, the heater in the pool has been fixed and he and his staff are currently working on projects to update other areas of the Y to actually fix problems instead of just band-aiding them. He asks members to be patient as those fixes take time and money to complete.
“Our mission has always been to strengthen this community,” Snyder said, “and expanding the ways we show up for Pittsburg's children and families is exactly how we live that out.”
For more information on the Y’s upcoming youth programs, contact Ashlyn Corn, director of Afterschool, at 620-704-5991 (cell), 620-231-1100 (office), or email at acorn@pfymca.org
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews
