PrYme Time | First Coast YMCA

Programs - PrYme Time

PrYme Time is part of the YMCA’s history of dedication to youth and children’s services. It was established to meet the needs of working parents in the community while providing their children a fun, safe, enriching environment that would promote the YMCA’s four core values of caring, honest, respect and responsibility. PrYme Time offers a variety of daily activities focusing on academic support, character development, physical fitness and proper nutrition, under the leadership of qualified, professional staff.

Every effort is continuously made to ensure the safety and well-being of children in PrYme Time each day. Our experienced staff team is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of all children under our care in a safe, nurturing environment.

With more than 40 locations across the First Coast, there’s a PrYme Time location near you.

Print out our PrYme Time brochure for more information.

Academic Support

Children in PrYme Time receive help on their homework and take part in educational activities that reinforce what is learned at school. Research shows that children who spend time in constructive learning activities after school perform better in the classroom.

Character Development

PrYme Time encourages positive behavior and good choices through character development activities. Children learn the importance of many values, particularly the YMCA’s core values - caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Children in PrYme Time learn how to interact with other children and adults. They learn how to share, make friends and understand other people’s feelings. Through the integration of values-based curriculum and recreation, participants learn and grow while having fun.

Qualified, Professional Staff

YMCA PrYme Time staff must meet state licensing requirements. In addition to YMCA training, many PrYme Time staff hold professional certifications in childcare and advanced degrees in early childhood education.

Physical Fitness and Nutrition

YMCA PrYme Time ensures children are given a unique mix of activities that focus on health, fitness and nutrition. Children also receive healthy snacks based on the guidelines from the USDA.

Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important…behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity in children and adolescents. We are proud to incorporate Youth Fit For Life™ into our curriculum - a physical activity and health behavior change program specifically designed for elementary-aged youth. The program consists of cardiovascular exercise three times per week in the form of non-competitive activities and cooperative games, and resistance training using bands two times per week, as well as interactive, age-appropriate behavioral skills training, like goal setting, progress feedback and facilitative self-talk.

Financial Assistance

Scholarships, in the form of financial assistance, are awarded to families interested in participating in YMCA programs, like PrYme Time. To determine eligibility, a family must complete a financial assistance application and supply all necessary supporting documentation. A member of the YMCA professional staff team will review applications confidentially and make award determinations based on a sliding scale. We are sensitive to extenuating circumstances, and will readily discuss needs a family may have beyond what their household income would indicate.

Strong Kids

Through support raised by the YMCA’s Strong Kid’s Campaign, we are able to reach out to families throughout the community to provide PrYme Time and other opportunities they may otherwise not be able to afford. Donations made to the Strong Kids Campaign provide scholarships for children to participate in recreational, learning and life-enhancing experiences that will enable them to grow and develop into well-rounded, healthy and productive adults. Anyone interested in sending one or more children to PrYme Time by donating to the campaign may do so in person or on our website.

PrYme Time Sites

county	branch	licensed site
Clay	Dye Clay Family YMCA	All Clay County Elementary Schools
	Barco-Newton Family YMCA
Duval	Arlington Family YMCA	Parkwood Heights Elementary
	Johnson Family YMCA	Tiger Academy
	Williams Family YMCA	duPont YMCA Campus	serving children from:
			Beauclerc Elementary
			Crown Point Elementary
			Kings Trail Elementary
			Loretto Elementary
			Mandarin Oaks Elementary
			Pine Forest Elementary
			San Jose Elementary
			duPont Middle School (AM only)
			Mandarin Middle School (AM only)
Nassau	McArthur Family YMCA	Atlantic Kids Campus	serving children from:
			Emma Love Hardee Elementary
			Southside Elementary
		Bryceville Elementary
		Callahan Elementary
		Callahan Intermediate
		Yulee Kids Campus	serving children from:
			Yulee Elementary
			Yulee Primary
St. Johns	St. Augustine Family YMCA	South Woods Elementary
		Webster Elementary
		Hartley Elementary
		Ketterlinus Elementary
	Winston Family YMCA	Ocean Palms Elementary