Programs & Services

Children, Youth, and Teen Programs focus on the needs of families in order to provide maximum access to useful, flexible, and affordable programs such as child development, social, recreational, and athletic programs. Children, youth and teens, ages 6 weeks to 18 years, shall be served in integrated, balanced, quality programs that support the continuum of the Marines family, on and off base.

Resource and Referral Services provide one-stop enrollment services for children 4 weeks to 18 years of age. Resource and Referral services expands the availability of child care, youth and teen services and provide referrals to quality, affordable child care and youth and teen programs, both on and off base.

Child Development Center. Child Development Center programs are located on Marine Corps bases around the world. Programs are nationally accreditedfacility-based child care services that support child care needs for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Care options include full-day, part-day, and hourly care. Operating hours vary from installation to installation as determined by the needs of the base community and available resources. Each program has a degreed Training and Curriculum Specialist whose responsibility is to implement the required Department of Defense training program for care giving staff. All staff employed with Marine Corps Children, Youth and Teen Programs are required to complete basic and ongoing training as a condition of employment.

Family Child Care. Family Child Care Providers are private contractors certified and monitored by the command in government housing. Child care is offered in home like settings, they have smaller child to adult ratios, and flexible hours for Marine Corps families. Providers and their family members must complete successful background checks and providers must complete required Department Defense provider on-going training. Home-based child care programs are encouraged to become nationally accredited and are a viable means of expanding care in addition to center based programs.

School Age Care. The School Age Care Program provides nationally accredited comprehensive, supervised child care services for children ages 6 through 12 or enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade, during duty hours before and after school, full day camps on school holidays, teacher in-service days, inter-sessions, and during school closings. School age care provides a safe, supervised, healthy, age-appropriate environment while parents are at work.

Youth and Teen Programs. Marine Corps Youth and Teen Programs are affiliated with Boys and Girls Club of America and consist of a comprehensiveseries and balance of activities and events, which respond to the recreational, developmental, social, psychological, cultural, and educational needs of eligible youth. The programs support the development of lifelong skills and transition to adulthood, within a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Youth Sports. The sports Programs provide quality year round activities for boys and girls ages 6-18 years which offer continuity and sport diversity to meet the needs and interest of youth and teens. Programs such as soccer, baseball, and basketball are offered appropriate to age levels. These programs help youth and teens achieve and maintain fitness, acquire a broad range of physical skills, develop a sense of teamwork, cooperation and fairness that lead to healthy, active lifestyles.

April is Month of the Military Child,

April is Month of the Military Child This month, installations across the Marine Corps will celebrate the contributions and support of our military children. The Secretary of Defense has designated April as the, Month of the Military Child. This Month-long celebration is especially significant today as children continue to experience frequent moves, and long separations from military parents due to deployments. Military members children make significant sacrifices, yet proudly support their parents. This month installations will plan activities and celebrations to recognize these "young" heroes. Please contact your local CYTP to find out more about this months celebrations. Here are some of the Marine Corps Events scheduled for Month of the Military Child:

- HQBN Henderson Hall will hold their 3rd Annual Children’s Fair/Carnival with food, games and prizes.

- MCAS New River will have a Salute Shoot, taking pictures of the children with different military covers on. They will also be hosting a picnic lunch with the children including scrapbook party and Patriotic Art Project.

- MCAS Yuma will be providing a petting zoo and pony rides. They will also have entertainment by youth center children presenting a play. There will be a marshal arts demonstration and a presentation by the K9 military police.

- MCB Quantico will have their 3rd annual Children's Health & Fitness Fair, which a fun run, games, activities, healthy snacks, a presentation by the Richmond Science Museum entitled "The Scoop on
Poop" and information booths.

- MCAS Iwakuni will have a Spring Egg Hunt. They also will have a Military Child Celebration with a carnival type atmosphere with booths and activities offered by the various organizations. There will be special food, face painting, two balloon men, bouncies for the little ones, fire truck to climb on, lots of prizes and giveaways.