VALDOSTA — The Valdosta YMCA Primetime program is back this school year with a new mission and focus, offering an onsite program, transportation to and from area schools, and the ability to offer children access to all that the Y’s facility has to offer.

“We can do so much more here at our main campus than we can on school grounds. We are offering kids a variety of diverse, structured, health-centered fitness programs, tailored to the needs of each child,” said Larry Tobey, president and CEO.

Tobey said the trained Primetime counselors will offer homework assistance, nutritious snacks, mentoring, literacy programs, arts and crafts, and a variety of programs geared towards combating and preventing childhood obesity. All campers will have supervised access to the Y’s facilities, including the pools and the youth/teen fitness center.

According to Youth/Teen Director Nicole Hill, Primetime is offering a curriculum of different activities which will rotate every six weeks. The core curriculum of health and fitness will be a mainstay of each six week session, and will also include various sports camps for children throughout the school year. Programs offered will range from astronomy and science experiments to Origami and basic Spanish for elementary students.

Hill said she is very excited about the year, including establishing a running program for the children. “We are starting a running club, and we’ll be practicing to participate in a Fun Run for American on the Move week,” she said.

The YMCA will host tours and an open house Friday, July 25 for parents who want to visit the facility on Gornto Road and see the activities of the summer day campers, which will be similar to what is being offered in the after school program. Sign-up for Primetime begins today and continues through the week, by calling the YMCA at 244-4646.

“We felt a need for kids to join the fun offered at the Y. By expanding our programs to include After School care on-site, we’ll be able to accomplish this goal, in addition to offering parents both convenience and the knowledge that their children are benefiting from a structured program,” said Tobey.

Primetime is offered for children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade, and the YMCA will transport children to and from schools. Before care begins at 6 a.m. and Primetime ends at 6:30 p.m. Costs include a $30 registration fee, and $38 per week, with additional children at $31. Parents don’t have to be members of the YMCA to enroll their children in the program.

“The YMCA is the largest childcare provider in the U.S. for after school programs,” said Tobey. “We are fully licensed and have been for all of the 15 years of the program.”

Space is limited, so Tobey encourages parents to sign up as soon as possible.