YMCA

There are two YMCA locations in the area, Bangor and Old Town. This guide is primarily for Bangor.

The YMCA is a great resource for affordable childcare, pre-k, and other programs. The YMCA offers a financial assistance program that works well with New Mainers. Since there are only two YMCAs (serving their respective communities) there are often waitlists, so it is important to apply to their programs as early as possible.

Financial Assistance

The YMCA offers financial aid to its members (membership is a separate cost in addition to program fees) based on their current financial situation. The financial assistance, called “The Open Door Program” is a sliding fee scale, the maximum assistance an individual can receive is a discount of 20%. The application can be found here.

Applications for the YMCA’s Open Door Program must include documentation, including income. One thing that the YMCA allows that helps New Mainers is a self-affidavit of income. This allows New Mainer’s to apply for financial assistance even if they do not work jobs that provide them with a paystub. If a New Mainer has trouble covering the rest, they can apply for the Maine Child Care Subsidy Program, more information here.

Programs

The YMCA offers two major programs for childcare, before & after school care and early childhood education (pre-k, preschool). Both programs have 3 different schedules, 5 day, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, or Tuesday/Thursday

Early Childhood Education Program

Toddler: 

Age: 1-3 years old.

Price

Early Childhood Education: 

Age: 3-5 years old

Price

Before & After School Care Program

Age: 1-3 years old.

Price

Before School Care

Time: 6:30 AM - School Start Time

Location: Students will be bussed from Bangor YMCA to their schools

After School Care

Time: School End Time - 6:00 PM

Locations: Students will be bussed from their schools to Bangor YMCA 

UNLESS they attend Fruit Street, Abraham Lincoln, or Veazie Community School.

*Includes swim time

Abraham Lincoln and Fruit Street schools will have after school care at Fruit Street School, Veazie Community School operates their after school program at Veazie Community School.

Delays, Inservice, & Snow Day