Lights On Afterschool Celebrates Variety at the YMCA

Children in the Lynch van Otterloo YMCA afterschool program immersed themselves in science and art projects, rolled out and tossed pizza from scratch and ran the soccer field at national Lights on Afterschool celebration day.

The K-6 kids made word-collage bracelets in the lobby and witnessed the science of soda fizz outside the building. Cola and lemon-lime doctored with mentos erupted to greater heights than the orange and root beer.

The YMCA's Associate Executive Director Chris Bevilacqua said the day of celebration gave the YMCA a chance to showcase the many activities it offers its students.

Some people think afterschool programming consists of kids playing in a gym. That's the not the case at the Y, he said.

The national Afterschool celebration was Oct. 17, celebrating achievements by afterschool students and drawing attention to the need for more afterschool programs to serve the millions of children nationwide who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon.

The Lynch van Otterloo Y serves 110 children from Marblehead and Swampscott.
That's the maximum number of students it is licensed to serve, said Marianne Baker, the local YMCA's youth and family director.

The popular program has a waiting list. The children take part in activites from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on school days. During school year holidays and vacations and snow days the program is a full day. 

The children receive transportation from school to the YMCA, two snacks and receive instruction in activities for $127 per week.


The Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA “School's Out” afterschool program is a fun, educational program that helps children develop self-confidence, interpersonal relationships, positive values and academic achievement, and builds a sense of community. It is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care. The After School Program offers full day options during holidays, snow days and early release days. For more program information, contact School Age Director, Marianne Baker atbakerm@northshoreymca.org.

In Massachusetts, according to America After 3PM data released by the Afterschool Alliance in 2009, 18 percent of school-age children are in afterschool programs, while 26% are unsupervised in the afternoons and another 13% are in the care of brothers and sisters.  According to the survey, the parents of 36% of children in the state who are not already in an afterschool program would enroll their children in one, if a program were available to them—an indication of the considerable unmet demand for afterschool programs in the state. For more survey results, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm<http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm>.