The YMCA's of Niagara need afternoon programs for children!

Hello! Thanks for looking at my petition. I am just a stay-at-home mom trying to make life easier for other stay-at-home parents!

Recently, in Grimsby, we were lucky enough to have a YMCA open. Unfortunately, I feel as though it falls short in catering to the needs of parents, specifically those of us who stay-at-home.

If you happen to have a preschool aged child who attends school in the mornings, signing up for a YMCA membership would be a waste of money. The day care centre is only open in the mornings, and they only offer their "Active Kids" programming in the mornings/evenings, absolutely nothing in the afternoons!

In the "service area" of this specific facility, there is the Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland and Smithville Co-Op Nursery Schools, all of which offer half day programs with registration being highest in the mornings. There is also the Great Lakes Christian Preschool which offers half-day programming as well. On top of that, we still have 2 years before all grade schools in this area will be full-day kindergarten, with several schools not receiving it until the 2014/2015 school year.

I looked at every YMCA schedule in Niagara and with the exception of the Walker Family YMCA, not any other facility offers afternoons programs for children 3-5 years old in the afternoons, leaving us parents stuck with having to find outside entertainment. Why then are we paying $94/month for a family membership to not be able to use the facility?

I'm not asking the YMCA to fill the schedule with afternoon programming, I am asking the YMCA to consider adding afternoon programming a couple days a week to even the balance and give every adult and child an opportunity to enjoy the facilities.

Please sign and pass on!