The Family YMCA: iCare

iCARE Programs

Our iCARE programs seek to provide high-quality experiential, outdoor opportunities for elementary-age students to help them engage with the world through all of our environments, whether those are physical, mental, social, cultural or spiritual. Our approach is to encourage kids to explore what sparks their interest, to embrace their imagination and creativity, and to value their connections to other people, our wider communities, and our planet.
To learn more about iCARE and to see pictures from our current and previous iCARE programs, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/iCARELosAlamos

iCARE Wednesdays (Grades K-6th)

Wednesday-only, after-school care is offered on Wednesdays from 12:00-5:30 pm. Drop-off and pick-up takes place at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center. We are thrilled with the opportunity to partner with PEEC, and value the wonderful outdoor play spaces and learning opportunities that PEEC can offer our iCARE participants.

The iCARE Wednesdays program offers a well-supervised environment where children explore topics like ecosystems, sustainable living, and each person’s impact on the world around us. The program also includes ecologically-based activities and games, upcycling/recycling arts and crafts, unstructured playtime in the outdoors, easy hikes on various trails in Los Alamos, and other field trips. Parents are responsible for transporting their child to the program.

Space is limited. If there are known absences on any given Wednesday, we accept "drop-in" participants, who can come join the iCARE Wednesday program for a day. You can call and check if drop-in registration options are available on a week-by-week basis.

Registration for the 2015-2016 school year begins March 16, 2015. Register March 16-April 30 and save $25!

Nature Day Camps

Offered during Los Alamos Public School's "Professional Development Days"
7:30 am - 5:30 pm
In these Planeteer Day Camps, participants will have the chance to experience an adventure-filled day, which includes activities focused on "taking action to care for the earth." Each day of Day Camp will focus on a specific way that we can make a difference upon our earth's natural environment. Additionally, of course, participants will also get to enjoy times of supervised, unstructured outdoor play in the natural environment that we take care of. Space is limited.

iCARE Nature Camp (ages 5-11)

June 3 - July 31, 2015
Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:45 pm.
Outdoor-based Camp

Led by environmental educators, youth are encouraged to explore and expand their understanding of ecological systems and sustainable practices in a fun, play-based program.
Participants will enjoy exploring our canyons, mesas, arroyos, and trails. Our staff will engage your child’s exploratory and adventurous nature by encouraging each participant to look closely at their connections to all our environments, and through this active exploration, to establish healthy relationships with each other and the world around them. Participants will spend time primarily outdoors, involving unstructured, nature-based play. Weekly creative projects will be facilitated and coordinated by our staff. For inclement weather we will regroup back at Aspen school.
(*Please note for 5 year olds entering Kindergarten – this program is primarily outdoors and very active, so please be sure your child is ready for a full day of nature-based play! Full days of outdoor exploration may be physically, mentally and socially demanding (and stimulating!) – please consider the readiness of your child for this type of experiential program.)

All Summer, Weekly and monthly registration options available.
Space is limited.

iCARE August Camp (ages 5-11)

August 3-7, 2015
Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:45 pm.
iCARE Camp includes organic snacks, environmentally-themed games, creative projects, organic gardening, free play and numerous outdoor experiential activities and field trips. Pick up and drop off is at the Y.
Participants will be involved in an active, experiential program that focuses on sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint, exploring alternative forms of energy and transportation, recycling, reduction of energy consumption and waste, ecology, preservation of wildlife and our ecosystem, and more. Daily fieldtrips will introduce participants to a wide variety of ecological practices and ideas; a calendar of activities will be available. Space is limited.

Registration for the 2015-2016 school year begins March 16, 2015. Register March 16-April 30 and save $25!