Child Care

Fort McCoy has an excellent Child & Youth Services program, including an accredited Child Development Center and School Age Center. You can put your child's name on the projected care list by going to www.militarychildcare.com prior to your arrival at Fort McCoy.

Eligibility

As an employee of Fort McCoy, you are eligible to enroll your child(ren) in one of our exciting programs. Eligibility is contingent on the sponsor status. Eligible patrons include active duty military personnel: DOD Civilian employees paid from either Appropriate or Non Appropriated Fund; reserve component military personnel on active duty or inactive duty training status; combat-related wounded warriors; surviving spouses of military members who died from a combat-related incident; those acting in loco parentis for the dependent child of an otherwise eligible patron; eligible employees of DOD contractors; and others authorized on space-available basis. In the case of unmarried, legally separated parents with joint custody or divorced parents with joint custody, children are eligible for child care only when they reside with the Military Service member or eligible civilian sponsor at least 25 percent of the time in a month that a child receives child care through an Army program. Note: In an in loco parentis relationship, a person takes on the role of a lawful parent by assuming the obligations and discharging the duties of a parent without formally becoming an adoptive parent or legal guardian. The child (ren) must reside with and be supported by the person. A special power of to act in loco parentis is required to be on file. Individuals eligible for the CYS program must request care at www.militarychildcare.com in order to secure a position on the waiting list. If care cannot immediately be provided because of lack of space, a waiting list will be established.

Registration

Parent Central Services serves as a “one stop shop” registration office to enroll your child or youth in any of our CYS programs. To streamline the process and save time, visit our webpage at https://mccoy.armymwr.com/programs/cys-services to review registration instructions and find the registration forms. Once the forms are completed call 502-898-8956 or DSN 323-898-8956 to set up an appointment to complete the registration process.

To expedite or avoid delay of the registration process, we request the following additional information.

• Identification Card (Sponsor or Spouse)
• Immunization Record or transcription (CDC Children Only. School Age children is not required if they are enrolled in local public school system where proof of vaccinations is required.)
• Proof of Income: (i.e. Leave and Earning Statements/Pay Vouchers or proof of fulltime school enrollment)
• Local Emergency/Child Release Designee (Minimum of two and must be individuals other than you and your spouse. Name, Phone Number and Address of Local Emergency Contacts)
• Sponsor/Spouse home and work information

The Child Development Center provides programs for children ages 6 weeks through five years of age. The CDC provides primarily full day child care services. Part Day preschool, hourly care and respite care are provided on a space-available basis. The Child Development Center implements the Army Strong Beginnings Pre-K program which will prepare children for Kindergarten. You can put your child's name on the waiting list by calling 502-898-8956 prior to your arrival at Fort McCoy. Hourly care is not available at this time.

The Fort McCoy CDC, located at 1796 South F Street, is DoD certified and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The center provides programs for children ages 6 weeks through five years of age. The CDC provides primarily full day child care services. Part Day preschool, hourly care and respite care are provided on a space-available basis. The Child Development Center also implements the Army Strong Beginnings Pre-K program which will prepare children for Kindergarten.

The CDC provides planned learning activities appropriate to each child's age and development level. The curriculum is designed to promote social-emotional, physical and cognitive growth in children, and emphasizes creative and developmentally appropriate activities and experiences. Parents are welcome visitors to the program at all times.

A Strong Beginnings pre-kindergarten program is open to children who are 4 years old prior to September 1.  Strong Beginnings Pre-K prepares children for the social-emotional and cognitive skills needed for school readiness.

For additional information on the CDC, please call 502-898-2238.

Hours of Operation -- The center is open 6:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Costs

The fees at the Child Development Center are based on total family income (TFI). Annual registration is at no cost.

The School Age Center located in Building 1792 on South F Street, provides full-day, after-school care, and non school day care for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. A full-day summer program operates June through August and an afterschool and non-school day program is available during out-of-school periods for the Tomah and Sparta school districts.

The Fort McCoy SAC is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a member of 4-H and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

The 5 Core Service Areas and Clubs within each are:

• The Arts: Art Club, Drama Club, Photo Club
• Education Support and Career Development: Power Hour Homework Room, Tech Club, Computer Lab, Career Exploration, and Literacy Programs
• Character and Leadership Development: Character Counts, Citizenship Club, Youth Council, 4H club, Bully Prevention Workshops, and Youth Sponsorship
• Sports, Fitness, and Recreation: StartSmart Sports, Triple Play, Games Room Tournaments, Pick Up Sports, Sports Clinics, Bowling, Swimming, Fitness Classes, Open Gym
• Health, Wellness, and Life Skills: Triple Play, Smart Moves, Cooking Club, Healthy Habits, Financial Readiness, Tech Club

Fort McCoy's School Liaison Officer is committed to addressing school and transition issues of the mobile military child. The School Liaison Officer role is to manage, coordinate, and facilitate education support services that maximize the opportunity for academic success for military children. For additional information, call 502-898-6814.

The Youth Center (YC), located in Building 1792 on South F Street, provides full day and after school activities for youth in 6th-12th grades. A full day Summer Program operates June through August and an after school and non-school day program is available during the school year. There is no fee from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Transportation from local schools in Tomah & Sparta is provided. The YP also provides special events such as field trips and lock-ins.

 The Fort McCoy Child and Youth Services Program offers instructional classes such as swimming lessons, ski and snowboard lessons, dance classes, Babysitting classes, Home Alone classes, and other instructional options throughout the year. For additional information on current classes available, please contact Parent Central Services at 608-388-8956 or DSN 280-8956.

After School Program

The Fort McCoy School Age/Youth Center (SAC/YC) provides an after school program until 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday with enrichment programming, program help, and open recreation options. There is bus pick up each day at both Sparta and Tomah area schools. There is a fee for those in grades K-5 and no fee for the Youth Center program during after school hours. Fees may apply for Middle School/Teen special events or camps. On days when schools are closed due to inclement weather after school has begun, buses will pick up students at their respective schools. During non-school days, parents will provide transportation to the SAC/YC. During days when school is cancelled due to inclement weather prior to school opening, SAC/YC will be open all day. SAC/YP does not open early if school is delayed due to inclement weather. The SAC/YC program utilizes Boys & Girls Club and 4-H curriculum as well as partnerships with other MWR activities.