Child Development | School Age | Youth Programs | Family Child Care | Community Center

Child Development Center

The Child Development Center is currently housed in three buildings (#7225, 7226, 7227) A new facility will be completed in May 2002. Groundbreaking took place in October 2000.

    NAEYC Accredited in July 1992, re-accredited in July 1995 and again in November 1999.  We are one of the two programs accredited in the Abilene, Texas area.   

The programs provides full-time child care for children ages 6 weeks - 5 years, before/after school for kindergarten age, and part day preschool for 3 and 4 year olds. Care is provided for children with special needs.

Staff: 1 director, 1 training/curriculum specialist, 2 clerks, and 9 caregivers

Scholarship Program to assist child development program assistants to seek and receive Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

 Capacity: Currently at 152. The new facility will have 248 capacity with 32 slots for children under 1 year.

School Age

The school age summer camping program offers children opportunities to swim and play a variety of sports, make crafts, play outdoors, join a reading club, or other activities of their own choosing.  Similar activities are offered during the school year. 

School Age program accredited by the National Association of Early Childhood.  Received additional accreditation by National School Age Care Alliance in January 2001

Open Monday through Fridays during the school year, for Summer Camp, Winter Camp, and School Holidays.

Capacity: 103, 6-12 years of age

Special Features: Participated in the Missoula Children’s Theater.  Over 60 children participated in the play ages 3-18 years of age.

The Youth Activities Program is affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  Programs implemented include photography and art contests at the national level, Smart Moves (drug and alcohol awareness program), mini classes, and volunteer opportunities for youth. 

Open Recreation Hours: 1300-2000 (Summer Hours, M-F) and 1500-1730 (In school days M-F) for ages 10-12.

Open 1530-2400 (Friday) and 1700-2400 (Saturday) for teens.

Sports Program: Soccer (two seasons), basketball, little league baseball, and karate

Our summer program received a grant of $5000.00 for a teen outdoor adventure program and $7000.00 for mini camps in the areas of sports, drama, finance, and piano.

Teen Center 

Open from 1530-1900 Monday – Thursday (school hours); 1530-2400 (Friday); 1700-2400 (Saturday); 1300-1800 Monday-Friday (Summer hours)

Capacity: 70 tens

  T.R.A.I.L Program provides activities that are safe, healthy, non-competitive, and adventure-based that recognize individual and group diversity while enhancing leadership skills, trust, self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

The target age of members recruited for the program is 12-18 year old dependent youth of active duty military, retired military, and Department of Defense Civilian employees assigned to Dyess AFB.  However, in an effort to provide consistent programming throughout Youth Programs, T.R.A.I.L.s is also offered for ages 9 and up in the School Age Program and ages 10-12 in the Open Recreation Program. 

Lending Program Operation: 0730-1730, M-F,  2 evenings monthly, and   1 Saturday morning monthly

  Homes Licensed:  14 active, 1 Backup provider, and 1 in process

Features:   USDA food program, 3 Developmental Providers; this certification will lead to NFCC accreditation, and Evening Trainings implemented for new providers.

Capacity to serve 90+ children 2 weeks – 12 years

  AF Initiative:

• AF FCC Provider of the Year

• To allow off-base homes of active duty or retired military to be licensed

• Retention initiative to provide care dollars to selected base licensed providers for extended care for families for recalls, exercises and short term care for emergency deployments until long term provider arrives. 

  Programs:             

• Tops In Blue performance, Abilene Civic Center- over 2000 attended.

•  The Congressional Award Program (Two Participants at the Bronze and Gold Level)

• Teen Talent Contest, Family Talent, and Base Talent Shows

• Misc. Classes-Country Western Dance, Dog Obedience, Defensive Driving

• Bingo Operation

• Large AF-wide mega events.  Blazin Fall Fest, Mayfest, Air Show,etc.

  Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 0900-1800; Tues. 0900-2200 (Bingo at 1700-2200); Saturday, Sunday and Holidays -Closed

  Accomplishments: Working to meet the needs of the Air Force Community. "Making It Happen" through Special Events, Family Focus Programs, Classes, Cross- Marketing between other activities, Trips, Tickets, Official Functions and Unofficial Functions.  Sponsors Tops in Blue yearly; over 2000 in attendance at Abilene Civic Center.