Kidstop before and after school care is offered to elementary aged children and provides a fun child care alternative where children are given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of program activities including: tutoring/homework help, learning and educational activities, computer lab (at select sites), health & fitness, team sports, gym activities, fun & cooperative games both indoors & outdoors, arts & crafts, group activities, special events, environmental education, and community service projects. 
Kidstop is available before school beginning at 6:30 am and after school until 6:30 pm. Daily rates are based on usage and participation. For convenience, Kidstop is located in each elementary school it serves. The following Porter County elementary schools host Kidstop sites:
Union Township Schools: Union Township Elementary and Simatovich Elementary
Portage Township Schools: Paul Saylor Elementary and South Haven Elementary which are served at the South Haven Boys & Girls Club.
Duneland: Discovery Charter School
Valparaiso Community Schools: Northview Elementary which also serves Memorial Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Flint Lake Elementary, and Central Elementary
An afternoon Kindergarten program is also offered to students of Valparaiso School sites at the Valpo Boys & Girls Club. The Kindergarten program runs after AM kindergarten (11:15 am) until 2:45 pm, at which time, children are returned to their home school. They can then enter our Kidstop After School Program.
Parents may visit the the Valparaiso Boys & Girls Club, 354 Jefferson, and register their child/ren for all Kidstop Sites until August 23, 2010 between 6:30 am and 6:00 pm Monday – Friday. After August 23, 2010, parents may register their child/ren at their Kidstop Site during Kidstop hours.
South Haven parents may register their child/ren at the South Haven Boys & Girls Club, 723 Long Run Road, until August 20, 2010 between 6:30 am and 6:00 pm Monday – Friday. After August 20, 2010 Parents may register during Kidstop hours, 6:30 am until 8:30 am, Monday – Friday.
For more information about the Kidstop program, locations and times, please call (219) 464-7282 x229 or x241 or visit our website at www.bgcpoco.org
Photo: Camille Handing & Joel Fussell gear up for a new school year by working on an educational craft project during Kidstop.