Updated 9/14/2015
There are a handful of options for Seattle families looking for childcare coverage during the teacher strike, which continues today, September 10.
You can receive strike updates from SEA by texting seattleea to 41411.
Search options for your neighborhood
Search by school HERE to see what your childcare options are.
Preschoolers and kindergartners
Paid drop-in childcare (preschool and age 5)
Blossoming Buds: Kids ages 2.5 to 5. 7501 35th Ave NE, Seattle, 98115
Trettin Drop In: Kids ages 2 through enrollment in kindergarten. 4515 16th Ave NE, Seattle, 98105
City preschool programs
City preschool programs will be closed during the strike.
YMCA’s full-day preschools will be on their normal schedules.
Public school students
Boys and Girls Clubs
Boys and Girls Clubs around Seattle are open all day for preregistered kids. Check out the list here to find your local Boys & Girls Club that's open during the strike; some clubs may be at limited capacity.
Community Day School Association
Community Day School Association’s school-age and preschool programs will be closed Sept 9-11, but full day care will be available from the CDSA from 7 am to 6 pm starting Sept 14.
Creative Coding 4 Kids camps
Creative Coding 4 Kids is offering all-day camps for $99 starting Thursday for kids ages 8 to 12 at the Mountaineers Building in Magnuson Park. All (0r no) experience levels are welcome.
Little Explorers School
Little Explorers School will have outdoor day camps starting Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Pacific Science Center camp
Pacific Science Center will offer full-day day camps under the arches from September 14 to 18 from 8:15 am to 4 pm. Campers will spend the day at the Science Center. Preregistration is required; if the strike ends before 8:15 am Thursday, day camps will be canceled and parents will be refunded. Register here.
Parks and Recreation options
Drop-in recreation activities will begin on September 14 if the strike continues in order to accommodate more youth in kindergarten through 6th grade from September 14-18.
The drop-in recreation activities will operate from 8 am to 5pm at 21 community centers around the city with a total capacity of 3000 kids.
Recreation activities will operate only if school is not in session and will be free to families! Register online or at a community center; a registration form must be completed.
Late Night Recreation programs will operate on their regular schedules at Bitter Lake, Delridge, High Point, Rainier, Rainier Beach, South Park and Van Asselt community centers.
They will also expand their currently scheduled before- and after-school care into all-day camps on September 9, 10 and 11 for kids enrolled in regular Parks & Rec / ARC programs. The extended care will happen at 16 designated community centers around the city with room for around 850 kids. All-day camps will operate only if school is not in session and are free to families with kids enrolled in before- or after-care with the Parks Department.
-
Northwest Seattle: Ballard, Bitter Lake and Magnolia community centers
-
Northeast Seattle: Meadowbrook, Northgate and Ravenna-Eckstein community centers
-
Central Seattle: Miller and Queen Anne community centers
-
Southwest Seattle: Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point and South Park community centers
-
Southeast Seattle: Rainier, Rainier Beach and Van Asselt (with Jefferson) community centers
Salish Sea Expeditions day camp
Salish Sea Expeditions is offering discounted day sails for students in grades 5 through 12 during the strike. The program will run weekdays starting Wednesday, September 16, through Friday, September 25, if schools remained closed through that day.
Cost is discounted to $80 per day; Pre-registration is requested with payment due at the boat on the morning of the program. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch.
Seattle’s Littlest Performers theater camp
Seattle’s Littlest Performers will offer theater camps on Sept 9-11 from 9-4 with extra care available from 4-6pm. Email for more info or to register.
The Seattle Public Library
The Seattle Public Library will be prepared to host students with regular programming.
Seattle Children's Theatre camp
Seattle Children's Theatre is offering a camp for kids in grades 1 through 5 every day for the duration of the strike. If the strike ends before the camp sessions take place, parents will be refunded.
Extended morning care is available from 8 to 9 am for $12. Extended afternoon care is available from 4 to 5:30 pm for $12.
Sylvan of Seattle Northgate camps
Sylvan of Seattle is offering day camps for $80/day. Children will work on academic programs (reading, math, writing), as well as STEM activities like Lego Robots). Limited space is available.
Teen Life Centers
Parks and Recreation’s Teen Life Centers at Meadowbrook, Garfield and Southwest community centers will be open 2 hours earlier than usual from 11 am each day until regular closing times.
TGA tennis camps
TGA of Greater Seattle is offering some half-day tennis and golf camps.
Wedgwood Drama camps
Wedgwood Drama is offering full-day camps for kindergarteners through third graders. Camps will include theater games, movement, dramatic storytelling, art, singing, and playground time.
YMCA Back to School Camp
For the duration of a strike, the Y will provide Back to School Camp beginning on Wednesday, September 9th, offering care from 8 am to 7 pm at the Magnuson Park location. They will also be offering transportation from Phinney Center (Dropoffs between 8-9am and pick-up between 5-6pm). Childcare at this Camp is offered at adiscounted rate of $40 per day. Register here.
Kids Co. at John Hay Elementary and Seed of Life at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary will still run normally during the strike.
In a pinch, you can call the City of Seattle's Childcare Hotline at 206-386-1050 for help in finding alternative childcare on the go.
