Just for Kids School Age Programs

Just for Kids School Age Programs offers hands-on learning, creative enrichment, and physical activity through group games, outdoor play, arts, sports, and themed hobbies. Children take part in enrichment projects, STEAM and fine arts activities, team-building and teamwork, active play and structured recreation, and hands-on enrichment projects. The program also includes weekly field trips, swimming, outdoor recreation, special events, Kids College special guests, Character Education, Kids Care volunteering activities, the “Pages for Pizza” literacy program, social skill-building and social-emotional skill building, homework support and homework help, and leadership opportunities for older participants such as Rangers Leadership or Counselor in Training programs.

• Ages: 4–12 years old
• Schedule: Upcoming events include No Program – Juneteenth (All Sites) on June 19, 2026; Summer Club Begins (Grand Island, Sweet Home, Williamsville) on June 29, 2026; and Cheektowaga Summer Club Session 1 on July 6, 2026.

Just for Kids School Age Programs is a program of the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization Child Care Network of the Niagara Frontier, Inc., which was established in 1994 and has nearly three decades of experience managing nationally accredited childcare and early childhood facilities across Western New York. The program offers before and after school programs, break camps, and summer camps, with breakfast, lunch, and snack included at break camps, and flexible hours for Summer Club and camp hours that are described as designed to meet the needs of working parents. All programs are open to the public and welcome children of all backgrounds. Staff are CPR/First Aid certified, and Water Safety Instructors are on site. The stated mission is to provide a safe, fun, and enriching experience for school age children.

Just for Kids School Age Programs is part of a network that partners with public school districts including Amherst, Cheektowaga Central, Cheektowaga Sloan, Cleveland Hill, Grand Island, Sweet Home, and Williamsville, and with private and parochial schools including Nardin Academy, The Park School of Buffalo, St. Benedict School, St. Mary’s School (Swormville), and Saints Peter and Paul School (Hamburg). Older campers participate in Kids Care volunteering activities.

The program has received multiple recognitions, including 2026 Child Care Business of the Year (Child Care Resource Network), the 2025 Empire Award for Childcare Excellence (WNY Childcare Action Team), the 2022 Quality Leadership Award (NY State Network for Youth Success), and 2015 Child Care Provider of the Year (Child Care Resource Network). It has also been named Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work (Winner: 2005; Finalist: 2015, 2019, 2023), Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work Finalist (2015, 2019, 2023), University at Buffalo Nonprofit Internship Site of the Year (2015), and Employer of the Year by the University at Buffalo (2015) and Buffalo State College (2012). The program notes that its Human Resources provider, TripleTrack HR Partners, is well-reputed within Western New York and state-wide.

Parent and professional feedback includes comments from an OCFS Regional Manager (retired) stating, “You always do a great job with your programs...Programs like Just for Kids are what makes the difference.” A speech pathologist reports that her office is across the hallway from Just for Kids and that “it’s great to see the staff and children actively engaged in activities that are both fun and educational.” One parent states that her son often says Just for Kids is the best part of his day and that staff are always busy doing something with the children at pickup time, and another parent reports being very happy with the program and recommends it to other families.

Last updated May 28, 2026.