Stan Bassett Youth Center Summer Programs

Stan Bassett Youth Center Programs offer arts and crafts activities, STEM activities, active games, beach days, adventures to the Woodland Park Zoo, and hikes and nature walks. The Youth Center includes a large games room, a lounge area, and a computer lab for program use. The program follows a free-flowing activity philosophy that includes group and individual educational, recreational, technological, and cultural activities.

• Ages: 8–13 years old
• Schedule: After school drop-in Monday–Friday during the school year, with additional afternoon summer drop-in hours
• Price: Space is limited for each trip, and trip spots can only be reserved with registration and, when required, payment

The Ellensburg Youth Center is open for an after school drop-in program Monday through Friday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and it opens early on early release days. School year hours are 2:00 to 6:00 pm, early school release hours are 12:30 to 6:00 pm, and summer and school closure hours are noon to 5:00 pm. Summer drop-in programs run Monday through Friday afternoons, with activities from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm, and summer trips open for registration on May 12, 2025, with registration available between noon and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Youth are supervised and instructed by well trained staff and many volunteers described as talented, dedicated, and passionate. The Youth Center lists virtual learning resources in subjects such as reading, math, science, music, foreign language, nutrition, and physical education. The program offers a wide variety of summer trips to area attractions and events, and these trips are described as providing youth with an opportunity to bond with other youth and to visit a wide range of attractions which they may otherwise be unable to visit, with space noted as extremely limited. The Youth Programs Coordinator is David Hurn, and parents and community members are welcome to visit the center or volunteer.

Last updated January 8, 2026.