kidsLINK Afterschool Program: supporting area families
The kidsLINK Afterschool program is designed to provide a high-quality, safe, and afterschool childcare option for families. The program operates at each school from 3:15 pm - 5:45 pm daily. This enriching program provides an opportunity for kids to engage in enriching activities such as STEAM projects, literacy, math, and coding. Greater Gallatin United Way currently serves more than 1,500 kids every day at 11 area schools across Bozeman and Belgrade. Additionally, GGUW sponsors 12 other programs across the region.
kidsLINK Afterschool Program
Affordable:
The after-school program fee is $36 part-time for a single student and $30 for siblings, and $60 full-time for a single student and $40 for siblings –about a third of the average price of childcare in Gallatin County. We are committed to supporting families in our area. No family will be turned away for inability to pay. Please contact us if you require tuition assistance.
Bozeman School District Families:
Part-time - $36 for a single student and $30 for siblings.
Full-time - $60 for a single student and $40 for siblings.
Annual registration fee of $35 for one student or $50 per family.
Belgrade School District Families:
Part-time - $36 for a single student and $30 for siblings.
Full-time - $60 for a single student and $40 for siblings.
Annual registration fee of $25 for one student and $40 per family.
Convenient:
Programs take place on the school grounds directly after school until 5:45 pm. No more shuffling, no more bus rides. kidsLINK Afterschool is available in all elementary schools in Bozeman. In Belgrade, kidsLINK Afterschool is available at Story Creek Elementary, Saddle Peak Elementary, and Belgrade Middle School. The Ridge View Elementary Afterschool Program is being run by the YMCA in partnership with GGUW. Please refer to their website for more information about how to enroll.
We are excited to be offering all day programs during PIR days and school holidays this year. GGUW's kidsLINK will also hold all day camps during winter and spring breaks. Before-school care is also available at select locations to help with those busy early morning schedules.
POLAR EXPRESS WINTER CAMP
December 20th-22nd | 7:30am-5:30pm
Open to all Bozeman & Belgrade families
Join our kidsLINK team!
There are openings for kidsLINK Afterschool Program Coordinators, Aides and Specialist. Click here for more information.
Contact Us
kidsLINK@greatergallatinunitedway.org
406-587-2194
Enriching:
Greater Gallatin United Way is invested in youth success and early learning. This investment means we spend a lot of time and energy developing our kidsLINK Afterschool Program to offer children something that will impact their lives and education in a positive way. Here are some of the activities we offer in our programs:
- Tech Club
- Robotics
- Art Club
- Theatre Club
- Coding Classes
- Snapology
- Nutrition Education
- Homework Help
- Emotional Well-Being Support
- And More
The kidsLINK Afterschool staff is trained in various curricula: social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, health, well-being, academic enrichment, and STEM/STEAM activities. Many of our staff members are school-day employees at elementary schools and are therefore very equipped and qualified to provide your children with an amazing experience.
Enrollment Is Open
Already enrolled? Click here to access your parent portal.
kidsLINK FAQs
You will need to register for PIR days, winter, and spring breaks individually through Enrollsy. These out-of-school opportunities will be available to register for the month before through our monthly newsletter. If you have not yet signed up for the kidsLINK newsletter you can sign up here.
In an effort to provide a better experience for your children, we have moved to a 3-day or 5-day enrollment. This ensures that we are able to staff appropriately and offer every child an enriching and meaningful after-school experience.
Registration is open all year long. However, many programs fill up in August when the school year begins.
You can download the enrollsy app or click here!
Greater Gallatin United Way's kidsLINK Afterschool Programs are offered at all Bozeman District schools, at Saddle Peak, Story Creek, and Belgrade Middle School.
We do offer a 10% discount for families who pay in full. We also have a discount for staff members and school district employees. If you have any questions, please call 406-587-2194.
We offer families tuition assistance every year. We strive to provide afterschool care for all children and never want to turn families away. Once you click the link to register through our enrollment software enrollsy and finish the enrollment form please click the pay weekly option. You may have to pay a $25-$50 registration fee depending on the school and family size. If it is trying to make you pay more, you may have clicked the pay in full option. Please make sure you choose the weekly payment option. Once you have completed registration log into your portal using the email and password you created and go to the “activities” section. Scroll down to the tuition assistance form and complete the questions. Our committee reviews applications every Monday and is committed to giving prompt responses. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 406.587.2194
Thank You To Our Sponsors
We want to thank Tim & Mary Barnard, First Security Bank, First Interstate Bank, The Rieschel Family Foundation, The Dairy Keep Housing Project/Bozeman Interfaith Housing, The Gianforte Family Foundation, and the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation for supporting afterschool programming for working families.
If you would like to join in supporting the kidsLINK, please contact Sylvia Drain at 406-587-2194 x 109 or sylvia@gguw.org
Other Program Information
kidsLINK Staff
Greater Gallatin United Way Staff:
Program Manager, Youth Success: Amy Revious amy@greatergallatinunitedway.org Phone Number: (406) 206-6971
Bozeman Schools:
Emily Dickinson Elementary School Coordinator: Hannah Blair
Hawthorne Elementary School Coordinator: Joseph Barrett joseph.barrett@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 206-9539
Hyalite Elementary School Coordinator: Chenoa Rawls
Irving Elementary School Coordinator: Kaylee Grote kaylee.groye@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 206-9547
Longfellow Elementary School Coordinator: Annika Odt annika.odt@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 545-2053/ Pick up (406) 451-5896
Meadowlark Elementary School Coordinator: LeAnne Grote leanne.grote@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 534-0682
Morning Star Elementary School Coordinator: Baylee and Gabrielle baylee.blake@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 206-6107
Whittier Star Elementary School Coordinator: Elizabeth Kennedy elizabeth.kennedy@bsd7.org Phone Number: (406) 206-6436
Belgrade Schools:
Saddle Peak Elementary School Coordinator: Danitta Bell dbell@bsd44.org Phone Number: (406) 578-0059
Story Creek Elementary School Coordinator: Crystal Davis addavis@bsd44.org Phone Number: (406) 587-2194
Belgrade Middle School Coordinator: Kim Hohenstein khohenstein@bsd44.org Phone Number: (406) 539-1755
Greater Gallatin Childcare Providers
Do you have spots available in your program for school-aged children? Please fill out this form! With your permission, we will list your program information on our site to be advertised to local families. There is no cost to have your information on the website and you can update your program information at any time by resubmitting this form. Thank you for participating and working collectively to offer options to our community!
Employment Opportunities in Childcare
Follow this link to find current employment opportunities in childcare.
We're Here to Support Families
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for Montana's families working to balance professional responsibilities, child care, and changes to schooling. We recognize the uncertainty families have about options for school-age children as we move into a new school year.
The ECCC (Early Childhood Community Council) and Southwest Montana COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters) are partnered to support families in Gallatin, Park, Lewis & Clark, Broadwater, Jefferson, Meagher, and Madison counties.
Together, they've created a website to connect families to programs who are offering out-of-school care options, and to provide local resources to ensure that the children in our region have a safe and healthy environment to learn and grow.
