Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS) is dedicated to reducing the conflict between parental responsibilities and the Army mission, help with the stress of parental separations and set the stage for your child’s future academic success. CYSS encompasses programs for children four weeks to 18 years. You can expect, and will receive, the same programming and quality care no matter where you are stationed. Fort Bragg CYSS prides itself in offering one of best programs in the nation.

• Child Development Services (CDS)

Fort Bragg CDS provides care for children in two delivery systems: center-based and home-based (Family Child Care). Child care can be provided on a full-time, part-time or hourly basis for children four weeks to 12 years of age. Fort Bragg CDS provides developmental care for all children enrolled in any CDS program. Children are encouraged to explore and discover concepts through play and activities. Parents are encouraged to reinforce these concepts at home. Daily activities are planned to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Activities are posted in the home or center module for parents’ information and participation. Training and curriculum specialists are responsible for monitoring the developmental program and providing training for the center staff and Family Child Care (FCC) providers. All toys and materials are developmentally appropriate.

All CDS staff, as well as every FCC provider, have completed extensive training. Some of the areas of training include child development, child abuse prevention, recognition and reporting, CPR and first aid.

All eligible Child Development Centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and star-licensed by the state of North Carolina.  FCC homes are located on and off post. Some of the FCC homes are accredited by the National Association of Family Child Care Homes and many FCC providers have earned their CDA credential.

All children must be registered with CYSS before enrolling in any CDS program. Parents must bring their child’s current immunization record for children birth through fifth grade, proof of child’s age (birth certificate or passport), names and telephone numbers of three emergency contacts and proof of sponsor’s eligibility to the CYSS Registration Office in the Soldier Support Center. The hours of operations for the full-day Child Development Centers are 5:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m. weekdays. All Child Development Centers are closed on weekends and federal holidays. The “More @ Four” kindergarten preparatory program is offered at several Child Development Centers.

• Child Development

    Services............................. (910) 396-4313  

• Bauguess CDC................... (910) 907-5750     

• Cook CDC........................ (910) 396-2989

• Fernandez CDC................. (910) 396-4733

• Pope CDC......................... (910) 394-4323

• Prager CDC....................... (910) 396-1136

• Rodgers CDC..................... (910) 432-5933

• Rodriguez CDC................. (910) 396-5429

• FCC Program..................... (910) 396-3415

• School Age Services

School Age Services provides a wide range of supervised recreational and developmentally appropriate activities for school-age youth before/after school and during non-school hours. School Age Services has three sites:  Wonderful World for Kids located on Knox Street, Gordon School Age Services located in Linden Oaks Neighborhood and Pope School Age Services on Armistead Street. Sites on the main post offer before and after school programs which operate 5:45 to 8 a.m. and 2:30 to
6 p.m. weekdays, and 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on teacher workdays and school vacation periods. SAS site located in Linden Oaks closes daily at 6:15 p.m. Transportation is provided to and from Fort Bragg schools, enrichment classes and instructional programs. SAS also offers after school care for several off-post elementary schools, W.T. Brown, Ben Martin, Overhills Elementary, Highland Elementary and Ben Haven Elementary. During school vacation periods, year-round school intercessions SAS offers full-day camp programs.

Our mission is to expose school-age children to a wide range of age-appropriate recreational programs that will incorporate character-building concepts through activities and social interaction. School age activities are designed to enhance positive attitudes in learning and self-development; to aid children in developing proper study habits; to provide children challenging activities; and to promote self-esteem, citizenship, responsibility, cooperation, respect, fairness, trustworthiness and caring.

Children must be registered before enrolling in SAS programs. Parents can register children at the Central Registration Office at the Soldier Support Center.

• Gordan SAS......................... (910) 366-1331

• Wonderful World for Kids...... (910) 396-2011

• Pope SAS............................ (910) 394-2869

• Youth Education Support Services

Youth Education Support Services (YESS) provides services and programs addressing community and school transition issues, student and parent advocacy, and builds partnerships to enhance the educational environment and leadership experiences of children and youth. The YESS program is comprised of the School Support Services, Youth Education Liaison Services and SKIESUnlimited Instructional Programs.

The School Support Services programs include School Transition support (integration of military children into the local school system), Deployment Support, Post Secondary Opportunities (resource and referral for workforce development, and higher education), Home School Linkages (resources and referral education, etc.), Child Youth and School Services Support, Adopt-A-School/Partners in Education (PIE), and Command, School and Community Communication (representative for issues involving public schools and the military). Call (910) 432-1008.

Youth Education Liaison Services include the America’s Promise Youth Volunteers Program (recruitment, registration, placement and recognition of youth volunteers), Youth Leadership Initiatives (coordination of youth leadership awards and recognition), Army Family Action Program (AFAP) (youth delegates, and other leadership training and activities), Youth Computer Lab and Homework Center Linkages (resource and referral for Fort Bragg and community), and Community Partnerships Initiatives (facilitation of youth serving organization partnership, including Child and Youth Action Council, 4-H). Call (910) 432-1008.

SKIESUnlimited Instructional programs are available for youth/children 2 to 18 years of age. Programs include a variety of instructional classes to include; gymnastics, Karate, piano, fencing, tutoring, guitar and more. Instructional classes may vary depending on availability of instructors and interest that may arise throughout the year. Classes vary in price and times.

• Youth Services Programs

Youth Services provides a range of recreational and developmental activities for youth of the military community. Children of active duty, military retirees and Department of Defense civilians are eligible to participate.

Middle school and teen daily free choice activities are offered after school and on weekends. Activities range from daily options in 4-H or Boys and Girls Club activities including cooking club, computer skills, sewing club, ultimate journey (environmental awareness) club, smart moves club (targeting fun activities to teach resistance to at-risk behaviors), homework center staffed with a North Carolina certified secondary education teacher, crafts, indoor games that promote fitness, pick-up sports activities, swimming, youth councils, theme activities and game room events. Opportunities for youth to volunteer in community service and mentoring programs are available with incentives for volunteer hours. Out of school camps are available for youth in line with middle school and high school grades based on the local school configuration.

Special events are offered on weekends. Events range from talent showcases, recitals, parent/youth deer hunting, dances, theme nights, lock-ins, trips, holiday events, Keystone (teen council) events/fund raisers and five-on-five basketball contests. Monthly calendars of upcoming events are available at the Tolson Youth Activities Center on Normandy Drive. Call (910) 396-5780.

Youth sports leagues are fielded seasonally in virtually every major sport. Sports offered include soccer, T-ball, coach pitch, baseball, softball, flag football, tackle football, ice hockey, girls’ volleyball, cheerleading and basketball. All teams are coached by volunteers who are trained and certified through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. All youth participating must have a current sport physical completed prior to starting practices. Additionally, individual sports ranging from track & field, tennis to double dutch are offered seasonally, as well as fitness and nutrition programs. Fees are assessed according to the particular sport, and uniforms are issued for use during the season with the exception
of shoes. For more information, call (910) 396-9123, (910) 396-9017 or (910) 907-5833.

• John J. Tolson III Youth 
Activities Center

The John J. Tolson III Youth Activities Center, Building 4-1431, Reilly Street and Normandy Drive, was memorialized on June 7, 1999. The 64,000-square-foot facility was named after the late Lt. Gen. John J. Tolson III who commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg from August 1968 to March 1971.

The $8 million center features an indoor pool, middle-school and teen gymnasiums, dance and martial arts studios, homework center, computer lab, teen area, game room, fitness center, two multi-purpose rooms, gymnastics area,
TV-conference room, piano lab and music practice room. Call (910) 396-5437