In August 2021, we launched an After School Program, funded through Pacific County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. We served 26 students on day one at Grays Harbor College in Ilwaco.

We outgrew GHC and moved into the KLEAN building in Long Beach and opened a part-time preschool in the process. We launched our first Summer Program, serving 201 kids. In August, we were awarded our first 21st Century Grant. We partnered with Peninsula Youth Sports in the spring to support their registration efforts, and eventually took over all sports programming, rebranding as Ilwaco Youth Sports in September 2022.

In January, we launched our Family Resource Center, serving families in a variety of ways. We took over the READY! Parenting Education program and expanded our reach to include teens. We were awarded our 2nd 21st CCLC grant and started serving K-12 in the After School & Summer Programs. We completed our first full year of sports management.

We moved our preschool to partner with OBSD and serve students through ECEAP, creating 48 licensed childcare slots in the community. After School & Summer Program moved into the schools. We developed formal partnerships with Pacific STEM Robotics and Ilwaco Artworks, creating unique programs for kids. After School Program in 2024-2025 served 251 kids, a record year.

We broke ground and moved into our forever home in Ilwaco! We began the process to license the facility for infant and toddler childcare. We continued to partner with Ocean Park Camp & Retreat Center to provide Outdoor School to all 5th graders in our district. In 2025 alone, we brought $3.75 million in grants into our community.

Our five core programs: After School, Summer, Family Resources, Early Learning, and Youth Sports all continue to thrive & grow. To-date, we have served 1,359 unique youth, and created 26 full time, living-wage jobs in our community. We are in the late planning phases of both a playground & the gym facility. We’re celebrating five years and looking to forever.