Facebook-f Instagram
Register

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

School Care

Tuition is due on or before the 15th of the month (August –May).  Tuition is based on 180 school days, divided into 10 equal monthly payments with the first payment due August 15 and the last payment due May 15.

Statements are sent out via email on or around the 1st of the month. Be sure to mark SmartCare as an approved sender in your email account (or check your junk mail inbox). 

Tuition can be paid with an ACH withdrawal from a checking or savings account, or with a credit or debit card. Both options can be recurring. Families can manage their payment options through the SmartCare App. You can also pay by check at the center. We do not accept cash in the Centers. There is a 2.85% processing fee for debit and credit card transactions.

ABC Care provides drop-in childcare for children who are registered for drop-in service only when openings are available. Any child who is enrolled in ABC Care can use this service. Please contact the main office at least 24 hours in advance of the date of service. Payment is due at the time of “sign-in” or “sign-out” of your child and a late fee will be charged for any drop-in services that are not paid in full at the time of service. Drop-in service may be denied if space is not available for your child.

Yes, ABC Care has an off-site all day care location for childcare on days when schools are not in session. Parents can complete an All-Day Care reservation form to secure a spot.  Additional costs apply.   

  • Deer Park United Methodist Church (2205 Sykesville Road, Westminster, MD 21157

On days when schools have early dismissals due to scheduled professional time for County teachers, ABC Care will offer extended care to those students enrolled for that afternoon. Our staff will be on site at the time of dismissal. There are no registration forms for these days. If your child needs to attend a scheduled early dismissal and is not registered for this day in his/her regular schedule, a fee will be charged. There is no additional cost if it is one of your regularly scheduled days.  If it is not your family’s regularly scheduled day for afternoon care you can “drop in” and pay the drop-in fee at the time of pick up.

Please check your email to find out when ABC Care will open. If the weather is severe ABC Care may close for the day.  Information will also be posted on our website and Facebook page.  We utilize Deer Park United Methodist Church (2205 Sykesville Road, Westminster, MD 21157) for inclement weather closings.  Additional costs apply.

Deer Park United Methodist Church (2205 Sykesville Road, Westminster, MD 21157)

Unlike a scheduled all-day care where pre-registration is required, a snow day all day care does not require preregistration. 

Our staff is notified and will be on site at the time of dismissal. There is no additional cost as long as it is one of your regularly scheduled days.  If it is not your family’s regularly scheduled day for afternoon care you can “drop in” and pay the drop-in fee at the time of pick up.  Our centers are required to close proportionately early as the number of hours early school released.    

We open our regular sites on a delayed schedule proportionate to the amount of time schools are delayed. Always check your email or our website for the most up to date information. 

Yes, please be sure to email and/or call and leave a message with the center Director so they will have a name/address to compare to the person’s identification when they arrive. If the person picking up will be a regular pick-up person, the Director will have you add their information to the emergency card in SmartCare.

Check your center’s webpage on our website. Hours of operation differ from center to center.

Children are grouped by age at our centers. Typically, kindergarten, first and second grade make up our “Juniors” group and third, fourth and fifth grade make up our “Seniors” group.  At larger centers there may be a “Middies” group of second and third graders.

Check your center’s webpage for the daily program schedule (on the right-hand side). Children have an opportunity for snack, homework, outdoor play, self-selected activities, arts/crafts, cultural activities, sign language and team building activities.

ABC Care has an open visitation policy.  We encourage you to check in with the Director upon your arrival so they can answer any additional questions you may have.

We communicate in several ways with families. Our website contains a large amount of information about our centers – announcements box and each center’s webpage.  The parent table at your center will also have an announcements board for news and information.  We also use email to communicate with our families. 

Our St. John location in Westminster provides childcare for multiple schools. Our staff walks children from William Winchester & West Middle to St. Johns School.

Yes, please contact Maryland State Department of Education for more information.

LEARN MORE

Your schedule change request must be in writing. Please use the website to complete the Schedule Change Form and provide one month’s written notice of the change to your schedule.  A schedule change fee of $40 will be applied to your account for the first schedule change; each additional change per school year will be $50.

ABC Care has an Angel Assistance Fund set up to help families in need of short- or long-term assistance so that they still receive childcare services despite financial hardships or family emergencies.  Families may request an application from their Director or main office staff. 

 

Yes!

New Family Referral Discount
Submit potential new family’s contact information to ABC Care. If your referral enrolls in one of our afterschool programs for the school year, you will receive a $25 credit. There is no limit for the new referrals per family per calendar year.
Sibling Discount
The 2nd, 3rd, etc., child will receive 10% off monthly tuition if both children attend full-time (5-AMs & 5-PMs or 5-PM at early bell site: Eldersburg or Friendship Valley).
All Day Child Care Discount
Families registered with a full-time (5-AMs & 5-PMs or 5-PM at early bell site: Eldersburg or Friendship Valley) schedule receive a 10% discount for All Day Care.

Families registered with a five day after school only (5-PMs) schedule or a five day, before school only (5-AMs) schedule will receive a 5% discount for All Day Care.
School Year Bundling Discount
All families who register for before and after care for the same days regardless of the number of days, receive a discount over the separate AM and PM prices.
Military Discount
Parent/Guardian serving in the military as active duty or deployed reservists receive 12% discount on full time (5-AMs & 5-PMs or 5-PM at early bell site: Eldersburg or Friendship Valley) monthly tuition with appropriate identification.
Teacher Discount
Parent/Guardian who works for a private or public school in Maryland or Pennsylvania as a classroom teacher, school nurse, guidance counselor, or instructional assistant receives a 10% discount on full time (5-AMs & 5-PMs or 5-PM at early bell site: Eldersburg or Friendship Valley) monthly tuition (may only be used with 1 child) with appropriate identification. Call the main office for the Teacher Discount Verification form.

**Sibling, Military or Teacher Discounts may not be combined

More than 70% of students in STEM afterschool programs express more interest in careers in science. They also build essential skills, such as perseverance and critical thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summer Camp

Camps are licensed through the Department of Health as Youth Camps. Camps are inspected annually by the State Fire Marshall and the Department of Health.

  • Swimming ratios are 1:10. (This ratio does not include the lifeguards). With lifeguards on duty, the swimming ratio is 1:7.
  • Field trip ratios are 1:12.
  • Regular camp activity ratios are broken down by ages. Ages 4-5: 1:12; Ages 6-14: 1:15

An ABC Care staff person will be on site at the pavilion to greet families each morning (7 am at all camps). Staff will receive any paperwork/medication from you (required camp forms, etc).  Families will pull into a parking spot near the pavilion.    Staff will approach the car and assist the camper out.  Staff will make sure camper has all that is needed for the day – lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, etc.  Staff will remind family about upcoming events for the week.  Please take note of what time field trips are scheduled to leave/return so that you can arrive on time.

  • Lunch with 2 drinks OR sign up for Lunch Bunch (Fridays only)
  • Plastic or Metal refillable water bottle with name on it (we provide refills throughout the day)
  • Sunscreen with name on it & in a Ziploc bag with name
  • Closed Toe shoes
  • Tote bag or book bag to keep items together
  • Extra change of clothes/socks in large Ziploc bag (optional)
  • Hat / sunglasses (optional)
  • Warm sweatshirt for chilly early mornings (optional)

Weekly email is sent Friday before camp starts each week alerting families to special events, field trip reminders, fishing rod reminders, camp phone number, etc.

 

ABC Care provides an AM breakfast snack for children arriving prior to 9 am.

ABC Care provides a PM snack after 3 pm.

Lunch bunch is optional and is offered on Fridays only.  Families can sign up at the time of drop off/pick up at the beginning of each week.  Payment is due by Thursday each week.  Lunch bunch includes a slice of pizza (or 2), drink, chips, & dessert.  $6.00 for 1 slice / $7.00 for 2 slices.  Campers can also choose to pack their lunch from home.

  • Lunch with 2 drinks
  • Plastic or Metal refillable water bottle with name on it (we provide refills throughout the day)
  • Sunscreen with name on it & in a Ziploc bag with name
  • Backpack/tote bag to hold belongings
  • Bathing suit
  • Towel
  • A change of clothes in a grocery bag (to be used to hold wet swimsuit & towel)
  • Closed toe shoes
  • Flip Flops or crocs (optional)
  • Swim goggles (optional)
  • Water shoes (optional)
  • Hat/sunglasses (optional)
  • Wrist bands will be given to campers identifying their ability: red bands for campers who are only allowed in the shallow water; orange bands for swimmers who can use the slide, but must exit the deep end immediately after; green bands for campers who are accomplished swimmers and can go in the deeper water
  • Both orange and green band swimmers must pass a lifeguard run swim test prior to swim band issue. Records will be kept so campers do not have to retest week to week. 
  • Staff are positioned both in and around the outside of the pool watching the campers at all times.

Initial swim level is determined each campers first week of camp by ABC Care swim instructors. Campers take part in a 30-minute group lesson. Each week camper will work on basic techniques from their swim level (levels 1-7).  When necessary, campers will take a swim test to determine if they have mastered the necessary skills to move to the next level. Families will receive a weekly report from the swim instructor detailing their progress.

Please call the camp cell phone to alert the Director/staff of any changes in your transportation schedule so we can arrange a meeting place on location so that all of our campers remain safe.

An ABC Care staff person will be on site at the pavilion to greet families each afternoon until 6:00 pm at all camps. The pickup person will be required to show identification until staff is familiar with family members on the emergency card.  Families will pull into a parking spot near the pavilion.  Staff will greet the family at the car and have camper begin preparing belongings to leave.  Staff will remind family about upcoming events such as field trip times, swimming items, fishing rods, Wacky Wednesday wear, etc.  Staff will remain with campers until all have been picked up – please refer to our late policy in your summer camp family manual.

  • All camps use an NOAA weather radio which scans for severe weather alerts for the surrounding areas.
  • In the event of severe weather such as heavy rain, lightning, high winds, etc. the campers and staff will report to the closest shelter either the pavilion or restrooms. The Camp Director will notify all staff via walkie talkie which area staff and campers should report to. Staff members will take role to account for all campers once they have assembled within the designated area using the daily roster for the whole camp. If a group has taken shelter in a pavilion and extreme conditions ensue, staff will use the picnic tables for additional shelter by creating a barrier to provide additional protection.  Deer Park Camp also has church building to use as shelter.

Families should dress children in lightweight, light-colored clothing. ABC Care staff will limit strenuous activity.  Staff will increase water breaks to be sure children drink plenty of water regularly and often. As air conditioning is not available, electric fans help evaporate sweat, which cools the body. 

  • Add on trips exclusively for campers entering grades 4 through 8 and C.I.T.’s. Enrollment is limited and a wait list may apply.  Younger campers who do not attend the trips continue with camp activities and rotations.
  • Check the website for dates, times and field trip destinations.

Please call the camp/staff member to alert them to your status and refer to our late policy in your summer camp family manual. The camp cell phone number is included in the weekly email every Friday.