Black Mountain Montessori School is a diverse educational community that is built on the principles of intrinsic motivation, self-directed learning, and social responsibility. The school’s developmentally appropriate approach has been designed to fit each individual child, instead of making the child fit the program. It places an emphasis on community involvement through a partnership with local colleges, community gardens, and the arts.
Kidspace
Caring for Children provides emergency shelter and care with an independent living program and behavior-modification program for WNC residents up to age 18.
Junior Achievement of Western North Carolina helps educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics in order to improve the quality of their lives. This is in the Bank of America Building downtown.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day, held at UNC-A, is a community event designed to expose women and girls to a variety of activities to inspire them to lead active, healthy lives. For more info, or to register, contact Allison Dains.
Salvation Army Boys & Girls Camp hosts sessions for summer day camp for kids 6-12. Day sessions are held from 7am-6pm, Monday – Friday , offering a variety of recreational, educational, and spiritual enrichment for youngsters.
Irene Wortham Center provides Early Childhood Education programs at two 5-Star Rated facilities. The Early Learning Center is on the main campus on West Chapel Rd. and the Community Child Care Center is located on Compton Drive. We serve approximately 170 children in an inclusive environment, meaning that about 40% of the children have some degree of developmental delay while 60% are developing typically. Both centers provide onsite physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Girl Scout Troops of WNC is for girls ages 5-17.
The YWCA of Asheville After-School program is for children in grades K-5 and focuses on homework help. Participants also enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities including swim lessons, gardening, music appreciation and arts & crafts.
Kids Night Out is a group that meets at YMCA Central Branch from 6-9pm on the first and third Friday of each month. This program is for ages 5-12. Cost is $5-$10. Parents must register and pay two days in advance of the program.
Imagine is a non-profit creative-learning program for homeschoolers ages 5 to 17that offers workshops in creative writing, drama, Japanese, cooking, art, crafts, computer, journalism, dance, nature studies, and more.
Eliminating racism, empowering women — it’s what the YWCA is about and what it intends to do. The YWCA of Asheville offers programs in Aquatics, including swim lessons, lap and open swims, water aerobics, lifeguard training, and more.
Asheville.com is proud to be an Advocate of the YWCA of Asheville.
Counterpoint/Caring for Children provides residential treatment program for delinquents, status offenders and youth at risk that allows them to remain in their home community. Focus on developing social, academic and personal skills enabling them to return home.
Issues youth employment permits. Both the Department of Social Services and the Department of Labor maintain a file of these permits. DSS has a copy of the state and federal laws regarding youth employment which is available for parents or employers. In addition, employers are required to know applicable state and federal laws regarding youth employment. Work permit applications can be obtained online.
Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.
Buncombe County 4-H is a group for youth participants and adult leaders to get involved with the community.
The YWCA of Asheville Child Care Center provides safe, stimulating, and affordable care for the babies, toddlers and pre-school children of working parents. The Child Care Center has separate, age-appropriate classrooms. This multi-cultural program emphasizes the appreciation of other cultures, academics in the everyday, and non-violent play.
Young Life, Windy Gap Camp is a camp for high-school students.
Youth Council Meetings meets alternate Tuesdays at 7:30pm at the Buncombe County Recreational Services Building. The ABCYC promotes leadership and community involvement for youths ages 13-18.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center is the first place where area children meet the animals they have read about. Deers, bears, cougars, wolf, racoons, birds and even farm animals are there for all to learn about. Exhibits on area poisonous snakes are worth absorbing. An aviary, self-guided nature trail and petting zoo make this a great place for the family. Small admission fee.
Comprehensive high-risk maternity service including a multidisciplinary clinic, staffed by maternal-fetal medicine consultants, OB/GYN physicians, clinical coordinator, nurse midwife, nutritionist and social worker. Thursday afternoon clinic is designed specifically for teens. Also on site are BabyLove maternity care coordinators, nutritionists, social workers, WIC and MCC. MAHEC provides a teen clinic that serves ages 13-19.
STEP offers after-school tutoring as part of the AB Education Coalition at Sycamore Temple.
Baptist Children’s Homes of NC is a place for unmarried or divorced, pregnant state residents. No religious affiliation required. Medical records, tuberculosis test required.
For years, the 18,000 square foot YMI building was the social and economic center of Asheville’s Black community. Currently YMI is a cultural center operating with support from the City of Asheville. Its impressive Tudor-style structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features four galleries and a 300-seat performing arts theatre.
Is a year round, non-profit organization for ages 8-18, using outdoor adventure education, service to others and environmental education.
The YWCA Support Our Students (SOS) program is a state-funded after-school program designed to prevent juvenile crime by offering enriching activities and tutoring for middle-school students.
Children First is an advocacy group for children of all ages.