SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C -- The before and after school program provides transportation and youth activities at the youth program building for children in grades kindergarten through eighth. Parents are allowed to drop off children anytime after 6:30 a.m. and can pick up children anytime before 8 p.m.

"We also adjust our hours during exercises to accommodate parents," said Martha Robinson, Family Member Program Flight chief.

The main purpose of the before and after school program is to keep children from going home to an empty house, she said.

BASS benefits families by providing convenient transportation and gives the children an opportunity to participate in positive activities.

The before and after school program provides transportation to six different schools within 10 miles of Shaw. The children are bused to and from school in one of the program's four buses.

After school, children can participate in several clubs including: 4-H, cooking, heritage, etc. The building has an art room, library and science room.

Also after school, the children exercise and have a nutritious snack. "The youth program has a state-of-the-art playground where health and wellness is promoted," Ms. Robinson said.

The program is Department of Defense certified and accredited, which provides quality school care for children, Ms. Robinson said.

The program is inspected to ensure the quality of child care.

"All of the program's inspections are unannounced," Ms. Robinson said. "We get inspected by everyone from Air Force level and Air Combat Command to Public Health and for every thing from food and fire to safety," she said.

The youth program is also able to provide transportation for kids who don't attend the actual program but need to get to school, said Deborah MacQueen, Youth Programs director. There are still a few spots available, she said.

Another option for older students is at the annex, formerly the teen center, located in the 5000 housing area.

The annex serves as a recreation area for children ages 9 to 18.

"It really depends on the parents and how much freedom they want their children to have," said Ms. MacQueen.

The hours for the annex are 2 to 8 p.m. after school. The children have open recreation at the annex until parents get home from work.

Cost of the program depends on the total family income and is adjusted each year.