Affordable Afterschool has been top priority for PCEF for more than a decade. PCEF invests an average of $350,000 each year to support scholarships and key academic initiatives to keep Afterschool affordable for all.
For many Park City families, the cost of living and work demands make Afterschool care a necessity rather than a luxury. This rings true for two parents who both work full-time and co-parent their nine-year-old twin boys, Emerson and Beauden. For them, the Falcons Afterschool Program at Parley’s Park Elementary has been a game changer.
“We knew about the Afterschool Program well before the boys even started Kindergarten,” Erin Price-Proctor, the twins’ mom shared. “Word of mouth in the community made it clear this was an invaluable resource for working parents. And, it really is. The structure and enrichment offered at Afterschool has allowed both of us to have careers knowing the twins are cared for, and supported through after school hours.”
Erin talked about the challenges of raising kids in a place like Park City with such a high cost of living. “The affordability piece of the puzzle, the fact that it’s subsidized, is what allows us to be enrolled. Without support like this, what kind of community do we have? Working families like ours wouldn’t be able to sustain a life here,” she told us. “Every little bit helps, and every expense counts. For Erin, this program isn’t just about affordability – it’s about sustaining a community she’s always called home. “I was raised in Park City and attended the Park City School District from first through twelfth grade,” she shared. “I went to Parley’s, so having my kids there now feels very nostalgic. As a longtime local, I also appreciate the importance of subsidized care in keeping families like ours within the district.”
More Than Just Childcare
The Afterschool Program is more than childcare – it offers enrichment and fun activities by seamlessly coordinating with other local organizations. “We don’t have a garden at home, so digging in the dirt and composting in the school’s greenhouse supported by Youth Education director, Erica Snyder, with Summit Community Gardens/EATS has been amazing,” Erin said. “The boys have also been exposed to activities we wouldn’t necessarily think to introduce – yoga, theater, and Tae Kwon Do. Things that couldn’t be replicated at home. They’ve especially loved Tae Kwon Do with Instructor Cheryl Vance and crafting ‘melty beads’.”
Without the high-quality program, afternoons would look a lot different. “They’d take the bus home and might spend over two hours in front of a screen. We simply can’t stop working at 3pm to provide the same level of enrichment and structured activities they get at Camp Falcon.”
Afterschool also works with Youth Sports Alliance, Recycle Utah, Kimball Arts Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more.
Building Social and Emotional Skills
The program fosters social growth and an opportunity for mentorship. “Because Afterschool includes kids from kindergarten through fifth grade, it’s almost like a Montessori model. The older students help the younger ones, and they all learn from each other in a really inclusive way,” she noted. The twins, who are in the Dual Language Immersion Program, have built friendships with both peers from both their DLI class and their Afterschool community - which Erin noted is like a family.
What Makes PCSD Afterschool Special?
When we asked Erin what she feels really sets the program apart, she quickly answered,
“The counselors in the program are exceptional – supportive, flexible, and communicative. Recently, more funds and resources have been put toward Afterschool and it’s allowed for better pay and which is critical when hiring well and working in a growing program. Last year, there were very few spaces, and now the program is set up better to meet demand.” Afterschool will expand for the 2025/26 school year to accommodate 3-year-olds.
As for Emerson and Beauden, we asked Erin if she could pose the same question to the boys, and…Emerson said Afterschool is, “surprising” while Beauden said it’s, “so fun”.
2025/26 Afterschool Registration
Afterschool registration for the 2025/26 school year opens April 21st at 8am for current families and Preschool 3- and 4-year-olds. April 22nd 8am for new families.
PCSD Afterschool is supported by PCEF donors, after initially providing seed funding for the original program at McPolin Elementary School in 2008. The success of the McPolin program led to its expansion across all four elementary schools, plus Ecker Hill, and Treasure Mountain. Thanks to the PCSD School Board, the Afterschool Program expanded this year to include 4-year-olds, and for the 2025/26 school year will offer programming for 3-year-olds.
