A wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities are available for Eglin’s youth. The professional caretakers and the learning center combine to create an atmosphere conducive to healthy child development.
Educating Children

A vast network of schools, with bus transportation on- and off-base, is available in the local area. The Eglin area has pre-school, elementary, middle and high school, undergraduate and graduate education opportunities, as well as private religious and secular schools, schools for gifted children and special training for the mentally challenged. Oak Hill and Cherokee Elementary Schools are located on Eglin main in the base housing area, for children grades kindergarten through sixth. Addie R. Lewis Middle School is located just outside the East Gate, and Clifford Meigs Middle School is about 1 1/2 miles from the West Gate. Older students may attend either Niceville or Choctawhatchee High Schools.

Once children graduate from high school, they may attend any of the schools that provide service to the military population. Call the Okaloosa County school office for questions regarding education services at 689-7100.
Child Development Center

Bldg. 2579 • Phone: 883-5519
Eglin’s Child Development Center provides full-day, comprehensive child care services to Department of Defense Families assigned to Eglin. The services include full-day care for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. The CDC is Department of Defense Certified and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. U.S. Depart of Agriculture well balanced, nutritional meals are provided at no extra cost.
In addition to the Main Center, there is a Modular center/bldg. T-2479/883-7425 and Part Day Enrichment/Bldg, 2565B/882-8292.
Family Child Care
Bldg. 2808 • Phone: 882-2994
The Family Child Care (FCC) Program maintains a monthly referral list of licensed childcare providers on base and State licensed providers in the surrounding communities who are affiliated with Eglin’s program. Affiliated providers must be licensed through the State licensing agency prior to becoming an affiliated provider.
Affiliated applicants must be a dependent of an active duty or retired military member. On or off base applicants interested in a career as a family childcare provider can obtain licensing or affiliated information through the FCC office. Any individual caring for other families’ children for more than 10 hours a week on a regular basis must be licensed through the FCC office.
There are approximately 50 childcare providers on and off the installation providing care for more than 330 children of Department of Defense families assigned to Eglin. They operate their own business, setting their hours and fees. They provide care for infants through school age children. Family childcare home operation is governed by Air Force Instructions to ensure a safe, healthy, quality-care environment for children.
Family childcare homes are inspected monthly by the FCC staff. Other base agencies such as Fire and Public Health also inspect homes annually. FCC provides initial training and 24 hours of required training annually to each provider, including certification in CPR and First Aid. There is no initial start up cost for providers.
The Family Childcare office also sponsors the following programs:
• Subsidy program - Children enrolled full-time are eligible for reduced fees. Parent fees are set using the same fee scale as the Child Development Program.
• USDA food care program - Nutritious, well balanced meals are provided at no separate charge to all children receiving care in a home environment.
There are four circumstances that may qualify you for free child care: Extended Duty Care, PCS Care, volunteer Care and Returning Home Care.
For a referral, or for information about becoming a family childcare provider, call 882-2994. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Youth Center
Youth Center, Bldg. 2582 • 882-8212
Youth programs provide a wide variety of activities that support youth 5 to 18 years of age. The Youth Center is located in the housing area within one mile of two elementary schools. Use of the center averages approximately 800 youth per day. The center provides instructional classes, sports programs, social functions and before-and-after school care. The sports program includes six girls’ softball teams that participate with local community programs, 40 basketball teams, 43 baseball teams, 40 soccer teams, more than 125 cheerleaders and 165 students in instructional classes - gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do and dance. In addition to these events, during the summer, organized “drop-in” sports activities include 20 participants in volleyball, 50 children participating in the hockey program, and 75 participating in basketball games. The Summertime Program attracts 1,500 children participating in Red Cross classes and horseback riding.
The Before-and-After School Program and Summer Day Camp provide recreational skill programs - dramatic arts, sewing, cooking, sports and video games; academic assistance computers, mentors, books, and research materials; and clubs - bicycling, gardening, cooking and sewing.

School Age Program,
Bldg. 2582B • 882-8291
The Youth Center’s mission is to provide growth and development of school-aged children through their out-of-school experiences. They provide a safe, supervised, healthy and age appropriate environment, thus enabling the military community to accomplish their mission. All activities are offered in a cheery, clean and attractive building with a staff of dedicated personnel, and a strong family atmosphere. Safety and security are number one at the facility, where an average of 200 children spend time each day. They want to make the children’s experience in their program a positive and healthy one. They also hope to help them build a healthy self-concept, develop self reliance, and curiosity for new learning, arts and crafts, trips and many other events. Overall, the youth programs have approximately 1,150 children with an estimate of 60 percent residing within the Eglin housing area. A staff of nine employees monitors the program, with an additional 500 volunteers lending a helping hand.