Education & Youth Programs

Schools
Students living on Eielson or in the Moose Creek and Salcha communities attend on-base schools. Kindergartners through second-grade students attend Anderson Elementary School, and third- through sixth-grade students attend Crawford Elementary School. Junior and senior high students attend Ben Eielson Junior/ Senior High School. About 850 elementary and 600 secondary students attend the on-base schools.

Students living off base attend school in their attendance area. Bus transportation is provided for all children within the area who live at least 1.5 miles from school. If a military family decides to live off base, parents may request their children attend school on base. Permission may be granted provided classroom space is available and parents provide transportation. Kindergarten children can attend school if they are 5 years old before Aug. 15, and first grade if they are 6 years old before Aug. 15, or attended a kindergarten in a public school in another state and was of legal age in that state. Alaska State law requires proof of immunization before any student is admitted into a public school. Students entering kindergarten or first grade must provide a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age.

State of Alaska law and school district policy governs all schools in the area. Thus, programs and services are similar from school to school. Extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, such as athletics, band, orchestra, etc., are provided within budget limitations. Senior high students are offered college preparatory courses, as well as vocational-technical education classes. Special education is provided for exceptional children, as well as for children with learning disabilities, physical handicaps and other special needs. The school board sets policies and budgets during monthly meetings at the school district administrative center in Fairbanks. Eielson has a representative on the school board. In addition, most schools have parent-teacher associations that welcome parent input and involvement.

For more information, visit the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Web site at www.northstar.k12.ak.us 

Community Center
The Community Center, located in Bldg. 2555, features family-focused activities and programs including a computer lab, family fitness room (with children's activity area), indoor play land and bouncy castle, game rooms and a big-screen TV lounge. The center offers party rental packages and also conducts numerous Airman and family activities year round including gaming nights and holiday events. Call (907) 377-2642 or (907) 377-3212 for more information or reservations.

Youth Programs
Selected by the National Boys and Girls Club as an Honor Award winner in 2005 and 2007, as well as PACAF Youth Program of the Year 2007, 2008 and 2009, the youth center provides a diverse schedule of programs for youth ages 5 to 18. The center sponsors many fitness and athletic activities, including Fit Factor, soccer, baseball, softball, T-ball, flag football, cheerleading and basketball. Instructional programs include Tae Kwon Do, dance, acrobatics, piano and guitar. Through the collaboration with Boys and Girls Club and 4-H, the center is able to offer inventive programming. The youth center also includes a snack bar open for lunch each day during the school year.

High school students can have lunch in the lounge area (complete with music) or play a game of basketball in the gym. The center is also home to the Teen Break where teens can enjoy video games, Dance, Dance Revolution, karaoke or use computers. A separate Teen Break facility, located behind the bowling center, is open on Friday and Saturday nights with special events planned weekly. The youth center is located in Bldg. 3300, next door to Crawford Elementary School and across the street from Ben Eielson Junior/Senior High School. Call (907) 377- 3194 or (907) 377-3034 for more information.

School-Age Program
The School Age Program is a nationally accredited program through the National Afterschool Association. Care is provided for youth enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6. Care is offered before and after school during the school year and full time during the winter and spring breaks. Full-time summer camps are available during summer break. Summer camps are specialty camps utilizing many of Alaska's great resources. Daily activities include swimming, hiking, fishing, field trips, activities, sports, arts and crafts and much more. Boys and Girls Club and 4-H program activities are ongoing year round. The Boys and Girls Club program Power Hour provides youth with an opportunity for homework assistance during the school year. Numerous family involvement activities are offered throughout the year. Our youth are encouraged to support their local community through ongoing community involvement activities. For more information, please contact (907) 377-5437(KIDS).

Child Development Center (CDC)
The CDC is a modern facility located in Bldg. 5182. The center is a nationally accredited early childhood program, which offers developmental child care and part-day preschool. The CDC offers a safe environment with a trained and nurturing professional staff. The center is open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours during base-wide exercises. The center accepts children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. Reservations for drop-in care are made on a first-come, first-served basis, depending upon space availability. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided at no extra charge. Fees are on a sliding scale based on the current year family income. Except for the respite care program and special openings, the center is closed Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. Call (907) 377-3237 for more information.

Family Child Care (FCC)
The FCC program offers parents an alternative to the base child development center. The program includes care for families that need full-time, part-time, hourly, evening and weekend care. The FCC program provides resources and referrals for families seeking child care arrangements. On average, Eielson AFB has 15 certified FCC homes for parents working shifts, children with special needs, infant care, children who are susceptible to illness and youth who feel more comfortable in smaller groups. A Family Child Care home offers an environment with smaller child/adult ratios. The program trains, licenses and inspects family child care homes to ensure the quality of care is in compliance with Air Force standards. Each provider establishes their own fees. The FCC program also coordinates special family child care services including extended duty care, PCS care, returning home care and subsidy care. Visit the Family Child Care office in Bldg. 2555 - upstairs in the community center - or call (907) 377-3635.  read more...

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