In 1989, the FLYERS (Fun Loving Youth En-Route to Success) Afterschool program was formed in response to the nation’s overwhelming need for a new kind of childcare – afterschool. Created as a means to avoid children going home alone, or ‘latchkey kids’, the FLYERS Afterschool program began as a solution to provide quality, affordable childcare for ages kindergarten through fifth grade. Founded by Leroy Springs & Co. and then Program Director Wyndie Havnaer (retired) and the first FLYERS Director, Judy Moore (retired), the first FLYERS site opened at Fort Mill Elementary with about 30 children. The program quickly expanded in the early nineties as Fort Mill’s school district grew, including the addition of a full-day summer program.
The FLYERS program was created to fill a need in the community, providing recreation and childhood development opportunities to Fort Mill’s children. With an early motto of Play is the Way, FLYERS has always embodied more than just ‘daycare,’ providing unique recreation programs, field trips, and activities for children to flow through during their afternoon. Today, the FLYERS program focuses on the whole child and the importance of social emotional health, where they can make friends and learn important life skills. FLYERS remains the premier afterschool program in the Fort Mill School District, representing a decades-long partnership and growth to serve 11 elementary schools and thousands of students each year.
For more information about FLYERS or Leroy Springs & Company, Inc., please visit LeroySprings.com.