The Dare County Parks and Recreation Department has announced the upcoming launch of a new and improved check-in system for the free after-school program that is available for local middle school and high school students from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays during the school year at the Dare County Youth Center at Family Recreation Park in Kill Devil Hills.  

Beginning on Monday, January 6, 2025, all after-school program participants will be required to scan a membership card at a kiosk located at the front desk of the youth center in order to attend. Each child in grades 6-12 that is participating in the program will be required to obtain and maintain an individual membership. 

To ensure a smooth transition to the new check-in system, parents/guardians of children who are currently enrolled in the after-school program—as well as those who are new to the after-school program and would like to sign up—are required to complete registration for membership prior to attending.

How to Register:

Registration for membership for the Northern Beach Division’s after-school program can be completed online by visiting DareNC.gov/Register and clicking the “Memberships” button on the main screen. Next, scroll to the section titled “Family  Recreation Park Youth Center - After School” under “Northern Beach Division” and click the “enroll” button and fill out the required fields. Individuals who are new to the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s RecDesk online registration system will be prompted to create an account in order to complete registration for enrollment in the after-school program.  

To view or download a PDF with step-by-step instructions for completing registration for the Northern Beach Division’s new check-in system, please click here.

Once the registration process is completed in RecDesk and each participating child in grades 6-12 is enrolled in the program, membership cards will be issued by the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s Northern Beach Division office beginning Monday, December 2, 2024. Parents/guardians are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure they are prepared for the system’s launch on Monday, January 6, 2025. 

“The Dare County Parks and Recreation Department is committed to creating a safe, efficient and enjoyable experience for all of our participants and their families,” said Dare County Public Services Director Spencer Gregory. “By moving to a membership card-based check-in system, we’re not only enhancing security—we’re also streamlining the pickup and drop-off process for participants and their parents. Signing up for a membership card will allow families to take full advantage of the new system and ensure their children have the best experience possible in our after-school program."

For more information about the new check-in system for the after-school program, please contact the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s Northern Beach Division office at 252-475-5920. For additional information about the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s programs and activities, visit DareNC.gov.

NOTE: Membership for the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s Northern Beach Division after-school program is free; however, each child in grades 6-12 that will be participating in the program must be registered and obtain their own individual membership. Once a membership card is issued, it will be valid for one year. Upon membership expiration, participants will be required to renew their registration for another one-year period. 

The Dare County Parks and Recreation Department will also be implementing the same new membership card-based check-in system at the Roanoke Island/Mainland Division (Lions Club Center in Manteo) and the Hatteras Island Division (Fessenden Center in Buxton) in the near future. More information regarding the system’s launch at these two divisions will be communicated once it becomes available. 

About the Dare County Parks and Recreation After-School Program:

Middle school and high school students from the Dare County community are invited to take advantage of the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s after-school program, which is offered from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays during the school year at the Dare County Youth Center at 602 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills. 

Conveniently located a short walking distance from First Flight Middle School and First Flight High School, the Dare County Youth Center features an open gym where local youth can play a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball and dodgeball, as well as a game room with a pool table, ping pong table and air hockey table, and a TV room with snack and drink machines. 

To learn more about the many programs and activities that are offered by the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s three divisions throughout Dare County, please visit DareNC.gov/Parks.