The YMCA children's theater program is great! It's building a community for kids in Oroville who…read moredon't want to participate in sports, but still want to be part of something. The kids are being taught music, dance, performance and team work. Yes, they do require you to sell tickets (to see your kids) and ask that you contact anyone in the community to sell ads. But they aren't creating a "pyramid scheme". In fact, they provide suggestions on business who are eager to help kids and give alternative options to selling. There are fundraiser, in-kind options and volunteer hours that can be banked. The fact is, most parents are happy to help donate time for things like costumes, set building, parent supervision...and all of this helps to build that community we all love and respect. This non-profit still has to pay for the theater, the costumes, the sets, etc. What we all get in return is a great experience, good memories, a beautiful show and a stronger community.

Sad! We got a flyer at my sons school advertising a play put on by YMCA - Free for kids to…read moreparticipate in! We practiced songs all week. My kids were SO EXCITED! We went to the auditions and filled out the paperwork and even helped set up as we had arrived early. My kids auditioned. We came back the following Monday to find... They SAY it's free but then make you sign a paper promising to sell 10 tickets and 2 advertisements per child (valued at $150) and volunteer 10 hours. THEY DIDN'T MENTION THIS IN THE FLIER OR IN THE PAPERWORK FOR THE AUDITIONS OR AT ANY TIME DURING THE AUDITION OR AFTER - until the parents meeting. I have 2 children. We just moved here 1.5 years ago. We cannot sell 20 tickets and 4 business ads. Or pay $300. NOR do I want my children used in some kind of pyramid money making scheme for YMCA. If they wanted money they should have just said so up front. We left with both of my children in tears. You can scam adults. That just makes you bad people. But to HURT KIDS?!? How do you sleep?

Great place for hourly chidcare drop off. My kids love it. They don't know they are being babysat…read more They think it's a treat

First, Kidspark is a vendor for Far Norther kids with disabilities. My three-year-old has autism…read moreand the program sounded like a great option for a spontaneous date night here. I assumed Far Northern would only fund quality places. Just to preface this tale. Second, for those short on time: let me just say Kidspark works great for my friends' kids who are not on the spectrum or disabled (hence the two stars, not one). If your kids are older, used to childcare, and can TELL YOU what happens to them, I wouldn't see Kidspark being a problem. For my non-verbal kids (one on the spectrum, one neurotypical) it is NOT a safe or reliable source of childcare. Do with that what you will... Third, the long of it: the first time my kids came home STARVING, with dry lips, and parched. They both drank FULL cups of water when they got home. I was shocked. They also scarfed down foods they usually don't eat because they were so hungry. I was charged for two meals each (lunch and dinner). The meals were different than those listed because they ran out. Okay. Whatever. It's all just food. But I wonder what happens when kids have allergies and parents trust the meal plan. Not an issue for my kids, so whatever. My kids being hungry WAS an issue. Staff said "they didn't feel like eating." No attempt to help them eat. None of the ENTIRE BACKPACK of snacks I took for them was touched. Nothing. When I picked them up (the middle of dinner time) my boys were both away from the table with their full plates of food doing nothing. Trusting all of the Far Northern services we've received, I figured it had to be a bad day for staff or some fluke. So, I took them back for round two. SAME EXPERIENCE the second time. My kids were starving and dry as a bone. Both times my kids weren't allowed to nap. When my baby started to fall asleep, I was told they just laid him in the TV room and kids played around him. No tenderness. No quiet area. No attempt at following his needs. Nothing. Let's talk about safety: the ratios here are terrifying. My kids get hurt every time they go there. The place looks like everything would be sticky to the touch. My kids come home covered in dirt and with soiled diapers. The two times I've taken my kids there, I find my two-year-old off in a corner unattended by staff. It's a mess. Financially, I'm disturbed by the fact that Kidspark double dips Far Northern and charges two single child prices for a family. Instead of charging Far Northern less or me less for the second kiddo, they max out the costs for both. They use diapers for one family on another family (I've taken a pack for a full day and it's been completely used in two hours - a pack of 30 diapers... how the heck?!) I'm sure they love the kids... except... not really. I fully admit this job has got to be one of the most stressful jobs around but it doesn't need to be so obvious. It literally seems like they hate kids. I never see a smile when I walk in. The kids are tagged like cattle and turn into numbers to round up and pushed through the gate to "go play." As I drove by for lunch one day, I saw a beautiful child with Down's Syndrome through the glass rocking in the corner behind the counter. Nobody was near him. Other kids were standing away staring. I've had friends with kids on the spectrum cry to me about their children being bullied and bitten and hungry and ignored. Still more have had to pick up their kids early because the staff is so overwhelmed they can't handle meltdowns or misbehavior. Why in the world would a special needs service operate in a place where they have no extra training or support for kids with special needs? Respite? What. A. Joke. I 100% believe this is an unsafe, unhygienic, unfriendly place for kids with special needs. While neurotypical kids may enjoy the independence and play time with friends, I worry for my non-verbal sweethearts' safety. I will be asking Far Northern to take a serious look at who they fund as this place is not only difficult and stressful, it's DANGEROUS. Never again.

I used bartons when my kids were younger. I was a single mom with limited options and it was…read moreconvenient. My biggest regret was not taking them out of there sooner. For starters, most meals consisted of noodles and hot dogs which I'm sure is illegal. They would lock all it bigger kids in a room after lunch and make them watch TV. If the kids squirmed around or got up they were told to turn around and watch TV. The last straw for me is when one of the workers slapped my daughter in her face and then let her play with her phone afterwords in hopes my daughter wouldn't tell me. Luckily I found out from a friend who's kids also went there. After having my toddler in a decent daycare it breaks my heart that I had my older kids in that place for as long as I did. A couple other things to mention, when I would walk in to sign my kids out I would constantly catch workers giving the kids the evil stare down. The kids would look terrified. They were couped up all day in that little room with no windows or fresh air and it would stink 9 times out of 10.

Just before my little one turned 1, I decided to start looking at centers for him to attend as my…read moreniece was getting a job and couldn't watch him anymore. Money wasn't a problem, and I wanted him to go to a place to start being with other children. I first researched child care center regulations to know what to look for in a center. I then dropped in to check out Barton's Infant center and was appalled at what I saw. Several (5) babies in one room with only 1 worker. One child was in a swing with a bottle propped in its mouth. (Which is against state regulations). As the 1 and only worker I saw gave me a tour he showed me the sleeping quarters where, when he opened the door there was a screaming child alone in a playpen (also against state regulations, workers can't leave children alone EVER) which you couldn't hear when the door was closed because the tv was so loud for the babies to watch (babies and tv really?) He then proceeded to give me a tour of the kitchen and outside area, leaving 6 babies completely unattended (state regulation violation). Outside I realized that there were two female workers watching 3-4 babies while this guy was alone inside with way more then ratios (state regulation violation). I contacted licensing and made a complaint. Then licensing went out, investigated, and called me to tell me that my claims were substantiated. Meaning evidence showed them I was telling the truth. I would never recommend this place to anyone. You're children will not be watched within ratios, and will be left unattended.