Bend Park and Rec opens lottery for Kids Inc. after-school care May 1
Campbell Porter
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park and Recreation District is opening lottery enrollment for its Kids Inc. after-school care program for the 2026-27 school year. The application process begins Friday, May 1, at 8:00 a.m. for K-5th graders in most Bend, Ore., elementary schools.
The Kids Inc. program operates daily until 5:30 p.m. in all Bend elementary schools except Amity Creek and Westside Village. Catherine Ellis, recreation and inclusion manager, emphasized the program’s vital role for local families. “The primary purpose of Kids Inc. is to support the after-school care needs of working parents and guardians who do not have other options for their elementary school-aged children,” Ellis said. “The program is crucial for families and the enrollment process is very important for the lottery selection.”
Registration requests for the initial selection process must be submitted between May 1 at 8:00 a.m. and May 13 at 11:59 p.m. The lottery will determine selection and waitlist status for applicants. While the lottery is conducted by household, each child must be individually registered. Applicants will receive notification of their status by May 18.
Families have until May 31 to secure their child’s space by submitting a first month tuition deposit. To apply online or learn more, families can visit the Bend Park and Recreation District website during the application period. Applications can also be submitted by phone at 541-389-7275 for those facing online access barriers.
For the 2026-27 school year, Kids Inc. will continue to offer part-time care options, a choice that began in Fall 2022 following positive feedback. These part-time schedules include Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or Wednesdays only. Parents and guardians are advised to register for each schedule they are willing to accept. Families initially selected for part-time spots may have the opportunity to transition to full-time care if spaces become available.
This can occur before the school year starts or at any point during the year, depending on staffing levels and capacity at the school. The Bend Park and Recreation District encourages families who have other after-school care options or do not rely on the program for job requirements to consider the district’s various enrichment and sport programs instead.
Applicants will be notified of their status by May 18. Families then have until May 31 to secure their space in the Kids Inc. program with a first month tuition deposit.