About Discovery Bay Children's Center · Seattle
Discovery Bay Children's Center is a small-group after-school and summer-camp program serving K–5 students in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Founded and led by educator Lara McKaye, the center is housed at Magnolia Presbyterian Church and offers experiential, play-based programs rooted in creativity, social-emotional learning, and nature-based exploration. The program is known for its intimate group sizes (as few as four children per group in summer), a 7:1 child-to-educator ratio, and weekly themes that span art, science, cooking, and Puget Sound ecology.
Discovery Bay Children's Center operates out of 3051 28th Ave W in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, where its after-school program is hosted inside Magnolia Presbyterian Church. The center was founded by Lara McKaye, a lead educator with more than 15 years of experience in classrooms, camps, and afterschool settings, whose background combines anthropology, international education, and mindfulness. Discovery Bay's philosophy centers on play-based, experiential learning that builds confidence, creativity, empathy, and a sense of global citizenship in children. The school-year program welcomes K–5 students for enriching afternoons featuring art, STEM challenges, games, reading time, and outdoor adventures. Summer sessions run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM with drop-off and pick-up at Magnolia Park, and divide children into two developmentally appropriate groups — "Otters" (K–2nd) and "Seals" (3rd–5th). Weekly themes rotate through subjects such as Maps & Transportation, Birds, Pollinators, Performing Arts, Puget Sound, Entrepreneurship, Cooking, and Arts & Crafts, with the team emphasizing flexibility and child-led inquiry. The center also hosts Parents' Night Out evenings on Saturdays from 4:30 to 9:30 PM (with dinner, art projects, and optional movie time) and Drop-In Days during school breaks such as midwinter break, spring break, and Memorial Day. Small group sizes and a deeply experienced educator are the through-line of every program, and families choose Discovery Bay for its personalized attention, local nature-based exploration, and warm community setting.
- Owner
- Lara McKaye (lead educator and founder, Discovery Bay Children's Center)
- Serves
- Magnolia neighborhood and greater Seattle, Washington (in-person at 3051 28th Ave W and Magnolia Park)
About Discovery Bay Children's Center
Discovery Bay Children's Center is a K–5 after-school and summer-camp program based in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. Its tagline — 'Where Learning Feels Like an Adventure' — captures the center's commitment to making every afternoon and every summer day an opportunity for curiosity, connection, and creativity. Programs are intentionally small, play-based, and rooted in experiential learning, with the goal of turning ordinary moments into meaningful adventures where children build confidence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning.
- K–5 students in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle
- Small-group, play-based, experiential learning model
- Programs: after-school care, summer camp, Parents' Night Out, Drop-In Days
- Mission emphasis: curiosity, connection, creativity, confidence, global awareness
Meet the Educator: Lara McKaye
Lara McKaye is the lead educator and founder of Discovery Bay Children's Center, and currently serves as its Founding Director. According to the official website, she brings more than 15 years of experience in classrooms, camps, and afterschool settings, and her work is shaped by a background in anthropology, international education, and mindfulness. Her LinkedIn profile describes her practice as rooted in Peace Education and anti-bias frameworks, with a focus on building 'the village' families need and creating spaces where children feel belonging and educators feel supported.
- Lara McKaye — lead educator and founder
- 15+ years in classrooms, camps, and afterschool settings
- Background in anthropology, international education, and mindfulness
- Rooted in Peace Education and anti-bias practices (per LinkedIn)
- Focus on global awareness and international citizenship for children
After-School Program (Magnolia Presbyterian Church)
Discovery Bay's after-school program is hosted at Magnolia Presbyterian Church at 3051 28th Ave W, providing a warm, familiar community setting in the heart of Magnolia. Designed for K–5 students, the program offers small-group activities that inspire critical thinking, creativity, and emotional development through hands-on projects and outdoor play. Daily activities include art, STEM challenges, games, reading time, and outdoor adventures, with educators following the children's curiosity rather than a rigid curriculum.
- Grades served: K–5
- Host site: Magnolia Presbyterian Church, 3051 28th Ave W, Seattle
- Activities: art, STEM challenges, games, reading time, outdoor adventures
- Focus: creativity, confidence, social-emotional growth, child-led inquiry
Summer Camp (Magnolia Park)
Discovery Bay's summer sessions are intentionally limited to small groups — as few as four children per group — to allow for deeper connection and exploration. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM with drop-off and pick-up at Magnolia Park, and features a 7:1 child-to-educator ratio. Each day blends art, science, nature, and neighborhood adventures led with care and intention.
- Drop-off & pick-up: Magnolia Park
- Camp hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Child-to-educator ratio: 7:1
- Small-group setting (as few as 4 kids per group)
- Blend of art, science, nature, and neighborhood adventures
Age Groups: Otters and Seals
Children in summer camp are split into two developmentally appropriate groups — Otters for K–2nd graders and Seals for 3rd–5th graders — with daily time built in for mixed-age collaboration and fun. This structure allows activities to be tailored to each age band while still fostering cross-age friendships.
- Otters: K–2nd grade
- Seals: 3rd–5th grade
- Daily mixed-age collaboration time built into the schedule
Weekly Summer Themes
Discovery Bay's summer weeks revolve around rotating themes that span science, nature, the arts, and hands-on making. The team emphasizes being responsive rather than rigid: if children get excited about something unexpected, educators dive in alongside them. Past and current themes include Maps & Transportation, Birds, Pollinators, Performing Arts, Puget Sound, Entrepreneurship, Cooking, and Arts & Crafts.
- Maps & Transportation
- Birds
- Pollinators
- Performing Arts
- Puget Sound
- Entrepreneurship
- Cooking
- Arts & Crafts
Parents' Night Out
Parents' Night Out is a Saturday-evening program designed to give caregivers a date night while kids enjoy a full evening of supervised fun. The evening includes dinner, art projects, and optional movie time, allowing children to explore, create, and hang out in a familiar Discovery Bay setting.
- When: Saturdays, 4:30–9:30 PM
- Includes dinner, art projects, and optional movie time
- Designed for parents to take the night off
Drop-In Days
Drop-In Days offer full-day care during school breaks and closure days, with the same play-based activities and small-group approach families know from the after-school program. Announced 2026 Drop-In Day dates include February 16th–20th (Midwinter Break), April 13th–17th (Spring Break), and May 25th (Memorial Day).
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- 2026 dates: Feb 16–20 (Midwinter Break), Apr 13–17 (Spring Break), May 25 (Memorial Day)
- Full-day care with the Discovery Bay play-based approach
Why Families Choose Discovery Bay
According to the official website, families choose Discovery Bay for its personalized small-group approach, nature-based exploration, creative learning environment, and a deeply experienced educator who fosters confidence, connection, and meaningful child development.
- Personalized attention with small groups
- Local, nature-based exploration
- Emphasis on creativity, confidence, and connection
- Experienced, caring educator
2026 Program Calendar Highlights
Parents' Night Out 2026 dates are listed as February 14th, March 14th, April 11th, May 16th, and June 13th. Drop-In Days for 2026 are scheduled for February 16th–20th (Midwinter Break), April 13th–17th (Spring Break), and May 25th (Memorial Day). Families are encouraged to reach out early because spaces are limited.
- Parents' Night Out: Feb 14, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 16, Jun 13, 2026
- Drop-In Days: Feb 16–20, Apr 13–17, May 25, 2026
- Spaces are limited — early reservations encouraged
Contact and Location
Discovery Bay Children's Center is located at 3051 28th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98199, in the Magnolia neighborhood. The after-school program is housed inside Magnolia Presbyterian Church at the same address; summer camp drop-off and pick-up take place at Magnolia Park. Families can reach the center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 519-2142.
- Address: 3051 28th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98199
- Neighborhood: Magnolia, Seattle
- After-school host: Magnolia Presbyterian Church
- Summer drop-off/pick-up: Magnolia Park
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (206) 519-2142