PORTSMOUTH — The new after-school child care program at the Common Fence Point Improvement Association (CFPIA) Community Hall is off to a modest but solid start, and volunteers are excited for the future.

“The word is getting out. That’s our challenge — to let people know about this great program,” said Conley Zani, the community hall’s rental manager.

Sitting in an open field a short walk away from the hall Wednesday was a bright-red helicopter from Bird’s Eye View, which is based at the Newport State Airport.

The child care program arranged for a visit from pilot and owner Jeff Codman and office manager Jennifer Perry, who took questions from the children — two at a time — while they sat in the cockpit. It was just one of several special activities organizers have planned for the kids registered for the program.

The helicopter visit was arranged by Nicole Gotovich, the program’s site coordinator and head teacher, as part of an aviation unit with the kids.

According to Ms. Gotovich, there are 11 children now registered at the center, which is licensed for 24. “We have a lot of middle schoolers, but we can take any child from K through 8,” she said.

The child care program is being run in conjunction with the Newport County YMCA.

“I think it’s great,” said Mike Miller, chief executive officer of the Newport Council Y. “We started working with them over six months ago in planning for this. We just thought there was a community need for more after-school programming and we wanted to step up and help out with that need. It’s wonderful to work with Common Fence Point and the community center to make all this happen.”

Child care in Portsmouth is just one of several satellite programs offered by the Y, he said.

“Right now, we’re in the Jamestown school system and the Middletown school system. Middletown is full and Jamestown has strong enrollment. We’re hoping that it continues to grow and we’re also hoping to offer more programs in this location and other locations in Portsmouth,” said Mr. Miller.

Conley Zani, the community hall’s rental manager, has two kids of her own in the program, ages 8 and 10.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this program,” she said. “What I love about it is they come and they do homework, they run around outside and come back in and play games, they do baseball and kickball and other sports. It’s very customized to the kids who are part of the program. They spend a lot of time getting to know the kids and learning what they want to do.”

Wednesday was an early dismissal day for the public schools, so the child care program welcomed kids early.

“The parents are very appreciative that the Y was here to cover it,” said Ms. Zani, adding that buses come to the community hall from the Hathaway, Melville and middle schools.

Added Anne Schultz, director of school-age programs at the center, “We’re trying to see if we can provide care on professional development days because that’s a problem for a lot of families. There’s just a huge need; there’s a need for (morning) care, too, in Portsmouth.”

Plenty to do for kids

Since the community hall is already used for a variety of purposes, volunteers are always looking for ways to integrate the children into those activities, she said.

“There’s Zumba and yoga and the kids can be part of that if they want to,” said Ms. Zani.

Halloween isn’t too far off, so the kids will have plenty to keep them busy.

“After the helicopter we were planning on going over bats and owls and decorating the hall with that in the basement. Every Halloween, there’s a big thing here in the neighborhood,” said Ms. Gotovich, noting that a neighborhood parade is part of the fun.

And that’s not all.

“We’re thinking of doing a haunted house and getting the Y to help us make it bigger and better,” said Ms. Zani.

“It would be children-directed, for sure, because they can be diabolical,” said Ms. Schultz with a laugh.

Added Ms. Zani, “They have all the good ideas.”