KidStep
Our mission is “Joining Children on their Spiritual Journey.” The purpose of KidStep is to intentionally focus on ways we can help children spend time with Jesus on their own and experience God’s love so that we can help children from birth through fifth grade take next steps of faith.
What to Expect
Sundays | 9 or 10:30 AM
At KidStep, Sunday mornings are full of fun, faith, and friendship. Your children will enjoy engaging Bible teaching, energetic singing, and small group time designed just for them—all in a safe, age-appropriate environment. We’re excited to welcome your family into a space where kids can grow spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically (Luke 2:52).
KidStep is a ministry that joins children on their spiritual journey through the gifts and abilities of dedicated volunteers and partners with parents to help each child thrive in every area of life. Our secure check-in and check-out process ensures your peace of mind, and our team is happy to answer any questions—just look for the check-in stations when you arrive!
We can’t wait to walk alongside your family as your child grows in faith and love!
Sundays in August
The month of August will see us resume programming for kids of all ages, but it will look a bit different than usual. Elementary students who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grade will all be together for worship and a Bible lesson followed by rotation stations in the auditorium at 9 and 10:30 AM. Our preschool students will be in their regular classrooms. These should be exciting weeks of learning for our kids as we wrap up the summer!
Disability Voluntary Disclosure
Our desire at Hershey Free is that every child experiences a sense of belonging. We recognize that there are times when extra support may be helpful in making this a reality. In light of this, if your child has a disability or accommodation request that you would like to make us aware of, please complete the form below.
For Parents
KidStep Parent Connect | Sundays | 9 AM | T-Wing: Room 302
Each Sunday at 9 AM, parents of children who attend KidStep have the opportunity to connect for Bible study and fellowship at KidStep Parent Connect. What a joy it is to meet together as parents of children who are in KidStep! We share so many of the same joys, as well as challenges, as we seek to lead our children to know and love Jesus better.
Holiday Sundays
On Holiday Sundays, we encourage families to take the opportunity to worship together. We know this might not be possible for every holiday or for each family, so we will offer nursery and one combined preschool classroom.
- The next holiday Sunday is September 6.
**Volunteer Opportunities**
Do you love seeing kids grow in their faith, ask big questions, and light up with joy? Our Children’s Ministry is growing, and we need more caring, dependable volunteers to come alongside our kids on Sunday mornings. Whether you enjoy telling stories, leading small groups, helping with crafts, or just offering a warm smile and helping hands, there’s a place for you here! No teaching experience needed—just a heart to serve. Be a part of something meaningful and help shape the next generation!
We’re currently recruiting for fall programming. If you’d like more information or are a current volunteer who would like to recommit, please fill out the form below.
For Kids
Connections for Moms and Kids | Wednesdays | 9:30 - 11:30 AM
August 12 | Founders Park, 570 Homestead Road, Hershey
Moms with children of all ages are invited to our summer playdates. Invite your friends, and come and go when you please. July and August’s playdates have a backup location at Hilltop in case of rain or extreme heat, which will be communicated in advance on hfcinfo.com. Contact: Kara Lahr for details: kara.tilghman@gmail.com or 717-421-3238.
Passage Ceremony | Sunday, September 13 | 12 PM | Auditorium
The Passage Ceremony is an opportunity for us to encourage our incoming 6th and 9th grade students as they prepare to enter the next phase of their faith journey. It is a way for us to celebrate students and to remind them that we will always be in their corner as they move through KidStep and CORE. The Passage Ceremony allows families to gather together and encourage their student in intentional ways. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by September 6.
KidStep Offering Opportunity | We are currently supporting David & Denise Love, who work with several groups. They work with Afghan refugees who have needs from mattresses to sewing machines. David also helps obtain Bibles and solar players for various people groups in South America.
Hilltop Christian Nursery School
Since 1979, Hilltop Christian Nursery School, a ministry of the Hershey Free Church, has been welcoming children to learn, to have fun, and to grow in their knowledge of Jesus. We invite your family to join the Hilltop family as we work together to create a learning environment tailored to the age and developmental stages of our students. We believe a child is a total person, designed by God to be well-rounded and maturing in every dimension.
We believe that the experience of each child should be consistent with his or her individual stage of development and, therefore, learning should be achieved in a way that is comfortable and natural for him or her. This can be reinforced with Godly principles through daily experiences.
Hilltop Christian Nursery School serves children ages 3, 4, and 5. Children should reach the classroom age as of October 1st of the admission year.
Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open! The registration form can be found below.