---
title: "Create a program"
description: "Set up an add-on program (an optional extra like summer camp, swim or music lessons) billed on top of tuition, and enroll children in it."
type: setup
updated: 2026-10-09
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/owners/centers/create-a-program
roles: ["super_admin", "center_admin"]
platforms: [web]
---
A **program** is an optional extra that parents add on top of regular tuition: summer camp, swim or music lessons, tutoring. It sits apart from the room a child is in. Programs live under **Organization → Add-on programs**.

Classrooms and age groups are **rooms**, not programs. See [Add a room](/owners/centers/add-a-room). Before and after school care in your own rooms is usually set up with schedules and tuition plans instead. See [Before and after school care](/owners/centers/before-and-after-school-care).

## Create a program

1. Go to **Organization → Add-on programs**.
2. Click **Create Program**.
3. Fill in the **Create Program** form:
   - **Name** (required), like `Summer Camp` or `Swim Lessons`
   - **Description**
   - **Category**
   - **Center**
   - **Capacity** (leave blank for unlimited)
   - **Schedule**: pick the days it runs
   - **Start time** and **End time**
4. Click **Create Program**.

Programs show as cards with their category, center (or **All centers**), how many children are enrolled against capacity, and any billing plans attached. Inactive programs show an **Inactive** pill.

To change a program, click the pencil (**Edit**) on its card. The bin (**Delete**) removes the program and its enrollment history. Invoices and payments already recorded stay. You can't delete a program while children are actively enrolled in it.

## Enroll a child in a program

1. Go to **Organization → Add-on programs** and open the **Program Enrollments** tab.
2. Click **Enroll Child**.
3. Pick the **Child** and the **Program**, and set the **Start Date**. **End Date**, **Billing Plan** and **Notes** are optional.
4. Click **Enroll Child**.

If the program has a capacity and it's full, the enrollment is refused.

## See and export a program's roster

To see just the children in one program, apart from your full-time roster:

1. Go to **Organization → Add-on programs**.
2. On the program's card, click **View roster**. Or open the **Program Enrollments** tab and pick the program from the program menu.
3. The list shows every child in that program, sorted by last name. Use the status menu to switch between **Active** (the default), **All statuses**, **Withdrawn**, **Completed**, or **Inactive**, and the search box to find a child by name.
4. Click **Export CSV** to download the roster as a spreadsheet.

The CSV has one row per child: name, date of birth, room, family, parents, program, enrollment status, start and end dates, and the billing plan with its amount and interval. It uses the status you picked, so choose **All statuses** first if you also want children who have left the program.

**Export CSV** is greyed out until you pick a single program. Only owners and center admins can export a roster.

## Programs and billing

You can tie a billing plan to a program so that enrolling a child in the program applies the right price. See [Create a billing plan](/owners/billing/create-a-billing-plan), where **Program** is one of the optional fields.

## Troubleshooting

**A program shows as full.** It's at capacity. Raise the capacity on the program, or leave capacity blank for unlimited.