Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl
Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl is a licensed child care center in San Juan Capistrano, CA, licensed for up to 75 children and serving school-age children. It has held its California license since 1989. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 1 complaint, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 4 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (1 of 4). 2 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #12 of 15 centers in San Juan Capistrano and has more citations per inspection than 72% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Buildings and Grounds (g) Disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that could pose a danger if readily available to children shall be stored where inaccessible to children. This requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 Director created a boundary line to help students visualize where they are and are not allowed to be. LPA also verified that the sharp kitchen utensils are locked in the cabinet. The metal sliding door is only used to store paper plates and cups. Based on interviews, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that, Child 1 (C1) was able to obtain a can opener, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
Reporting Requirements (d)... any of the events specified, a report shall be made to the Department... (C) Any unusual incident or child absence that threatens the physical or emotional health or safety of any child. This requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 Director stated that they will discuss the reporting requirements with their supervisor. LPA also provided the director with the reporting requirements regulations and will send LPA a written statement to confirm they understand the reporting requirements. Based on interviews, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that the incidents regarding Child 1’s (C1) elopement were not reported to the department which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
Based on observation at 2;45 pm, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above that one staff was supervising 28 children in Y2 which poses an immediate health, safety risk to persons in care. Staff stated help will arrive soon. LPA observed another staff arrived at 3:15 pm.
On 2:45 pm based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above having an aid with 13 children outside on the bench area poses a potential health, safety risk to persons in care. Another staff arrived at 3:15 pm.
Complaint investigations
Facility did not ensure that sharp objects were not accessible to children in care.
Facility did not follow reporting requirements.
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl take infants?
Not under this license, which covers school-age children.
Has Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Feb 21, 2024, for teacher-child ratio. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl compare with other daycares in San Juan Capistrano?
It is #12 of 15 centers in San Juan Capistrano by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 72% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl last inspected?
Mar 24, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes San Juan Capistrano, was $820 a month for school-age children (about $1,040 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Capistrano Beach Cities YMCA-ambuehl?
The licensee is YMCA Of Orange County, and the administrator listed with the state is Sophia Comer.
Licensed centers nearby
31641 La Novia, San Juan Capistrano · 0.5 mi away · 96 spotsNo citationsSt. Margaret's Wee Tartan/Toddler Center
31641 La Novia, San Juan Capistrano · 0.5 mi away · 8 spotsNo citationsMarbella Montessori
31113 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano · 1.0 mi away · 124 spotsMore citations than mostCapistrano USD/San Juan State Preschool
31642 El Camino Real, #3, San Juan Capistrano · 1.2 mi away · 48 spotsAmong the most citedCapistrano Beach Cities YMCA-san Juan
31642 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano · 1.2 mi away · 45 spotsAbout typicalSunshine Montessori
31442 El Horno Street, San Juan Capistrano · 1.2 mi away · 61 spotsNo citations
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 300607120 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.