Category: Youth

May the 4th still be with you…

photo from http://www.retroland.com/star-wars-toys/

I think I can speak for most children of the 70’s and 80’s when I say that Star Wars was a big part of our lives.  We had to wait for what felt like FOREVER for a sequel and an eternity for the trilogy, only to be confused over a decade later that we would now refer to these films as episodes IV, V and VI. While showing the original Star Wars for the first time to my kids, after not seeing it for decades, for a fleeting moment I thought, “Will this movie hold up?” It was starting to look a little more like something you would see on MST 3000 (Mystery Science Theater 3000). Thankfully, I can attest that it did indeed hold up, and I was reminded of how groundbreaking  Lucasfilm’s special effects were at that time.

There is clearly something special about this franchise because here we are 40 years from the original release date, and kids are still crazy over Star Wars. We got to re-experience the excitement of a new Star Wars release in 2015 with The Force Awakens, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit to shedding many tears, both of joy and sadness, as I watched this carefully crafted tribute film with my own kids.

Since the force awoke, we’ve seen Rogue One and can also look forward to The Last Jedi, aka Episode VIII, this December. The force is still very much alive and strong, and I haven’t even mentioned the numerous LEGO Star Wars series and shows that frequently grace our Netflix queue.

We want to help you keep your child’s Star Wars mojo in full force. So help you, we will. Here is a list of fun summer camps where your child can geek-out on Star Wars all week long!

***Don’t forget, you can link these half day camps up with something else of their liking by utilizing Bridge Care. More here.***

maythe4thJedi Engineering using LEGO®
June 26-30, 2017
Red Morton Community Center
Taught by the building experts at Play-well Teknologies
This is really the perfect storm. LEGO® and Star Wars, together in one place! If you were 7 years old, you might be shaking with excitement at the thought! The FORCE is definitely strong in both of these activities, and whether you are a young Padawan or a Jedi Master, we have a camp to fit your child’s engineering needs. Click the links below for more info and to register.

Jedi Engineering Using LEGO®
Age 5-6 years
9:00am – 12:00pm

Jedi Master Engineering Using LEGO®
Age 7-12 years
1:00 – 4:00pm

SummerProgramsStar Wars Stop Motion Flix
July 31 – August 4, 2017
1:00-4:00pm (full day option here)
Taught by Incrediflix
You mean, kids get to make their OWN Star Wars movie? From a galaxy far far away and to a location near you! Kids are crazy about making videos and now they can bring Star Wars characters to life using stop-motion animation. Students will get to create characters and sets for a Star Wars movie that they storyboard, write, shoot, and voice-over in age-appropriate groups.

May the 4th be with all of you! And note, tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, Cartoonists Day, National Chocolate Custard Day, National Hoagie Day, and International Space Day among may others.

In good fun,

Jordana Freeman
Community Services Manager, Star Wars Geek, and Mom of 2 boys

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One less thing to worry about.

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See this photo? This is not in my morning routine. I applaud parents who take the time and energy to craft these Pinterest worthy bento boxes, but my reality is very different. I am again taking off my Parks & Recreation hat for a second and putting on my parent hat. I know that some of you are quite skilled in the lunch-making arena, but my family mornings reflect more of a Ground Hog Day scenario.

Let me explain. If the concept of Ground Hog Day has you puzzled, let’s take a trip back to 1993. Bill Murray starred in a film – titled Ground Hog Day – about a weatherman who gets caught in a blizzard and finds himself suspended in a time warp where he relives the same day over and over. Do you see where I might be going with this? Fast forward to 2017. I wake my boys up for school and then the reminders begin. Really, it’s only 5 things. Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, shoes, LET’S GO! We keep it simple. However, in my home, there is some sort of “kidnesia.” A Ground Hog Day effect. It’s like yesterday and the day before never happened. I get it. I’d rather build LEGO and read too. But, we have to go.

In addition to the reminders, and my husband and I getting ready for work ourselves,  the kids need lunch. Packing lunch may not be a daunting task for all parents, but anything with food involved, whether cooking it or assembling it, is my Achilles heel. The types of lunches my kids will eat cannot be made the night before, they prefer warm Thermos lunches, and my husband and I oblige. What we really need in the morning is a path of least resistance, which brings me to the exciting part, and the reason for my sharing these troubles with you. Thankfully, those in my population have an option. Take the summer off, lunch-makers! Let me introduce you to Camp Kaboom & Camp Whatchamacallit!

Kaboom & Whatchamacallit are Full Day Camps offered at the Community Activities Building and Sandpiper Community Centers, with early start times and the opportunity for Post Care, fun Field Trips, Swimming, Recreational Activities, Special Events, Arts, Crafts, Healthy Snacks, and… wait for it….LUNCH!!!! DAILY! Wake up, get dressed, and KABOOM! (Well, you are on your own for breakfast). Pretty great, right?

And if bento boxes are your thing, I have great respect for you. You are also welcome to send your kid along with a homemade lunch if you so desire.

Regards,

Jordana Freeman, Community Services Manager, Mom of 2

Registration Information

Camp Kaboom
Age 6-12
7:30am-5:30pm (post care available)
Community Activities Building
Register Now

Camp Whatchamacallit
Age 6-12
8:00am-5:00pm (post care available)
Sandpiper Community Center
Register Now

Check out our theme weeks, registration information and more online at RedwoodCityCamps.org.

 

Summer Camp Planning Tools- Cheat Sheets!

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If you read only one of our posts about Summer Camp, this is the one. 

Yesterday, we posted about some new additions to our flex care program and we PROMISED you another at-a-glance grid to help you easily piece together a Bridge Care Plan. While we know it’s a lot of fun to mix and match AM and PM camps and design the perfect summer program for your child, we also know what a scavenger hunt it can be. In addition, we decided it would be beneficial to create a FULL-DAY-CAMP-Cheat-Sheet that provides you with a quick and easy way to identify which all-day options are available each week. So, we went ahead and created both for you!

Please keep in mind that we have many other wonderful camps that are not listed in either of these documents due to their start and end times not aligning with Flex Care or what we feel constitutes a full day. 

Bridge-Care-FlyerBridge Care Cheat Sheet

If you are asking “What’s Bridge Care?” Check out yesterday’s post which explains it at length. Use this guide to see which morning and afternoon camps can be paired up each week to create a full day. All camps listed qualify for Pre & After Care as well!

Bridge Care Cheat Sheet

Full Day Camps At-A-Glance

Download this guide to help you figure out which programs run all-day and which of them are attached to pre-care and after-care. This document is more comprehensive than the Bridge Care one and shows correlating page numbers, ages, and class codes to make registration a breeze!

FULL-DAY-CAMP-Cheat-Sheet

We hope you will enjoy these tools and that you will find the perfect camp experience!

You can find all of these documents on our website as well as our full Summer Camp Calendar at www.RedwoodCityCamps.org!

May the Fourth be with You All Summer

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Star Wars is not going away any time soon. Thankful, yes, we are. Our department embraces all people, wookies, parks, planets, droids, etc. We are also blindingly aware that many of your children are Star Wars obsessed (and okay, as are many of us parents). Today may be a relatively newly created holiday akin to National Grilled Cheese Day and Clean Up Your Room Day (May 10th, parents, it’s real), but we wanted to you to know that we celebrate Star Wars all year long and summer is no exception! Here is a short list of a few summer camps that can keep your child’s summer Star Wars mojo in full force.

maythe4thJedi Engineering with LEGO®
July 11-15th
Red Morton Community Center
Taught by the building experts at Play-well Teknologies
This is really the perfect storm. LEGO® and Star Wars, together in one place! If you were 7 years old, you might be shaking with excitement at the thought! The FORCE is definitely strong in both of these activities, and whether you are a young Padawan or a Jedi Master, we have a camp to fit your child’s engineering needs. Click the links below for more info and to register.

Jedi Engineering Using LEGO®
Age 5-6 years
9:00am – 12:00pm

Jedi Master Engineering Using LEGO®
Age 7-12 years
1:00 – 4:00pm

(We have bridge care & after care too if you need a longer day of childcare.)

Star Wars Lightsaber Camp!
July 5-8, July 25-29, and August 8-12
9:00am-3:00pm
Taught by Jedi Trainers at Peninsula Fencing Academy
Yes! Kids will get to hone their lightsaber skills in a controlled environment that does NOT entail whacking your antique vase off of your living room end table. This camp is full of *safe* battles, obstacle courses, and more! Jedi training utilizes balance, speed, athleticism, and vision. This camp guarantees to harness the force and provide an epic summer experience for trainees ages 6-12 years of age.

Click the video below to see it in action!

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Enjoy the 4th, everyone! And note, tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, National Hoagie Day and National Oyster Day. Personally, I am looking forward to May 10th.

Tips for a Safe Halloween

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Updated with new info for 2015!

If you grew up listening to your parents tell you that every apple would have a razor blade inside, some of these helpful tips will sound OBVIOUS to you. If you are more the type to take candy from a stranger (which we will all be doing on Halloween night), then read on! We have put together a great list of safety tips over the years with help from our Redwood City Police Department to help all of us – adults and children alike, even your pets- have a safe and candyriffic Halloween night!

ADULTS
  • Welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and any exterior lights on.
  • Remove any outdoor obstructions that could pose a threat to people walking onto your property. (toys, hoses, gardening equipment)
  • Patrol your street occasionally to discourage speeding motorists, acts of malicious mischief and crimes against children.
  • Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police department immediately.   Call  9-1-1.
  • Do not give homemade or unwrapped treats to children.

MOTORISTS

  • Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle.  Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic.
  • Leave yourself plenty of travel time. Drive slower than usual. It’s one night. Being late is a better option.
TRICK OR TREAT TIPS
Make sure your kids dress up safely
  • Make sure costumes are flame retardant so children aren’t in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns.
  • Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.
  • Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable, and they can obstruct a child’s vision, a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.
  • Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.
  • Wear comfortable, safe shoes.
Make trick-or-treating trouble free
  • Create a map of a safe trick-or treating route and set a time limit for your children to “trick-or-treat.” Your neighborhood Nextdoor group now has a candy map which can help you to create your safe-route!
  • Make sure older kids trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so you will know where they are going. Tell them to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on and be very clear about your expectations for the evening.
  • Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups so they aren’t a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany young children.
  • Try to get your kids to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If it’s dark, make sure someone has a flashlight and pick well-lighted streets.
  • Do not go inside anyone’s home. Remain on the porch at all times.
  • Do not accept rides from strangers.
  • Remind kids to keep a safe distance from moving cars.
  • Cross only at street corners, NEVER between parked cars, and never diagonally across an intersection.
  • Look in all directions before crossing the street, and obey all traffic signals. Walk, never run, across the street, and use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.
  • Do not take shortcuts through back yards, alleys or parks.
  • Do not eat any treats until parents have inspected them.
  • Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.
Check all treats before eating
  • It’s hard for kids to hold back from eating their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they’re still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.
  • Check out all candy in a well-lighted place when your trick-or-treater gets home.
  • What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don’t forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious. By all means remind kids not to eat everything at once or they’ll be feeling pretty ghoulish for while!
  • Halloween can be a lot of fun for parents and kids alike–if everybody remembers the tricks and treats of playing it safe.
  • Call 9-1-1 if you suspect any tainted candy.

PET SAFETY
Just Like July 4th, Halloween can pose stressful for your animals as well as deadly.

  • Keep your pets away from the door. Dogs are especially territorial and this night can bring out the worst in them. A comfortable secure room in your home will keep your pet happy and they will be very thankful.
  • Tell your child if they see an animal, even one they know, to remember that they are in costume and may be extra scary to their 4-legged friend.
  • Two things that are DEADLY to dogs are Chocolate and the chemical, Xylitol. Xylitol can be found in sugar-free gum, candy, breath mints and baked goods– which we already told you not to hand out. 😉
  • PETMD says to keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween. “Black cats are especially at risk from pranks or other cruelty-related incidents.”
  • Decorations and the excessive number of extension cords can pose harmful.
  • Make sure your animals are properly tagged in case they escape.
  • Check out www.petmd.com for more pet safety tips.

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Dear Parents, We Need Your Feedback!

THANK YOU!

 

Camp High 5 Boy

We cannot believe another Summer is almost over and our 2014 camp season will soon be banked forever into a memory vault full of fond experiences (only 1 week left!). Roughly 3500 smiles have entered our buildings, run across our fields, hiked through our parks, traveled across the greater Peninsula and made new friends as well as rekindled old ones from summers past. We also provided a wealth of job experiences to over 70 staff, 34 Leaders in Training and 47 Junior Lifeguards, and that doesn’t even include the 40 contracted businesses that ran many of the specialty, enrichment and sports camps your kids enjoyed!

campersWe are so very grateful for your participation this summer! We have also TREMENDOUSLY appreciated the attention you have given to our weekly email surveys. Some of your comments resulted in some really helpful suggestions that our staff took immediate action on and made changes for the following sessions. FUN is our business and we take it seriously!

If you have not already done so this summer, please take a moment to fill out all of the applicable surveys for any camps your child has attended, listed below.

Our wish is that your child had an extraordinary and memorable summer camp experience! We hope that it will continue to manifest itself in your household or carpools in the form of stories, camp songs and wonderment about blue monkey sightings.

 

Until Next Summer…

 

Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services

 

A Camp A Day – Day 11: Math is Everywhere!

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It’s Day Eleven of our A Camp-A-Day Series. We have TWO camps that incorporate math concepts, but they are very different. Why? Because, Math is EVERYWHERE! Now many of our camps naturally have math concepts, like our science and engineering camps, but today we’ll highlight the ones that state it in the title. It’s Saturday, so we’ll stick with the obvious.

First, our very popular instructor extraordinaire, Dr. Peter Kohler, will be running a unique camp entitled, Nature’s Art & Math. Peter has been teaching art for many years and has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. He teaches Math enrichment at The Nueva School where he has encouraged student’s creativity for more than 20 years. He’ll explain that Fibonacci Numbers in Nature is some of the most visually magical math you can discover. Kids will explore flowers, pine cones, sand dollars, the nautilus and other shells, and galaxies for their fascinating math. With a great variety of math and art materials: oil pastels, paints, clay, paper folding, colored tiles and cubes, to build and be creative in math. Be inventive with 2-D and 3-D visual patterns, blending Numbers and Shapes. Peter has inspired and brought out a love for math and art in many children by sharing its beauty, its magic and mystery.

math love

Math-Mania is another new camp that is taught by After-School Enrichment Instructor and Math Enthusiast, Holly Lindquist! Holly loves math and so do her kids! This inspired her to bring their love of math to YOUR KIDS! Holly will expose children to some very cool areas of math that may not have been covered in their classrooms. They’ll learn about Fibonacci numbers, Pascal’s triangle, fractals, secret codes, and much more! She’ll also explore fun activities and craft projects to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts. You can visit Holly’s website for more info and math activities you can try at home!

Details…

Nature’s Art & Math
Age 5-10
with Dr. Peter Kohler
August 4 – August 8
Monday – Friday
9:00am-12:00pm
Location: Red Morton Community Center

Math-Mania
Age 9-11
with Holly Lindquist
July 21 – July 25 @ Red Morton Center
August 18 – August 22 @ Sandpiper Community Center
Monday – Friday
9:00am-1:00pm

Click here for the entire Summer Activity Guide!

A Camp A Day – Day 10: Futsal!

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It’s Day Ten of our A Camp-A-Day Series, yes, ten. Did you notice that we skipped a day? Our activity guides hit the post office yesterday so we thought we would let you peruse the catalog and chose your own favorite!

Today, we bring you Futsal! Follow in the footsteps of Pele, Messi and Ronaldo! All of these players credit their superior soccer skills to Futsal! Futsal was developed in Brazil and Uruguay in the 1930s and 1940s, and has provided many soccer players an additional outlet to refine their skills year-round because it is played primarily indoors. Whether your child plays soccer, or has never touched the ball, this camp will be a fun introduction for players of all levels!

Campers will be grouped according to their age and ability. Half of the day will be devoted to working on basic ball skills, individual skills, and Futsal concepts, and the other half will focus on teamwork and game situations- culminating in a full size game. Game situations are created that will improve skills, confidence and encourage teamwork all while having a ton of fun! Soccer & Smiles coaches are well trained, licensed and will provide a camp that is fun and challenging at every level of play. Not only that, the coach to player ratio is 1: 10 or less. Here are the details…

INDOOR FUTSAL CAMP
Age 7-14
with Soccer &  Smiles
Location: RMCC GYM
June 16 –  June 20
July 28 – August 1
Half Day – 9am-12pm $171/ $151 Resident Discount
Full Day 9am-3pm $219/ $199 Resident Discount

A Camp A Day – Day 9: Cricket!

a camp a day

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It’s Day Nine of our A Camp-A-Day Series, and this year, we are introducing kids to Cricket! What is Cricket? It’s ball-and-bat game played chiefly in Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries that is growing in popularity here in the United States. This ball and bat game is played between two teams of 11 players each on a field. At the center is a rectangular 22-yard long “pitch” (the central strip of field between the wickets). Each team takes its turn to bat in an attempt to score runs, similarly to baseball, while the other team fields. And just like baseball, the game is played with innings.

cricketThe camp is run by the National Academy of Athletics – who are also offering a wide variety of camps with us this year: Multi-sport, Basketball, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Speed and Vertical Power and Volleyball! In their innovative take on Cricket, kids will learn all facets of the game, and they’ll receive batting coaching, bowling coaching and fielding sessions. The camp is designed to introduce and/or improve cricket skills and of course, have a lot fun learning this exciting sport!

Details…

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Cricket
with National Academy of Athletics
9:00am-12:00pm
June 30-July 3 (no 7/4) on Sandpiper Field
July 14-18 on McGarvey Field  (this session qualifies for 12-1pm bridge care!)
July 28- August 1 at Sandpiper Field
Fee: $179 / $159 Resident Discount (week of 7/4 $152/$132 Resident)

Check out this camp and a TON more in our Summer 2014 Activity Guide!

A Camp A Day – Day 8: Opera Camp and Online Guide!

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It’s Day Eight of our A Camp-A-Day Series, and here is a brand new camp that we are REALLY excited about! This Summer, we have partnered with West Bay Opera to offer a 2 week opera program for 9-14 year olds! This is a pretty comprehensive description, so I will let it speak for itself! Important to note: You must contact the Director to set up a meeting and audition. See below!

Summer Opera Youth Program
2 Weeks
Ages 9-14
with Michael Taylor. Michael has been directing, producing and performing in West Bay Opera’s Opera in the Schools (OITS) Program for the past 16 years. An accomplished singer, he has also directed and conducted over fifty productions of operas and musicals. His composition credits include an opera, several musicals and many other vocal and choral works. He holds a Master’s Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and was also a cast member of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. He is an active voice teacher.

This is an intensive, two-week course. Students will design, produce and perform a musical work in English. They will collaborate with a professional stage director, music director, choreographer, technical designer and fellow students to learn new skills, create and perform an operatic work for friends and family on the final evening of the program. In addition performing, participants will work with instructors in a series of workshops to improve their performing arts skills in areas including: Acting and Improvisation, Music and Voice, Dance and Movement, Set & Media design.

Auditions

This is an intensive and highly rewarding program, but it may not be for everyone. Director Michael Taylor will meet with prospective enrollees and their families to answer questions, assess students’ skill level and determine if this is the right fit prior to registration. Please contact SYP@wbopera.org to schedule a meeting.

Summer Youth Opera Program
July 28 – August 8, 2014
9:00am-3:00pm
Fee for 2 weeks: $566 / $546 Resident Discount
LOCATION: VMSC Theater
Performance Date & Time: Friday August 8 at 7:30pm at the VMSC “Little Theater”

And Lastly – as promised…

Here is the link to our Summer 2014 Activity Guide