Tag: childcare

One less thing to worry about.

why-i-make-fun-character-bento-lunches-for-my-kids-161

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.

 

A Camp A Day – Day 7: Camp Flexibility for Ages 4-6!

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hi51It’s Day Seven of our A Camp-A-Day Series, and this is one I think you will be EXTREMELY excited about if you have kids in the 4-6 year range! It’s Camp High-5, and there are oodles of options!

What is High – 5?
High 5 Camp offers a traditional Summer Camp with a twist! Designed by our Preschool Director, Edna English, High-5 Camp will provide an enriching theme each week to activate your child’s imagination and engage them in summer-long learning in a fun and playful way! Topics include: the Universe, Engineering/Building Concepts, Castles and Dragons, Theater, Science, the Animal Kingdom, cooking and of course, DINOSAURS! We’ll provide snack each day, ample supplies, and don’t worry, each theme will have different activities each week in the AM and PM modules. Yes, I said it… “PM!”

NEW THIS SUMMER! Camp High-5 in the Afternoon, PLUS Bridge Care!
Camp High-5 will now be running a morning option, an afternoon option and an ALL DAY option! What does this mean? It means FLEXIBILITY for an age group that usually has few choices! By adding “Bridge Care” as mentioned in one of our previous posts, we are allowing young campers to stay a full day! Let us give you some ideas. (Please note, “Bridge Care” is globally available for ages 4-14)

Options galore for Ages 4-6…

  • Select Camp High 5 all day from 9am to 4pm
  • Take High 5 in the morning (9am-12pm), sign up for “Bridge Care” from 12-1pm, and then experience a completely different camp from 1-4pm that our staff will walk your child to.
  • Take an enrichment or sports camp in the morning from 9am-12pm and then have our Bridge Care staff pick up your child for a supervised lunch and an afternoon of Camp High-5 until 4pm.
  • Take an enrichment or sports camp in the morning, sign up for Bridge Care, and then take another specialty camp in the afternoon!
  • It’s important to note that only camps marked with a “Bridge” will qualify for Bridge Care. BRIDGE CARE

Details

High -5 Camp
Ages 4-6
with Recreation Staff
Weekly from 6/23-8/15
9am-12pm, 1-4pm or 9am – 4pm
Half Day: $168/$148 Resident Discount
Full Day: $335/ $315 Resident Discount
Bridge Care 12-1pm: $48 / $40 Resident Discount or $10 lunchtime drop-in in a pinch!

Lastly…

Our activity guide will be posted online, TOMORROW!! See you  then!

 

Meet Edna English! Preschool Teacher, Camp Director and Obsessive Collector!

edna_mini“Edna English” sounds like some sort of Superhero Teacher. If you knew Edna, you would agree that this name fits her perfectly!  We were so fortunate that Edna answered our cry when we set out to find a new preschool teacher for our Lil’ Learners Preschool Program. Since she began 3 ½ years ago, our preschool has evolved into a very successful morning & afternoon program. She has also introduced an afternoon Spanish Immersion Preschool program, then, last summer, she launched Camp High-5!

solar-kidsHigh -5 is a recreation/enrichment camp for kids between the ages of 5 1/2 – 7. She wanted to do something special for this age group. Her goals were simple: to give the “big kids” a designated space to have an enrichment camp infused with the recreation camp experience; for them to have a ton of FUN; and of course, an excuse for her to spend some quality time with some of her recent Lil’ Learners graduates whom she had been missing.

Edna is amazingly passionate about her job, her kids… and some of her personal interests ( to which I lovingly refer to, as her ‘geeking out’, in a good way). I had interviewed her this week and had her answer some basic personal questions. She answered them in a very matter-of-fact way, somehow thinking that she had to “tone it down” for professionalism’s sake. I told her that our audience would likely prefer her overflowing enthusiasm, as we sell ourselves as purveyors of experience and fun! You see, Edna LOVES her job. I mean…she REALLY LOVES her job. Hopefully this is apparent in her response.

edna_kids

How many years have you been teaching preschool?

You mean, how many years have I been doing exactly what I want to do and have had the best job on earth? 13.

What is the best part about teaching preschool?

The best part about teaching preschool is being around amazing kids. I love how preschoolers get excited when they try something for the first time. I love watching them build confidence as they master a new skill. I have the best conversations with preschoolers.  Also, this is my happy place. No matter what is going on in my life, I will ALWAYS come to work. This is where I feel normal, and honestly, how could you be anything but HAPPY in  this classroom!

Now onto camp. You decided to depart from Preschool Camp, What inspired you to create High-5?

012High-5 is way for older children to experience the preschool technique of “learning through play” & hands-on activities. Children don’t realize they are learning when they are having fun and creating awesome things. Also, I wanted to create an environment where we were really theme-rich and gave kids more time to explore a concept, expand their imaginations and finish a project. Sometimes in Recreation Camps things move quickly, so you don’t get a chance to really delve into a topic. We give them time to not only work on their creations, but expand on it as the days move forward.

It’s Clear you LOVE Camp, so what is your favorite camp memory?

One of my favorite camp memories is having a huge water fight with all the campers, staff and LITs where not ONE person was left dry.   

Camp Nick Name

Campers have been calling me “Turtle” for over 10 years… you’ll have to sign up for camp to find out why!

Favorite Camp Song

Yo’ mama don’t wear no socks.

Fun Fact About Edna

I collect Lego Mini-Figures*. When buying the series mini-figures, I can even feel through the packaging to find specific figures. 

*Important to note, Edna more than collects “Mini-Figs,” she is obsessed.  Words cannot describe…. but a picture on the other hand…

Find our more about Camp High-5 for 5½ – 7 year-olds here.

Meet Edna and the rest of our camp directors at our Camp Fair this Saturday from 1:00-4:00pm at Red Morton Community Center! Bring your questions and your KIDS! There will be fun, hands-on activities and our inflatable playland!

 Camp Fair

I’m Calling It! It’s Spring!

 

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Spring may *officially* be only days away – March 20 to be exact – but since December of last year, we have had Spring & Summer on the brain. So I’m calling it! Spring is here! Countless emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. have been constant, as we have been coordinating the thousands of classes and camps that are coming your way. Then what? Then we take all of this data and enter it one-at-a-time into our registration system, create marketing pieces, update websites, bombard your Facebook and Twitter feeds and write blogs telling you that it’s HERE!

Here are some important things you should know:

  • Resident Online registration begins on Monday, March 18th at 11am. Non-Residents can register on April 1 (no joke!)
  • Our Full Interactive Spring Guide can be viewed here.
  • Need an online account? Get one here.
  • The Summer Camp Guide has been online since March 5th here. How did people know about it? It was on our website, we emailed it to our customers from our electronic mailing list (sign up here), and we posted it on Facebook & Twitter. We really wanted you to see it as soon as we had access to it. We know how important and stressful Summer Planning can be!
  • Both the Spring and Summer Guides have hit the Post Office today! It is now in their hands. Some of you may get lucky and receive your guides today, but our bets are on tomorrow.

What’s New?

  • We have quite a few new programs – too many to actually list.
  • We have added an After Care Pilot program this Summer to hopefully help parents have more flexibility in their planning. We recognized that many kids wanted to take Science Camp, but couldn’t be picked up at 3pm. Now parents will have more options!

Have Suggestions? We are all ears!

Email us at recreation@redwoodcity.org and tell us!

 

HAPPY SUMMER PLANNING!

 

 

Shoes in the News

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There are plenty of news stories right now that leave our hearts heavy, however, we have one that will make you smile.

Back in March of 2011, our Sandpiper Youth Club kids wanted to do something to help the Tsunami victims of Haiti. Together, armed with the power of baked goods, they raised over $1000! Well, the philanthropy bug has struck again. This time, in the form of footwear!

Last Summer, one of our great Recreation Leaders, Michael Benjamin (he is also our skilled videographer) went on a Summer trip to Rwanda, Africa to volunteer at an Orphanage. His stay lasted only 3 months, but the impact of this vacation will last a lifetime. Upon his return,  he brought details of his experience to  the children of our Sandpiper Youth Club, After School Program. He spoke of the poverty, and how the children there were so impoverished that many didn’t even have shoes!  He also mentioned that despite their situation, many of the children excelled in sports, like soccer. The children were clearly touched by the situation, and their wheels started spinning regarding how they could possibly help these Orphans in Rwanda. Mike and Telisha (our fearleass SYC Director) suggested the idea of a shoe drive.

The SYC kids loved the idea of sending shoes to Africa, and quickly set a collection goal of 100 pairs. In two months time, about 80 pairs of sneakers and cleats were acquired, just shy of their goal. The next task was to raise money to ship the shoes overseas. The Sandpiper Youth Clubbers decided to sell popsicles every Friday until they earned enough money to send their donation to Africa. Michael’s wife was heading back to Rwanda for work and packed two extra suitcases full of shoes to bring to Rwanda. The extra baggage fees were covered by the hard work of our awesome kids!

We are so proud of the children in our Sandpiper Youth Club Program for being so philanthropic. The excitement level for taking donations, bringing in shoes and raising money, never slowed down. Great job, kids & staff!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Sandpiper Youth Club Has Heart

SYC Dancers

 
Kids are always excited about the SYC (Sandpiper Youth Club) end of the year talent show. They usually start asking to show staff their routines six months in advance! Unfortunately, one of our beloved girls, Jamie, got some unexpected news that she would be moving back to Indiana in less than a month! Jamie had performed in the talent show for the past two years and was really looking forward to this year’s production. You could only imagine the disappointment she felt to hear that she was moving away and the TALENT SHOW would not be in her future.

First, she asked staff if they could change the date of the show. Our Staff mulled over this option, but settled on another idea. Instead of moving the entire show, they decided to make it a little more special for Jamie and actually have a special performance for her and her friends! Jamie recruited a group of kids and asked Miguel – our resident breakdancer/amazing team member- if he could help choreograph a dance routine to the song Thriller, and of course, he agreed. For three weeks the girls practiced with Miguel and on Jamie’s last day at SYC, they performed their awesome routine!

 



 
P.S. It took Jamie about 45 minutes to finally leave…crying crying and more crying. Her mom was sobbing and of course, so was our SYC Coordinator. Jamie’s Mom told us were weren’t just an afterschool program, we’re a family 🙂

By the way, if you think this program sounds awesome, and you have children at Sandpiper Elementary School, registration begins TODAY for the Fall 2012 session! We also have a Kindergarten program called K-Play that will now be available 5 days a week!

Check out the program information here: http://www.redwoodcity.org/parks/kidstuff/SYC.html

Oh… and if you need more dancing, check out this fantastic video – straight from SYC, of course.

 

Got Lunch?

Photo from http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com

Let me start by saying, I can’t do this. I am taking off my Parks & Recreation, Leslie Knope, hat for a second and putting on my parent hat.

Lately, I have noticed a surge on the web.  Images of carefully crafted Bento Box Lunches are haunting me. They look amazing, BUT I am a working parent, and boy, if this becomes the classroom norm, I am in big trouble. Packing lunch is already one extra step in the morning that can sometimes make or break me our punctuality to school.  Yes, I know this is not a daunting task for all parents, but anything with food involved, whether cooking it or assembling it, is my Achilles heel.  Thankfully, those in my population have an option. Did you know about Camp Kaboom?

Camp Kaboom is an All Day Camp at Red Morton Community Center, from 8:00am to 5:00pm (post care from 5-6pm), with 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?

Check out our theme weeks and more online at RedwoodCityCamps.org. Kaboom is listed under Youth/Recreation Camps.

Regards,

Jordana Freeman, Community Services Manager, Mom of 2