On Friday, Sept. 4, Mayor Ed Murray announced that Seattle Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC), will expand currently scheduled before- and after-school care into all-day camps on September 9, 10 and 11 in the event of a strike by Seattle Public Schools teachers.
“While we still hope that an agreement will be reached to allow school to start on time, the City is making arrangements to provide some relief to impacted families juggling childcare arrangements,” said Murray. “That’s why, for families with children already participating in Seattle Parks and Recreation before- and after-school programs, we will be expanding those program hours for them.”
“The heart of our work here at Parks and Recreation is to support kids and families,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre. “If the strike takes place, we will do just that.”
The day camps, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will take place at 16 designated community centers around the city with capacity for approximately 850 children. They are for youth aged 5 to 12 who are enrolled in regular Parks and Recreation/ARC 2015-2016 school year before- and after-school programs. These day camps will operate only if school is not in session and will operate at no additional cost to families.
Parents or guardians can still register children by phone or at their home community centers.
Registration is first-come, first-served. Before- and after-school program registration paperwork must be completed to be eligible.
Please note:
In the event of a strike, preschool programs will be canceled at all community centers for the duration of the strike. Families will receive a pro-rated credit for days missed. Displaced families can call the City of Seattle’s Childcare Hotline at 206-386-1050 for assistance in finding alternative child-care.
- Children will be asked to bring a sack lunch. ARC will provide breakfast snacks and afternoon snacks, and will provide lunches for any children who do not bring one.
- Parents or guardians must drop children off by 9 a.m. or Parks and Recreation will activate the waiting list.
- At day’s end, Parks and Recreation/ARC will release children only to the authorized person, with identification, listed on the registration form.
- Parks and Recreation and ARC will make every effort to accommodate a child’s special needs; however, the 1:15 ratio of child to staff does not allow for the extra attention provided in regular before and after school programs.
The day camps will take place at these centers:
- Northwest Seattle: Ballard, Bitter Lake and Magnolia community centers
- Northeast Seattle: Meadowbrook, Northgate and Ravenna-Eckstein community centers
- Central Seattle: Miller and Queen Anne community centers
- Southwest Seattle: Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point and South Park community centers
- Southeast Seattle: Rainier, Rainier Beach and Van Asselt (with Jefferson) community centers
In addition, Parks and Recreation’s Teen Life Centers (TLC) at Meadowbrook, Garfield and Southwest community centers will be open two hours earlier than normal from 11 a.m. each day until their regular closing times, available here.
Late Night Recreation programs will operate on their regular schedules at Bitter Lake, Delridge, High Point, Rainier, Rainier Beach, South Park and Van Asselt community centers and at the Garfield, Meadowbrook and Southwest TLCs.
Information about community centers is available here.
Additionally, all locations of The Seattle Public Library are open regular hours and Library staff members are ready to support students and families with resources and programs. Visit spl.org or call 206-386-4636 to find out the nearest library, the hours of operation and scheduled programs.