Summer Camp is Happening!

As soon as we posted yesterday’s update, Rec & Park made important announcements about Summer Camp:

Update on Summer Day Camps 2020

We’re excited to announce that under the City’s new health order, summer day camps can operate and will begin June 15.

Recreation and Park Summer Day Camp Registration

Families that are currently enrolled in our Emergency Child Care program, along with scholarship-eligible families, can begin registering for summer day camps on May 26. All other families can begin registering for remaining slots on June 6. Information on camp offerings will be posted at https://apm.activecommunities.com/sfrecpark/Home on May 25.

For more information on non-Recreation and Park Department camps and offerings, visit the Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF) https://www.dcyf.org/care.

Additionally, The SF Chronicle reported:
The park department will operate three camp sessions this summer, from June 15 through July 2, July 6 through July 24, and July 27 through Aug. 14. Summer programs funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families will be able to provide programming from June 15 through Aug. 17. Camp Mather in the Sierra, which is run by the city park department, will remain closed.

In order to open, camp operators will have to adhere to the health department’s safety guidelines, including temperature screenings and enhanced cleaning measures. Camps will be allowed to operate through Aug. 17 (When SFUSD just announced that the school year will start).

To minimize groups commingling, which raises the risk of transmitting the virus, each camp session must last at least three weeks with a maximum of 12 kids. The same groups of staff must attend to each distinct group of campers.

Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg acknowledged that the three-week stretches would throw off the ordinary cadence of camp sessions, where children usually spend a single week at camp, then move on to another one.

“We want to make sure that these kids, above all else, have something to do this summer,” Ginsburg said during a virtual news conference about the camp announcement.

Rec and Park will oversee 25 camps in addition to the 40 or 50 that will be operated by private entities. As many as 100 other camping or youth recreation programs will also be offered by nonprofits, Ginsburg said.

Read the full story https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Good-news-for-parents-San-Francisco-summer-park-15289290.php

May 22, 2020

Upper Noe Rec Center continues to function strictly as a day care center for emergency and health care workers until June 2, or possibly longer. The staff deserves a huge thanks for doubling as distance learning tutors helping students to keep up with classwork (see photo).

Monitor Rec & Park response to COVID-19 at https://sfrecpark.org/AlertCenter.aspx .

Support Programming 
Rec & Park has issued a survey to gain public input on how to spend bond money. Please take this opportunity to promote “recreational programs”. Too often, bonds fail to mandate the funds necessary to maintain inclusive and robust programs. This is not one of the options offered, so please be sure to write it into the boxes on pages 5 and 7. You might write something like “Please provide the equipment and support necessary for supervised activities and recreational programs.” Also mention programs you want to see continued, such as Zumba, Yoga, Basketball, etc.
Take the survey at https://app.maptionnaire.com/en/7025/

Sanchez Becomes a Slow Street 
We have no indication when the park grounds will reopen. However, more recreation space is now available nearby. With neighborhood input, SFMTA chose Sanchez Street from 30th Street to 23rd Street to be part of the Slow Streets program. Signs and barriers deter through traffic to provide more room for walkers, joggers, bikers and play.

Summer Recreation in Limbo
This info was immediately updated by Rec & Park. See the May 23 announcement above.

Donations
A shout out for the Macmillan family, who kindly donated this gently used scooter, at right with Program Director Levi Johnson. And a big thanks go out to whoever left puzzles at the gate. The Rec Center is still looking for children’s puzzles (never opened only) and scooters to keep day care children amused.

Friends of Upper NoeRecreation Center provides equipment and support for our wonderful neighborhood park, its patrons and staff year.-round.  http://www.uppernoerecreationcenter.com/donate/

Get citywide activity updates directly from Rec & Park. Sign up at sfrecpark.org/about/publications/

Upper Noe Recreation Center office: 415-970-8061

Chris Faust
Chair, Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center
info@uppernoerecreationcenter.com
www.UpperNoeRecreationCenter.com