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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-07-2010 Park Board Other2010 Playground Program Report Join us at the playgrounds for some sensational summer fun! Theme weeks, arts -n- crafts, specialists and games are just some •of the fun things we'll do this summer. Program will conclude with a special party at your park. The above description was published in the 2010 Spring /Summer Lino Lakes Newsletter. Registration began March 4, 2010 and continued until June 11, with several registrations still coming in the first week of programs. The playground program maintained its 5 day a week structure. In this report you will see some highlights from this summer, including registration totals, budgets, staff, themes and more. PROGRAM STRUCTURE: Morning Program: Days /Dates: Monday — Friday, June 14 — August 5, no program July 5, 8 weeks Hours: 9:00 a.m. — Noon Locations: Birch Park, Sunrise Park and Clearwater Creek Park Cost: $85;$60 Lino Lakes Resident with $1 20 max /family Lino Lakes Resident Afternoon Program: Days /Dates: Monday — Friday, June 14 — August 5, no program July 5 Hours: 1:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. b 1 Cost: $95; $70 Lino Lakes Resident with $140 max/fan Locations: Behm's Park, Birch Park, Clearwater Creek Pew' Each park was able to hold a finale the last week of park (August ,'G- portion of a day during that week. Crafts for the finales varied bet last week of park was Kids Choice Week. Crafts included: balloon b■ i . name a few. Freezies or the popcorn machine were provided to the pk REGISTRATION TOTALS Maximums were set at 45 for morning parks and 65 for the afternoon pc. from 2009. • Behm's Park: 65 (62 residents, 3 non- residents) Birch Park: 52 (49 residents, 3 non - residents) Clearwater Creek Park: 65 (65 residents) Highland Meadows Park: 56 (53 residents, 3 non - residents) Sunrise Park: 37 (32 residents, 5 non - residents) Sunrise Park Morning: 28 (23 residents, 5 non - residents) Birch Park Morning: 49 (47 residents, 2 non - residents) Clearwater Creek Park Morning: 40 (37 residents, 3 non - residents) lr a The The overall participation in the park program increased in 2010. The total number of participants this year was 392 up 1 3% from 2009. This program has quite the following throughout the Lino Lakes community, which is reflected in the continued increase in participants from year to year. THEMES AND SPECIAL THEME CRAFT PROJECTS: Similar to previous years each week has a theme that allows the staff to center creative craft and game ideas around the theme. In addition to what each park plans for their week they are visited by the Art Specialists who lead participants in a special craft related to the theme of the week. The object of the theme week is to provide participants with opportuni- ties to learn and experience new activities in a fun and safe environment. Below are the weekly theme descriptions that were given to staff to fuel their creativity and help them plan a fun - filled week for participants. Week 1 — Sports Mania Craft: Tissue Paper Sport Ornaments This week participants will try their hands at a variety of different sports and activities. It's all about teamwork and trying new games this week! Be creative in your plan for the week. Learn a bit about new sports and our hometown teams. Be sure to incorporate some name games to help learn everyone's name. Week 2 — Let's Rock and Roll Craft: Marble Painting Postcards It's time to be creative and "Rock and Roll!" This week it's all about music! Have a karaoke contest; award prizes for best routines and performances. Divide kids up into teams and have "Elvis vs. the Beatles" (or any other music stars your park prefers) Dr. Dodgeball match up! • Week 3 — America the Beautiful Craft: Operation Gratitude Letters and Wooden Pinwheels "Oh say can you see ..." it's the week before the 4th of July! Time to get the kids at the playground excited about fireworks, barbecues and parades to come. Develop a sense of patriotism at your park - have the kids learn the names of 5 states, or presidents or capitols. Gear up for your own patriotic party on Friday if you choose! • Week 4 — Around the World in 5 Days Craft: Foam Luggage Tags Your mission: to visit different places around the world in 5 days. This week will have an international flair. Learn about different cultures through games and crafts from different countries. Hold your very own Olympics at your park: complete with medal ceremonies. Keep the energy levels high .. you're more than halfway through the summer! Week 5 — 3, 2, 1 Blast Off Craft: Outer Space Mobiles It's science week at the playgrounds. Turn your park into a mad scientist laboratory or the inside of a NASA space shuttle. There is no limit to your imaginations this week. Learn about outer space and who the first man on the moon was. The universe is your playground have fun with it! Week 6 — Beach Bash Craft: Decorate Your Own Beach Ball It's party time, BEACH party time that is! Get wet and wild this week and dedicate this time to watery fun you have at the beach. Build sand castles; make sunglasses and sand art, play volleyball and frisbee! This is also a great week to play Islands, shark and the limbo! Just don't forget your sunscreen. Week 7 — Lights, Camera, Action Craft: Flip Books or Comic Strips Hollywood, here we come! This week is all about the magic of entertainment. Put on plays, fashion shows and talent shows. Learn songs and perform them for parents! It's all up to you this week! Go wild with your supplies and use them up! • • Week 8 — Kid's Choice Craft: Different for each park End the summer with all the games kids love. Be creative and make each clay a different theme and let the kids help pick them out. Have a costume contest or color day. Send the kids off on a high note that will them excited to return next year! SPECIALISTS A variety of specialists visited the Playground Program sites this summer. All specialists except the Art Specialists visited each site once during the summer the Art Specialist visited each site weekly. This summer specialists included: Lino Lakes Police, Centennial Fire and Wargo Nature Center Naturalists. The children thoroughly enjoyed the visits by Officer Brandon Young, Firefighter Tracy Zarembinski and a variety of Naturalists. STAFF Twenty -one staff were hired to work the Playground Program this year in the following positions: Summer Coordinator — 2 Head Leader — 5 Leader — 8 Assistant Leader — 6 Of the twenty -one staff hired 7 were first year staff. Staff ranged in age from just completing their sophomore year of high school to completed college. BUDGET As I started preparations for the playground program this summer I did my best to remain budget conscious. When thinking of art projects I wanted to use the supplies that we had available to us at Marshan and still give the participants an unique craft. With the help of the summer coordinators we came up with several one of a kind crafts that we were able to mass produce for minimal cost and give each participant an excellent experience. The preservation of equipment at Marshan, specifically the gator skill balls from the mice worked out great this year as I didn't have to throw out any balls this spring. Overall the budget went exceptionally well this year ending with some money left in the account. I would like to use remaining funds to purchase equipment and craft kits for next year. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2011 Overall for 2010 I would keep the structure the same offering the same number of sites and keeping prices where they are at. After the program ended I sent out an e-mail asking for feedback regarding the playground program as well as promoting Blue Heron Days. There were a few suggestions that came back that I think would be benefi- cial to enhance the playground program. For the most part residents had great things to say about the playground program and are looking forward to having their children participate next year. One suggestion would be to have the participants take part in more service projects. This year as part of our 4th of July theme week, participants wrote a letter to service members as part of Operation Gratitude. If we could partner with the new assisted living facility that is being started in Lino Lakes it would be great to have another week of projects the kids could "donate" to the assisted living facility if they are interested. To help give parents a better understanding of what the summer is going to look like I would like to include a calendar of the summer in the initial mailing that gets sent out to all participants. I would also let parents know when the service member letters and art projects to the assisted living facility would be taking place. Communicating with the parents will help all participants have an enjoyable summer as everyone will be prepared for what is coming. • Program Structure for 2011 would be as follows: Morning Playground Program: Hours: 9:00 a.m. — Noon Ratio: 1 to 15 Cost: $85; $60 Lino Lakes Resident, $120 /family Lino Lakes Resident Dates: June 13 — August 4, 8 weeks Birch Park — Max 45, 3 staff Sunrise Park — Max 45, 3 staff Clearwater Creek Park — Max 45, 3 staff 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders Afternoon Playground Program: Hours: 1 — 4:30 p.m. Ratio: 1 to 15 Cost: $95/$70 Lino Lakes Resident; $140 /family Lino Lakes Resident Dates: June 13 — August 4, 8 weeks Behm's Park - Max of 65, 4 staff Birch Park - Max 65, 3 staff Clearwater Creek Park - Max 65, 3 staff Highland Meadows Park — Max 65, 4 staff Sunrise Park — Max 65, 3 staff 1 Head Leader, 2 or 3 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 2 or 3 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders 1 Head Leader, 1 or 2 Leaders, 1 or 0 Assistant Leaders Staff recommendations: Having the option of two afternoon subs is great, especially if one of them works mornings and is available in the afternoon if needed. The other substitute when then be a full time sub for a.m. and p.m. staff. All in all the 2010 Playground Program was a huge success. We had excellent staff that enjoyed spending their days at the playgrounds with the children of Lino Lakes. We look forward to spending another summer with them in 2011. • • Preschool Playtime Summer 2010 Recap Preschool Playtime is a chance for preschoolers to experience all the sensational fun of the playground program (themes, games, arts -n- crafts, specialists, etc.), but in a smaller, less intimidating group setting. Note: all participants must be potty- trained and 3 years old by June 14, 2010. The above description was published in the 2010 Spring /Summer Lino Lakes Newsletter. Registration began March 4, 2010 and ended the week before programs on June 11, 2010. In this report you will read some highlights from this summer. Program Structure: Days /Dates: Monday /Wednesday Program: June 14 — August 4 (No program, July 5) Tuesday/Thursday Program: June 15 — August 5 Hours: 9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Location: Marshan Park Cost: $85; $80 Lino Lakes Resident Ages: 3 — 4 years Just as in the playground program each program held a finale on the last week of program which included time with the bounce house as well as a special snack. Registration Totals: The maximum for preschool playtime is 18 participants this helps keep the ratio 1 staff to 6 children which is a manageable number for that age group. This summer there were 16 children registered in the Monday /Wednesday Program and 17 registered in the Tuesday/Thursday program. For a total of 33 participants which is a 22% increase from 2009. Themes and Special Theme Craft Projects: Preschool Playtime has the same theme weeks as the playground program with crafts and activities made age appropriate. The creative staff with Preschool Playtime did an excellent job of creating craft projects that worked for preschoolers. Each session of Preschool Playtime also received a visit from the Art Specialists at one of their classes each week. Week 1— Sports Mania Craft: Sport Ball Prints This week participants will try their hands at a variety of different sports and activities. It's all about teamwork and trying new games this week! Be creative in your plan for the week. Learn a bit about new sports and our hometown teams. Be sure to incorporate some name games to help learn everyone's name. Week 2 — Let's Rock and Roll Craft: Maraca Mania It's time to be creatvie and "Rock and Roll!" This week it's all about music! Have a karaoke contest; award prizes for best routines and performances. Divide kids up into teams and have "Elvis vs. the Beatles" (or any other music stars your park prefers) Dr. Dodgeball match up! Week 3 — America the Beautiful Craft: Americana Handprint Keepsake "Oh say can you see ..." it's the week before the 4th of July! Time to get the kids at the playground excited about fireworks, barbecues and parades to come. Develop a sense of patriotism at your park - have the kids learn the names of 5 states, or presidents or capitols. Gear up for your own patriotic party on Friday if you choose! Week 4 — Around the World in 5 Days Craft: Create -a -World Your mission: to visit different places around the world in 5 days. This week will have an international flair. Learn about different cultures through games and crafts from different countries. Hold your very own Olympics at your park: complete with medal ceremonies. Keep the energy levels high.. you're more than halfway through the summer! Week 5 — 3, 2, 1 Blast Off! Craft: Science Goggles and Bunsen Bowties It's science week at the playgrounds. Turn your park into a mad scientist laboratory or the inside of a NASA space shuttle. There is no limit to your imaginations this week. Learn about outer space and who the first man on the moon was. The universe is your playground, have fun with it! Week 6 — Beach Bash Craft: Fabulous Suntastic Sun Frames It's party time, BEACH party time that is! Get wet and wild this week and dedicate this time to watery fun you have at the beach. Build sandcastles., make sunglasses and sand art, play volleyball and frisbee! This is also a great week to play Islands, shark and the limbo! Just don't forget your sunscreen. Week 7 — Lights, Camera, Action Craft: Gold Hollywood Stars Hollywood, here we come! This week is all about the magic of entertainment. Put on plays, fashion shows and talent shows. Learn songs and perform them for parents! It's all up to you this week! Go wild with your supplies and use them up! Week 8 — Kid's Choice Week Craft: Disney Prince and Princess Crowns End the summer with all the games kids love. Be creative and make each day a different theme and let the kids help pick them out. Have a costume contest or color day. Send the kids off on a high note that will them excited to return next year! Specialists Just as the playground participants received visits from police officers, fire fighters and naturalists the preschoolers did as well. The presentations given by Officer Young, Fire Fighter Zarembinski and the naturalists was slightly different for the preschoolers but the goals were the same: to foster a relationship with the youth in Lino Lakes. • Staff: There was 3 staff that worked the Preschool Playtime program, one Head Leader and two Leaders. They also worked a - - playgrounds. They did an excellent job with the children and kept them busy for the two hour ere at the program. Budget: Preschool Playtime has a separate budget than the playground program and similar to playground this year we were able to end the year with some money in the account. Recommendations for 2011: The structure currently in place for the Preschool Playtime program works very well. I would continue with the two day a week structure as well as keeping with the same themes as the playground program. The ratios are something I feel is important to keep in tact. One staff to six children allows the staff to interact individually with the children as well as provide help when needed. A maximum of 18 participants per session is appropriate as any more children than that would make Marshan crowded. Program Structure for 2011: Days /Dates: Monday /Wednesday Program: June 13 — August 3 (No program, July 4) Tuesday/Thursday Program: June 14 — August 4 Hours: 9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Location: Marshan Park Cost: $85; $80 Lino Lakes Resident Overall the 2010 Preschool Playtime program was a great success and we look forward to working with a new set or preschoolers next summer! •