The City of Boise’s Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with the Boise School District to host Kid City Camps at five school-based community centers in Boise this fall. Kid City Camp is a Monday through Friday childcare program staffed by Parks and Recreation team members for children going into first through sixth grades when in-person school is cancelled due to health and safety concerns. The day-long camps will be offered during the fall of 2020 on weeks that the Boise School District does not hold in-person school due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We know that Boise parents are struggling and want to do all we can to support them. Our goal is to serve our residents by meeting needs as they arise during COVID-19 by providing care, keeping our children safe, and helping parents during this time of uncertainty,” said Mayor Lauren McLean. “I'm proud that our team at Parks and Recreation has stepped up to offer support to families who are now also faced with online school and the need to care for their children while working and doing all they can to get by. As a fellow parent in the Boise School District, I hope this additional childcare option provides peace of mind for residents trying to juggle multiple roles during this pandemic.”
All Kid City Camp locations will open for registration starting Monday, August 10 at 8 a.m. and registration is limited to up to 24 youth at each site. Students do not need to attend the school where a community center is based to take part in the program. The cost for care is $80 per week, per child for Boise residents and approximately $123 per week, per child for non-residents. Scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance to attend and no family will be turned away based on inability to pay.
“We are pleased to offer this option for working parents who need help with student supervision during the school day,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway. “Our community centers have always been a safe haven for kids after school and with this new Kid City Camp model, we will be able to provide a structured setting for students to interact with teachers online during traditional school hours.”
The hours of operation for each week-long camp will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program is specifically designed for working parents who do not have the ability to supervise their child’s online learning at home.
Current Kid City Camp Dates
- August 17-21
- August 24-28
- August 31-September 4
Kid City Camp Locations
- Grace Jordan Community Center (6411 W. Fairfield Ave.)
- Morley Nelson Community Center (7701 W. Northview St.)
- Taft Kid City Center (3722 W. Anderson St.)
- Whitney Community Center (1609 S. Owyhee St.)
- Whittier Community Center (255 N. 29th St.)
Each day of Kid City Camp will be comprised of online schooling led by the school the student currently attends. All children will need to bring headphones and a computer device daily (parents are asked to coordinate with their child’s school if they need a computer) and students should be prepared to independently navigate their device so they can complete online schooling with their teacher from their elementary school.
“One of the toughest things about our neighborhood schools not being physically open is finding a way to help working parents secure childcare, while providing some structure and stability for schoolwork,” said Boise Schools Superintendent Coby Dennis. “We have a long-standing relationship with Boise Parks and Recreation that is grounded in finding creative ways to do what is best for our students. Through our partnership with Parks and Recreation, we believe we’ve found another solution for many of our families.”
The City of Boise will continue to coordinate with the Boise School District should additional weeks of camp be needed based on future decisions about online schooling.
Again, registration for all Kid City Camp locations will start on Monday, August 10 at 8 a.m. Please call (208) 608-7680 to register, or use the Boise Parks and Recreation online registration system to sign up.