Significant modifications have been made due to the COVID-19 pandemic
VANCOUVER – Vancouver Parks and Recreation has announced limited youth recreation programming for summer 2020 with significant modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Free Programs
“Food and Fun” is a meal and activity program available at five sites from June 22 through Aug. 14. The program offers free lunches and activity kits in a grab and go format. The meals support the health and wellness of students while they are not receiving school meals and are provided through the USDA Summer Lunch Program. Activity kits are designed for ages 6 to 11 and feature crafts, experiments and projects to help keep kids engaged in learning over the summer.
Pick-up sites are set up to support social distancing and ensure safe distribution of food and activities. Some park features, including playgrounds, are not available during the program due to COVID-19-related closures.
Food and Fun locations and hours:
- Evergreen Neighborhood Park (3500 E. Fourth Plain Blvd.)
- Monday through Friday, 12:15 to 1 p.m.
- Fort Vancouver High School (5700 E. 18th St.)
- Monday through Friday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
- Harney Elementary Park (3212 E. Evergreen Blvd.)
- Monday through Friday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
- John Ball Neighborhood Park (W. 23rd Street and Kauffman Avenue)
- Monday through Friday, 12:15 to 1 p.m.
- Leroy Haagen Community Park (N.E. 9th Street, west of N.E. 136th Avenue)
- Monday through Friday, noon to 1 p.m.
The Share Summer Meals Program will also return to many city of Vancouver parks and other community locations, providing free grab and go meals to kids ages 18 and under. For more information, visit Share’s website.
Day Camps
Tuition-based day camps for ages 6 to 11 will be available at both Marshall (1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd) and Firstenburg (700 NE 136th Ave.) community centers starting June 29, provided Clark County has reached Phase 3 of the Governor’s Safe Start Washington reopening plan at that time. Day camp hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Aug. 28.
The cost is $183 a week for Vancouver residents and $210 for non-residents. Registration opens Mon., June 15. Register online starting at 6 a.m. or call (360) 487-7001 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to register by phone, Monday through Friday. Visit the day camp webpage for additional registration details.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health experts, new safety protocols have been instituted for day camps, including:
- Daily temperature checks for staff and campers.
- Isolated camp groups consisting of eight students and two teachers.
- Each camp group is given a dedicated classroom and bathroom.
- Social distancing will be enforced throughout the day, including at drop-off and pick-up.
- Off-site field trips and pool time have been replaced with on-site experiences and outdoor water play.
- Increased sanitation by staff during the day and through contracted nightly cleaning of all camp areas.
Vancouver Parks and Recreation may make changes to these guidelines or cancel camps at any time to protect the health and safety of campers and staff.
For information about Vancouver Parks and Recreation summer programming, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/summer2020.
Media Open Houses
Vancouver Parks and Recreation will host two open houses for members of the media who would like to tour the facilities, learn more about camp modifications and speak with camp staff. To reserve an open house time slot, contact Melody Burton at (360) 487-8306 or melody.burton@cityofvancouver.us.
- Thu., June 11 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Marshall Community Center
- Thu., June 11 from 11 a.m. to noon at Firstenburg Community Center
Information provided by city of Vancouver.
