Summer camps near capacity; therapeutic camp filled and school‑age care in short supply

Sherry, a parks staff member overseeing summer programs, told the advisory board that registration for this summer's programs is strong and that capacity constraints are limiting enrollment expansion. "We have over 1,300 camper weeks," she said, noting that some sites still have a few openings but others are full and operating wait lists.

Sherry said Camp Discovery, the department's therapeutic recreation camp, will be held at Evergreen Elementary School, has 45 spaces and a current wait list of 18. Sport academy camps are also strong this year: staff reported 290 registered children across sport academy offerings, with some camps (for example, certain golf and catcher's camps) either filled or short of the minimum to run because of instructor availability.

Board members and staff discussed staffing and volunteer challenges. Instructors and community coaches often have full‑time jobs, limiting daytime availability. Staff said they recruit high school athletes and volunteer coaches, and occasionally hire contractors; capacity to add sessions is constrained without more instructors or facilities. A board member suggested partnering with larger private facilities (for example, Bretton Bay) for camps such as golf to expand capacity.

On school‑age care, the department said registration opened May 18 and that three school‑based sites are full with large wait lists (Chesapeake Charter, Duke and Evergreen elementary schools). Other locations had limited openings, and staff encouraged families to join wait lists because spots freed by moves or schedule changes do become available.

Staff asked the board to help recruit volunteer coaches and instructor leads; the director later said the department is actively seeking contractors and volunteers to meet demand and that some positions are difficult to fill because of schedule constraints.