Enrollment Surprisingly Low For Kids’ Summer Programs

The officials of some summer programs in the Valley are wondering what kids are doing this year.

Summer school enrollment in two of the three Valley districts are down.

The day camp organized by Spokane County Parks and Recreation received just one sign-up, forcing officials to cancel the program.

One Valley recreation source that’s getting more use than usual is Splashdown.

“Our season passes are way up,” said Splashdown owner Bill Bleasner.

Economics and the heat may account for that. Season passes for Spashdown were available earlier this summer for as little as $61. Hours at Spashdown are 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Swim classes run by Spokane County are “going great guns, I’m happy to say,” said Randy Johnson, director of recreation programs.

The Valley YMCA summer programs are full or slightly down, depending on the age range.

Summer school directors, meanwhile, are scratching their heads trying to figure out why their programs haven’t filled well.

Central Valley School District canceled a course called “Water World,” one of several weeklong “exploratory camps.” Just eight kids had signed up.

“It was a huge disappointment,” said Phyllis Betts, who organized Central Valley’s elementary summer school program. Other camps focused on drama, engineering, computer animation and arts.

A class called Reading for Fun pulled just 10 elementary students, too few to break even, and one computer class had to be cancelled.

Band camps for Central Valley are also down this summer, while the district’s sports camps have about the same numbers as last year.

West Valley District’s elementary summer school program signed up 154 students, about 30 fewer than last summer. The secondary program there attracted 54 students, seven fewer than last summer.

Summer school coordinator Joe Dawson said he thought cost may have been a factor for some families.

In past years, the district waived summer school fees for free- and reduced-lunch students. This year that deal isn’t being offered. Elementary classes last four weeks and cost $75; high school classes cost $90.

East Valley summer school enrollment, overall, is down slightly.

Officials wonder what’s keeping the kids away.

“You hear that parents are dying to get their kids into some great programs. I wonder what all these kids are doing?” said Roger Fox, Central Valley organizer of secondary summer school.

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