Youth Recreation

Base Camp School-Aged Child Care

Base Camp Fall Youth Day Camps and Afterschool - Schedules and How To Register

Base Camp Scholarship Application - All families, regardless of income, are eligible. Please complete before registering for BASE Camp. Apply anytime, no deadline. Scholarships funded by a Montana Coronavirus Relief Fund School Aged Child Care Grant.

Welcome to Base Camp Missoula where kids ages 5 and up will be outdoors and active with the epic adventures families have come to love with Parks and Recreation summer camps!  The program includes art and science-based activities with partners like the Insectarium, Clay Studio Missoula and more. 

To support hybrid school schedules, we’ll facilitate time for homework and access to computers for online work. (Online access coming in October.)  Snacks are provided.  When the weather turns cold, we’ll move the program indoors to the former public library building in downtown Missoula. 

Our highly trained staff, low participant-to-staff ratios, and rigorous COVID-19 safety protocols will help ensure a fun, engaging experience for your child! Sign up online today or give us a call at 721-PARK (7275)!  Ages 5 and up – Meets at McCormick Park or public library building, depending on weather.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Thanks to the Montana Coronavirus Relief Fund, families can qualify for discounted fees based on their self-reported income level. All families are eligible for a 50% discount (Orange level) and additional discounts can range from 75% (Purple level) to 95% (Green level) depending on income. To receive the discount, please complete the Base Camp Scholarship Form.  

Families who register before Sept. 30, or who have previously registered for Base Camp, will receive credit on account at the discounted rate after completing the BASE Camp Scholarship Form.   Your account will be credited based on your discount.  Coronavirus Relief Fund Scholarships are available through December 31, 2020. Watch for our middle school and high school drop-in programs coming soon!  Schedule and fees.

• If you don’t have a current Webtrac account, please email parksrec@ci.missoula.mt.usbefore registering to get your account set up.
• City residents can ensure they have renewed their resident discount cards for 2020 by phoning us at 721-PARK (7275.)
• After consultation with the Missoula City-County Health Department, we have designed the day camp program to be attended by students from any school, as in our summer day camp program. Camps will meet in small, static groups with the same staff for the duration of the program to limit interaction among groups and facilitate contact tracing if needed.
• Staff will make every effort to enforce disease prevention best practices, including physical distancing whenever possible, masking when in close proximity, regular hand sanitation, and sanitation of shared equipment and surfaces.

Afterschool and out-of-school time programming

• In a collaborative effort with MCPS to limit afterschool interaction between students from different schools, we have reduced the number of schools we serve for afterschool programming.
• Afterschool programs at Paxson, Lewis and Clark and Rattlesnake Elementary are open only to students who’ve attended those schools on the day of the program.
• Afterschool programming at other MCPS elementary schools may be available from other community providers. Additional information will be posted the week of August 17 at the City-County COVID-19 Joint Information Center’s website: https://covid19.missoula.co/schoolschildcareuniversity.
• After consultation with the Missoula City-County Health Department, we have designed the day camp program to be attended by students from any school, as in our summer day camp program. Camps will meet in small, static groups with the same staff for the duration of the program to limit interaction among groups and facilitate contact tracing if needed.
• Staff will make every effort to enforce disease prevention best practices, including physical distancing whenever possible, masking when in close proximity, regular hand sanitation, and sanitation of shared equipment and surfaces.

Remote Learning

• Day camps will include 1-2 hours per day of facilitated time to work on homework, read, or play educational games.
• If you’d like your child to complete his or her schoolwork during this time, please send learning materials to camp with your child.
• For students who don’t bring schoolwork, we will provide games and books to work on basic academic achievement.
• While Parks and Recreation is not an education provider, we’re supporting remote learning by providing students time to work on assignments. We will not have access to computers during the September programs, but we hope to be able to facilitate technology-based academics later in the year.
• Pick-up and drop-off times are extended for full-day programs to give students more time for remote learning at home before or after the camp day.
  • Drop off – between 8-9:30 a.m.
  • Pick up – between 4-5:30 p.m.

Social and emotional learning

• Play, adventure, and experiential learning have long been our standard approach to education. This will continue to be a strong component of our fall programming. Research is clear—kids learn through play.

COVID-19 Prevention

• Staff and campers must wear masks when physical distancing is not possible and when in transport vans.
• Parents must wear masks at pick-up and drop-off due to the proximity of others.
• Staff will facilitate frequent hand washing and adequate hand sanitation.
• Programming will be held outdoors—dress kids appropriately for the weather.

Questions, concerns? Please email Recreation Manager Meg Whicher at whicherm@ci.missoula.mt.us or phone 721-PARK (7275.)