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Thanksgiving week childcare woes
With more schools now choosing to close for the entire week containing the Thanksgiving holiday than not, many kids are excited to have a fall break, yet for many two-parent working households, the additional days of school closure can be a source of stress for those without nearby grandparents or convenient babysitting options.
A unique, community-based solution
Local animal rescue and non-profit the Valley Animal Center (VAC) has found a way to alleviate school closure stress for parents, while simultaneously teaching children about proper animal care, pet needs and responsibility through their day camp program, offered multiple times throughout the year, all during school closure periods.
The Valley Animal Center’s day camp program runs from 9am to 4pm on weekdays, and also offered an extended day option that allows parents to drop children off as early as 7:30am and pick them up as late as 5:30pm for a small additional daily fee. Campers bring their own lunches, but snacks are provided during the mid-morning and afternoon. Camps typically target children ages 7-12, and focus on a variety of pet and veterinary topics such as pet care, training, pet health, learning about non-traditional pet animals (i.e. snakes and reptiles) and making treats and toys for pets. Campers have the opportunity to interact with VAC dogs and cats, watch veterinarian, techs and volunteers in action with the animals and enjoy fun group games and demonstrations from other animal rescue groups such as Project Survival’s Cat Haven.
This Thanksgiving break, the Valley Animal Center is offering their “Pets-giving” day camp from Monday, November 21st to Wednesday, November 23rd for $100 per camper. (Active VAC volunteers’ children pay just $80). Per the center website, campers will “participate in games, demonstrations, and activities that help them learn how to better take care of their pets at home and keep them safe throughout the holiday season. Campers will also be making various toys and snacks to keep their pets at home – and VAC pets – very happy this Thanksgiving!” Later in the year, VAC will also offer theme-based 2-day camps during Winter Break for $75/child ($60/volunteers’ children).
My own son will be attending camp later this month, and I can’t wait to hear all about his experience! He loves animals, specifically dogs, and I hear the center’s volunteer director, Shannon, brings her own two rescue pups to camp, one of which is a golden retriever, my son’s “dream pet!” (I’m the mean, mean mom who’s said three rescue pups are enough for us to handle at the moment, much to my son’s dismay.)
For more information on day camps or to register online, click here.
About the Valley Animal Center
The Valley Animal Center is a community supported non-profit, no-kill shelter that also offers low cost spay and neuter and vaccination clinics. Their 25,000 square foot shelter can accommodate 100 dogs and 300 cats on a daily basis, and in times of emergency, up to 200 dogs and 500 cats. Additionally, the center offers a membership based dog park, “featuring a 2,000 gallon canine wading pool complete with water jets, an agility course play area, and grassy land with trees divided into spacious dog runs based on canine size.”
{All images property of Valley Animal Center, used with permission.}