PLEASE READ ALL THE MATERIAL ON THIS PAGE SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION REGARDING WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR SPARK SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
As you are all aware, life has been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. At SPARK, we have been working diligently to develop a plan for our summer programming that balances the need to protect our kids and staff from the spread of infection, with the needs of our kids to get outside, socialize, and have summer adventures. The balancing act is difficult. Regardless of how well we plan, we have learned over the past two months that things change on an unexpected basis. Outlined below is our current plan for the Summer of 2020 based on the most up-to-date recommendations of the CDC and WI Dept. of Health Services. Please bear with us, as these plans will likely evolve throughout the summer. We are sending this to you to see if, based on these guidelines, your child is interested in participating in SPARK programming this summer and if you are comfortable giving your permission for your child to participate. Here is the plan:
SPARK-PODS
Each child who participates this summer will be assigned to a Pod of 3-4 students that they will work (and play!) with all summer. Ideally, siblings will be paired together in these pods. For the most part, the pods will not mingle or interact with other pods for the duration of the summer. It is possible that multiple pods will use the same location to do the same activity on a given day, but all transportation and logistics will remain isolated to individual pods.
While we cannot guarantee that every child will be able to choose exactly who is in their pod, your child will have input into who is in their group. Our goal is to group students who like spending time together and who are interested in doing similar activities for the summer. Once the SPARK Pods are selected and matched with a mentor, the mentor, and the pod will work together to choose activities and a schedule for their adventures.
Each child who participates this summer will be assigned to a Pod of 3-4 students that they will work (and play!) with all summer. Ideally, siblings will be paired together in these pods. For the most part, the pods will not mingle or interact with other pods for the duration of the summer. It is possible that multiple pods will use the same location to do the same activity on a given day, but all transportation and logistics will remain isolated to individual pods.
While we cannot guarantee that every child will be able to choose exactly who is in their pod, your child will have input into who is in their group. Our goal is to group students who like spending time together and who are interested in doing similar activities for the summer. Once the SPARK Pods are selected and matched with a mentor, the mentor, and the pod will work together to choose activities and a schedule for their adventures.
TRANSPORTATION & SCREENING
SPARK Mentors will pick students up and drop them off at their homes each day. The mentor will screen each child’s temperature using a no-touch forehead thermometer before they get into the van each morning and will ask a short series of screening questions. Any student or staff who presents with a temperature of 100° or higher will not be allowed to participate in the day's activities, for everyone's safety. All students and staff will be required to wear masks while traveling in the van. We are asking that families provide a cloth mask for their child to use for the duration of the summer.
SPARK Mentors will pick students up and drop them off at their homes each day. The mentor will screen each child’s temperature using a no-touch forehead thermometer before they get into the van each morning and will ask a short series of screening questions. Any student or staff who presents with a temperature of 100° or higher will not be allowed to participate in the day's activities, for everyone's safety. All students and staff will be required to wear masks while traveling in the van. We are asking that families provide a cloth mask for their child to use for the duration of the summer.
ACTIVITIES
SPARK will focus exclusively on outdoor activities this summer. The beauty of the SPARK-Pod model is that it will provide an enormous amount of flexibility in the activities that pods can choose to do together. Possible activities include but are not limited to canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, waterfall hikes, beach days, skateboarding, freestyle BMX, backpacking and camping trips, fishing, archery and more! Each SPARK-Pod will have a significant level of input into co-creating their fun, adventure-filled summer. |
SCHEDULE
Depending on the number of students and families who choose to participate in the SPARK summer program, we anticipate that each pod will be able to meet 1 to 2 days per week for the summer. Pods can begin to meet in June as soon as we are able to work out all of the necessary logistics. Some pods could begin as early as June 8th. We anticipate that programming will continue through August unless the situation with coronavirus changes and requires us to suspend programming. |
HYGIENE
Each van will be equipped with a hand washing station and hand sanitizer as well as disposable surgical masks in case a cloth mask is misplaced. Each morning the SPARK mentor will disinfect door handles and seatbelt buckles before departing to pick up their pod. |
FOOD & BEVERAGES
We are requesting that participants provide their own lunch, snacks, and water bottle each day. SPARK will provide some supplementary snacks and fresh water to fill water bottles, but to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, we will not be preparing lunches as we have in the past. |
Thank you for your interest in the SPARK summer program.
If your child is interested and you are comfortable allowing your child(ren) to participate under these COVID-19 guidelines, please fill out the form at the link below to begin the process.
PARENTS PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM
KIDS PLEASE OUT THIS FORM
Please note that these forms are simply to indicate your interest. Official registration materials will follow.
We are looking forward to spending a fun, adventurous summer with your child.
We miss them!
If your child is interested and you are comfortable allowing your child(ren) to participate under these COVID-19 guidelines, please fill out the form at the link below to begin the process.
PARENTS PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM
KIDS PLEASE OUT THIS FORM
Please note that these forms are simply to indicate your interest. Official registration materials will follow.
We are looking forward to spending a fun, adventurous summer with your child.
We miss them!