Otters Club is a program that provides activities, snacks and supervision for registered youth members each weekday from 9 am to 1:30 pm. For some working parents, summer can is a challenge juggling day jobs with late morning team practices, shuttling kids back and forth from the club. This pilot program aims to provide parents the option to have their children remain at the club from morning practice through open swim, knowing that they will be safe, active and well-fed!
How Does it Work?
Otters Club registration is open to youth members age 8 – 12 who participate in one or more team (swim/dive/tennis), and will run from June 23 to July 25. Weekly pre-registration is required, the price is $100 per child for the week. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants each week so as to maintain a minimum child/staff ratio of 25 to 2.
Meals and Snacks
Participants should plan to bring a lunch each day. However, the program will provide ample healthy snacks and we plan to make full use of the cabana and kitchen. Part of the curriculum each day will be to gather and eat together.
Curriculum and Expectations
This is a new, pilot program and it will likely evolve through the summer as we learn what works best. We envision a relaxed, loosely structured curriculum where activities are mostly self-directed. We have a small budget for activities and crafts which we hope to supplement by families contributing board games, books, and other items that can be stored at the club. Otters Club staff will monitor supplies and ensure that participants are responsible and clean up after themselves.
Otters Club is not full-service childcare or babysitting. Per AHSTC operating rules, children age 8 and older are already allowed to be at the club without an adult. This program is intended to provide general supervision and support for children who are at the club while practices and lessons are going on– creating a space where they are not just surviving, but thriving and having a great time with old and new friends.
Families are responsible for attendance at practices or lessons. Staff members will encourage and help participants with time checks (“it’s 9:45, 10 & unders, get ready for swim practice!”) but attendance and timeliness is ultimately their responsibility. If a child chooses not to participate in practice, staff will let the parents know, and it will be up to the family to determine how to handle that situation.
Once checked in, Otters Club participants will not leave the Arbor Heights Swim & Tennis Club premises with anyone other than their parents, unless staff have received notification of a special circumstance. At 1:30 when Open Swim starts, Otters Club will conclude for the day. There is no check out process after 1:30 pm.
Otters Club participants are expected to follow all AHSTC operating rules including cleaning up after themselves and treating other patrons/staff in a respectful and sociable way. If a child’s behavior is excessively disruptive and drawing the attention of staff such that they cannot maintain a safe and supportive environment for other participants, the parent will be notified and asked to pick up their child.
Meet our Staff!
Otters Club Lead: Anja – bio and photo coming soon!
Registration
You must be a member to register for Otters Club, please log into your account to register.
