The teacher's strike didn't have Oakland parents scrambling for child care options, but this summer certainly will. Oakland has consistently cut funding for programs that educate and care for children when public schools are closed. For parents who have not yet finalized plans for their kids, we've put together a short list of where you can start looking. Programs fill up fast (especially the free ones) and many organizations have already given out all of their scholarships.

Oakland Unified School District
Most parents associate summer school with academic recovery - they assume it's a place that kids go to make up for classes they missed or failed. OUSD does have such programs (for elementary, middle, and high school students) and much more. There are programs that focus specifically on helping kids transition from middle school to high school,  algebra skills, pre-college, CAHSEE prep, Kindergarten prep, and early childhood education. There is also a program designed to meet the academic and enrichment needs of migrant and refugee youth as well as extended school year learning for students with special needs (with IEPs).

More information about these programs is available at your child's school, the OUSD Family & Community Office, and the OUSD Office of Complementary Learning. Not all schools that were open last year will be open this year, so be sure to call and check now. Download OUSD's resource guide here.

Oakland Parks & Rec
The City's Parks & Recreation Department runs programs at every major park (and many of the smaller ones) in the city. Some programs are focused by activity - like the Lake Merrit Boating House which features all kinds of boating classes for 7-17 year olds. Other programs are focused on the needs of the youth served - such as the Youth Signs Summer Day Camp which is open to all children and provides essential services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth.

Although there's a database available online, we find it's easier to navigate the printed brochure which you can pick up from one of the parks or a local CBO. You can also download a PDF copy of the brochure here. (See it below as well.) Some programs are free, but not all, so it's important to check and sign up in advance. 

East Bay Regional Parks also offer some summer programs, notably a camp at Tilden Park in Berkeley. More information available by doing a date specific search (June 1-September 1) online.

Oakland Libraries
While the libraries do not provide full time activities or child care, they are open and all branches participate in the Summer Reading Program, and have activities and workshops for kids of all ages. (Parents working from 'home' or seeking work may also appreciate the computers with high speed internet and free wi-fi at all OPL branches.) Cesar Chavez, Eastmont and the Downtown branches all have areas dedicated to teens. The Downtown branch Teen Zone even features new iMacs, meeting areas, books and games for checkout. The Lakeview Branch is known for it's chess clubs. The 81st Ave Branch also has a Digital Story Station, a special project of Our Oakland.

Local Community Based Organizations
Oakland is a national leader in CBO/After School Partnerships. This trend continues during the summer months.

The East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) runs a 5 week summer enrichment program at all 6 elementary schools that they serve during the school year (Bella Vista, Roosevelt, Manzanita Community, Garfield, Franklin, & La Escuelita). www.ebayc.org
Oakland Leaf is well known for their All Oakland Talent Show. They also host a Peace Camp, a leadership opportunity for East Oakland and Fruitvale middle and high school students.

A sampling of other local CBO's & non-profits with summer options include:
The American Indian Child Resource Center/Urban Rez - School age culturally competent programming
Berkeley Repertory Theater - grades 6-8 - (Fee based but has scholarships.)
Children's Hospital - FACES Summer Medical Academy & Nursing Academy for high school students
Destiny Arts - 3-18 interested in dance and/or martial arts -
East Oakland Youth Development Center - All ages Summer Cultural Enrichment Program
East Bay Consortium - Pre-Collegiate Academy (PCA) for middle & high school students
Eastside Arts Alliance - This year's summer programming has not been announced. Ongoing classes include Hip Hop, Youth Development, Guerilla Theater and Visual Element
Fairyland - Summer Day Camp for ages 5-10 (Fee based but has some partial scholarships.)
Leadership Excellence - for children 6-14 who reside in low income communities
Oakland Mayor's Summer Jobs Program - for teens
The Crucible (Fee based but has scholarships)

National Non-Profits/Local Chapters
Bay Area Girl Scouts  and http://www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/
Boys & Girls Club of Oakland
Downtown Oakland YMCA (Scholarship deadline has passed. Camp sure to fill up soon.)
JCC East Bay

Museum Options
Local museums offer programs for a fee.
(The Oakland Zoo and the Lawrence Hall of Science offer scholarships, but have already given them all out for 2010.)
Chabot Science & Space Center
Lawrence Hall of Science
Museum of Children's Art - 6 and older
Oakland Zoo
(Note: the Oakland Museum of CA does not have a summer program at this time)

Private School/Camp Options (For Profit)
These are the programs and camps that operate much like Oakland's private schools. They offer exciting and educational options for a fee. Lunch is usually not included and after care is extra - usually past 2 p.m. (If scholarships are on a main page of the website, the program is marked ***. Otherwise assume fees of $250 per week or higher.)
Camp Chrysalis ***
EdventureMore *** 
Galileo Learning ***
Kids in Motion
Lekha Publishers School of Creative Writing  ($180 per week)
Park Day Summer Arts Camp
Robotics for Fun
Roughing It Day Camp
Sarah's Science
Trapeze Arts

Local College & University Options
Cal Berkeley  (Fee based but has scholarships.)

Collaborative Options
Several programs are partnerships between some of the above organizations. For example, the Oakland Fine Arts Summer School is a multidisciplinary camp for kids from ages 5 to 11. It has a free arts component sponsored by OUSD in the mornings and then transitions to afternoon art studios run by the Parks Department in the afternoon. (Fees apply to afternoon only and payment plans are available.) The application deadline is May 1, 2010. For more information email annie.patton@ousd.k12.ca.us.

Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts (formerly Alice Arts Center) is owned by the city, but many resident companies in the building are independent arts organizations. Because of this unique arrangement, the best way to get information or enroll summer dance & music classes and camps is to go to the building itself, at 1428 Alice St., in downtown Oakland.

Free Summer Lunch for 18 and under
Families depend on the USDA school lunch program to provide breakfast and lunch to their kids each day. Not all of the programs listed above include meals. If you or someone you know really benefits from free or reduced food for their children, find a summer lunch site by calling 510-444-C-I-T-Y or visiting this website.

Organizations that are interested in serving summer meals through this program can also visit the site to apply and get training. This is a great way to help folks really struggling in the current economic climate.

Additional Directories
If none of the programs listed meet your family's needs, you may be able to find more programs on these sites:
American Association of University Women Oakland, Summer Camp Directory
Bay Area Kid Fun
Berkeley Parents Network
East Bay Kids/Tom Lent Guide
Yelp Reviews

If you feel a program was not included in this list and should have been, please feel free to add it to the comments below.

OPR2010