JVS, Downtown High School Team Up with Rec and Park

Jewish Vocational Services

One of the big reasons I love my job is that recreation and parks provide opportunities to not only connect with nature but to make a very real difference in people’s lives.

For the past six weeks, JVS (Jewish Vocational Services) has partnered with Rec and Park on a six-week internship program for 20 Downtown High School students, teaching them about park stewardship and introducing them to the various careers within our Recreation and Park Department. Over the span of the program, our interns worked in a number of parks and natural areas throughout the city, performing habitat restoration and park beautification work, and learning about habitat conservation.

The program was a huge success, and I thank our Volunteer and Natural Areas staff for helping to facilitate a great session, the first of what I hope is several to come.

There will be a graduation event in late-April and I hope you’ll join me in congratulating and thanking these young folks for the great work they’ve done for our parks.

Make a Difference at your Neighborhood Park

San Franciscans, are you ready to make a difference at your favorite neighborhood park? The Community Opportunity Fund, part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, encourages neighborhoods, community groups and park lovers to submit ideas (less than $250k) to Rec and Park on capital improvement projects at their park of choice.

Your proposal must be a capital project, meaning your park idea must be permanently affixed to the park property and be an investment in the park’s future. Examples of capital projects could be ideas to improve playgrounds, paths, benches, drinking fountains and sports courts. A few ideas that cannot be funded by the COF are events, classes, programs and maintenance work.

The second round of the program has just launched this week. All applicants are required to attend at least one applicant workshop to be eligible.

Wednesday, March 30, 6-7:30pm – Ocean View Recreation Center

Wednesday, April 6, 6-7:30pm – Location TBD (Likely Joe Lee Recreation Center)

Saturday, April 9, 12-1:30pm Harvey Milk Rec Center / Duboce Park

Wednesday, April 13, 6-7:30pm – County Fair Bldg

Applications are due Friday, June 24, at 4pm, and project award notification will occur in late September.

For more information, visit here, or call project manager Jake Gilchrist at (415) 581-2561.

Summer Day Camps

For all of the parents and grandparents out there, summer is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for some great programs to keep your child active and engaged this summer, look no further than the 67 different camps we have available at Rec and Park. Our camps range from traditional day camps like Pine Lake and Silver Tree, to new, exciting camps that serve a variety of interests, including surf camp, shark fishing camp, Camp Improv for teens and Camp Azure for children on the autism scale.

Summer camp registration has just begun. Log onto sfrecpark.org to browse our catalog of camps and find more information on how and where to register.