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CITY CLERK
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AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 6, 2009
DESCRIPTION: Glen the Guide Nature Day Camp Program Plan
Report Prepared by Henry Siu, Recreation Coordinator and Paul
McCreary, Assistant Director of Parks and Community Services
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOaMM~ENDATION: _ Receive report and provide input on proposed program plan
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget
to conduct the camp.
DESCRIPTION: The City Council has a high priority objective (III-A-8) to plan for a
Summer Nature Day Camp program at the new Shannon Community Center. This camp will help meet a
need for outdoor recreation and nature programs identified in the recent Parks and Community Services
Needs Assessment. It will also help the City earn points towards the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the building by providing environmental education.
Funds have been allocated in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget to begin the camp in June 2009. Staff has
developed a proposed program plan for the camp, which is summarized below.
The purpose of the Glen the Guide Nature Day Camp is to promote environmental awareness and
understanding, as well as responsible stewardship of natural resources. Campers will accomplish this
through interactive hands-on activities focusing on nature, biology and ecology. The camp will take place
at Shannon Park. The program will also include weekly visits to Martin Canyon Creek and various East
Bay Regional Parks such as the Pleasanton Ridge, Sunol and Garin Regional Park.
This all-day camp was designed for children in first through fifth grades and will include crafts, games,
sports, excursions and special projects with a focus on biology, ecology and nature studies. Glen the
Guide Nature Day Camp will provide participants firsthand experience with nature through hiking,
storytelling, scientific observations, crafts and interpretive nature walks. Participants will gain
perspectives about themselves, learn about interacting respectfully with nature and discover that they are
an important part of the ecosystem.
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Most activities will be conducted by Recreation Leaders that have received training in outdoor education.
Each day a contracted Naturalist will provide two hours of nature studies with participants to provoke
thought, curiosity and interest in nature. Every week campers will also attend an excursion at a regional
park for an interpretive hike and nature activities led by a Park Naturalist. Fridays will feature an
afternoon at the Dublin Swim Center. While program is modeled after the successful Camp Emerald Glen
program, the Nature Day Camp will provide a new and unique camp experience in Dublin.
Glen the Guide Nature Day Camp will be held from June 23 to August 15, 2009 and will operate Monday
through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at a cost of $140 per week. An extended care option will be
available for participants to arrive at 8:00 a.m. and stay as late at 6:00 p.m. for an additional fee of $40 per
week.
Staff anticipates that the camp will be popular in the community. The results of the recent needs
assessment mail-in survey, with a sample size of 452 respondents, showed that approximately half of
those responding to the survey felt that adventure trips/outdoor recreation and nature programs were
"essential" or "very important." Additionally a need was identified to offer more full-day camp programs
when school is not in session. Staff believes that Glen the Guide Nature Camp will help meet both of
these needs.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council receive the report and
provide input on the proposed program plan.
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