Child Care Options for Our Community
December 3, 2020
Dear Campus Community,
As in-person school offerings remain limited, we know that child care continues to be a challenge for many members of our UM family. To help address this need, UM’s Campus Recreation team will offer a School Day Camp from Monday, Dec. 14, through Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, for the children of UM employees and students. A full-day (8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) camp will be available Monday through Friday each week for children in grades K-5, with the exception of a half-day camp (8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) offered on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. There are no camps on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Each day’s schedule at the School Day Camp will include time for school work, recreational activities and fitness or outdoor activities. All camps will be limited to 20 children, with the full-day camp costing $20 per child and the half-day camp costing $12. Registration for the School Day Camp is now open, and spots can be booked for single or multiple days. It is possible that these camps will continue beyond Jan. 8, and this information will be posted on the Campus Recreation Youth Camps webpage. Also on the webpage are the COVID-19 protocols for these camps and contact information for questions.
Thank you to the Campus Recreation team for their efforts to make this service available to our employees and students.
In addition to these Campus Recreation camps, ASUM Child Care has a limited number of full-time openings for children ages 5-7 in their preschool program in McGill Hall. These children are incorporated into the ASUM Child Care Preschool programming, which includes developmentally appropriate preschool curriculum – activities based on the ages of all children in each classroom – and some assistance with school homework during afternoon quiet time. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call Vicki Olson at 406-243-2542 or email vicki.olson@mso.umt.edu.
Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures (MOLA) will offer a free weekday K-8 program until Wednesday, Dec. 23, at the James Todd Building. This program includes three to four hours a day of outside activities, time for schoolwork, games and other activities. Programming after Dec. 23 will be determined. To learn more, email J. Porter Hammitt at Porter@MissoulaOutdoors.com or call 406-240-2458.
Finally, Missoula Parks and Recreation will offer morning, afternoon, full-day and after-school camps for children ages 5 and up at the old Missoula Public Library building. MPR BASE Camps include art and science-based activities, outdoor activities and time for schoolwork.
P.S. We also want to remind the campus community that the Parade of Lights will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on Campus Drive. Employees can register to pick up hot chocolate and a bag of holiday-flavored popcorn to share in their vehicles as they enjoy the parade. A drive-thru station will be available between 6 and 7 p.m. between the Music Building and the Gallagher Business Building.