Parents who need childcare during the statewide teachers walkout have options as places like the Arizona Science Center and Children’s Museum of Phoenix are stepping in to offer daylong kids programs.
The offerings are in response to the fact that public school employees represented by Arizona Education Association and Arizona Educators United voted in favor of a walkout that started Thursday, April 26. Parents should make sure they’re signed up for text or voice notifications from their child’s school to know whether it will be open as the walkout continues.
Childcare reservations should be made soon as spots are filling up quickly. Here’s a list of current options:
Arizona Animal Welfare League is offering #AnimalsForEd day camp for ages 6-13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday with hands-on animal presentations, arts and crafts for shelter animals and a guest speaker. $55; $10 for extended hours. 15 N. 40th Place, Phoenix. 602-273-6852 x122 or aawl.org
Arizona Humane Society. Ages 6-12 will learn all about domestic and exotic animals through hands-on activities, games and animal interactions at Animal Adventure Day Camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. $50; $10 for extended hours to 5:30 p.m. 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix. 602-997-7585 or azhumane.org
Arizona Science Center. Starting Thursday, April 26, the Arizona Science Center is offering full-day kids camps from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays until the teacher walkout has ended. Camps are available for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. The camps are $40 per day plus an optional $15 for extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Throughout the walkout, the Arizona Science Center is also giving every child (ages 3-17) who visits a free ticket to its Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater with purchase of general admission. Educators can also attend two-hour training sessions from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays here during the walkout. For more information and to register, visit azscience.org
Arizona Sunrays Supercamp. Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance offers supervised, themed activities that include gymnastics, a foam pit, trampolines, bounce house, obstacle courses and organized games for ages 3-13 on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27 at 15801 N. 32nd St. (Phoenix) or 3923 E. Indian School Road (Arcadia). Care is free for teacher’s children. Get a 50-percent enrollment discount using promo code #RedforEd. $57-$78. 602-992-5790 or arizonasunrays.com
AZ on the Rocks. First- through eighth-grade students can climb the walls at AZ on the Rocks day camp during the walkout from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. $50. 16447 N. 91st St., Suite 105, Scottsdale. 801-688-8731 or azontherocks.com
Baker Performing Arts. This Gilbert theater company is offering a day camp for ages 5-14 on Thursday, April 26, with singing, acting, games and more from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for only $25; $5 more for a Johnny Rockets kids lunch. 2270 E. Williams Field Road, Suite 106, Gilbert. bakerperformingarts.com
B.E.S.T./Beginners Edge Sports Training. B.E.S.T. hosts #RedForEd sports day camps at Arizona Sports Complex from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. Kids (potty-trained to age 15) can play soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, dodge ball, golf, tennis, kickball, track and field, badminton, plus more playground games and activities. Sack lunch and a water bottle needed. $25; $10 per hour for extended hours. 3555 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale. 623-748-9453 or thebestinaz.com
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Nine local branches will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays during the teachers walkout to provide daycare for families. $35 for non-members. bgcs.org
Challenger Space Center is offering day camps for kindergarten through eighth-grade students from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. Planned activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m include games, science experiments, art projects and a movie. Only $10 per day includes a pizza lunch. 9617 N. Metro Parkway West, Suite 2214, Phoenix. 623-322-2001 or azchallenger.org
Children’s Museum of Phoenix. The museum will offer camps on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, and will continue offering weekday camps if the teachers strike continues. Camps for ages 5-8 offer hands-on learning, games and activities plus free play from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $50; $20 for extended hours from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-648-2777 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
Childsplay Theatre Academy. This Tempe theater company is offering Story Voyages Drama Workshops for ages 6-12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 and for the duration of the walkout. $40; $10 extended care from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 900 S. Mitchell Drive, Tempe. childsplayaz.org
Co+Hoots. Need somewhere to work where you can also bring the kids? This Phoenix coworking space is offering free coworking spaces plus kids activities to any parent affected by the walkout on Thursday. 221 E. Indianola Ave., Phoenix. 602-264-6687 or cohoots.com
RELATED: Does your child have the social skills for kindergarten?
Desert Botanical Garden. No camps right now, but the garden is offering free admission for school-age children on weekdays during the walkout with a paid adult admission. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org
Engineering For Kids. This STEM program is offering an “SOS” camp from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. The program offers fun park activities during breaks and lunch at Sky Zone Trampoline Park, 9040 W. Larkspur Drive in Peoria; Kids that Rip, 1927 N. Gilbert Road in Mesa and Urban Air Adventure Park, 4816 E. Ray Road in Phoenix. engineeringforkids.com/phoenix-metro/
Flip Dunk Sports. This Phoenix trampoline park is offering daylong camps for ages 5 and up from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $55 ($35 for half days) during the walkout. Older kids can play at Flip Dunk for a discounted $6 per hour. 1515 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix. 602-277-0067 or flipdunksports.com
Greasepaint Youtheatre. From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, this youth theater is offering a free day of singing, dancing and games for ages 6-13. Email moedias@greasepaint.org. 7020 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-949-7529 • greasepaint.org
i.d.e.a. Museum. Mesa’s children’s museum offers Sonoran Safari Day Camps where ages 5-12 can create art, play games and have fun from 8:30 a.m. to noon or 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. $12-$30. 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. 480-644-2468 or ideamuseum.org
Impact Gymnastics. This Phoenix gymnastics center is offering camps on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, that include gymnastics, group games and team building from 8 a.m. to noon or 3 p.m. for $50-$80. 7812 N. 12th St. in Phoenix. 602-870-7574 or impactgymaz.com
KidsPark. Ages 2-12. This drop-in daycare facility in Peoria and north Phoenix is open days, nights and weekends and charges $8-$9 per hour for one child, with discounts for siblings. Care is free for teacher’s kids and 50 percent off for all parents of school-age kids on Thursday, April 26. 7337 W. Bell Road (near Arrowhead Towne Center), Peoria, 623-878 -2411 or 48th Street and Larkspur Drive (next to Best Buy near Paradise Valley Mall) in Phoenix, 602-788- 2445. kidspark.com
Makutu’s Island. This Chandler indoor play center is offering a Special Day Camp for ages 5-12 from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 that includes play time, arts and crafts, science and math plus music and movement. $50. 6919 W. Ray Road in Chandler. 480-344-3740 or makutusisland.com
More than Modeling. Modeling and fashion-themed classes offer life skills, etiquette, self-esteem building and social skills taught by a former biology, chemistry and physics teacher with a master’s degree in education. On Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, More than Modeling is offering free classes from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for ages 5-15; space is limited. Contact Erika at 480-442-9833 or contact@morethanmodeling.com
OdySea Aquarium is offering a $5 discount for all teachers and students this Thursday through Sunday. Use promo code WALKOUT online or at the ticket window. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are typically $25.95-$37.95. 480-291-8000 or odyseaaquarium.com
Phoenix Center for the Arts will host two full days of camp-like activities for children ages 6-12. Art ‘N Play will include visual arts, outdoor activities and a movie. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. $20/day or pay what you can; 50 percent of proceeds will be donated to Stand for Children Arizona. Register online in advance as space is limited. Your child should bring lunch, snacks and water bottle and wear comfortable clothes — red if possible to support education. 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. 602-254-3100 or phoenixcenterforthearts.org
Phoenix Parks and Recreation. The city of Phoenix will extend hours at 24 of its recreation centers on Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27. Those facilities will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for children ages 6 to 17. While no formal programming is planned, non-structured activities such as board games, sports, arts and crafts and movies may be offered. phoenix.gov/parks
Playgrounds Fun Zone & Cafe. There’s no camp at this indoor playground for young kids, but it is offering free coffee to teachers and 25 percent off admission for kids on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. 8190 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale. 602-761-9663 or playgroundsfunzone.com
Rachel’s Young At Art Studio. This Scottsdale arts and crafts studio for ages 3-9 offers games, dramatic play, storytime and instructor-led projects. It’s offering camps from 9 a.m. to 1 or 3 p.m. during the walkout for $44-$56. 6990 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 115, Scottsdale. 480-621-6155 or rachelsyoungatart.com
Shemer Art Center and Museum. Ages 8 to 13 can spend the day engrossed in drawing, painting, paper marbleizing and origami from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. $50; students should bring a lunch, snack and water bottle. 5005 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-262-4727 or shemerartcenter.org
Skateland. This roller skating venue in Mesa and Chandler are offering supervised camps from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. $25 fee includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, 10 game tokens, unlimited soft drinks, skates and crafts. 1101 W. Ray Road, Chandler or 7 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. unitedskates.com
Sylvan Learning locations in Glendale and Phoenix will offer academic childcare from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. $45; sack lunch required. 16838 N. Seventh St., Suite 6, Phoenix or 8190 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite 120, Glendale. 602-548-2600 or sylvanlearning.com
RELATED: Still looking for summer camps? Here’s the ultimate directory!
https://www.raisingarizonakids.com/2017/04/top-may-events/
Are you a business offering childcare during the proposed teachers walkout? Contact us at editorial@RAKmagazine.com
