When summer vacations unexpectedly extend into the fall, creativity becomes the key for meeting the leisure needs of affected students.

By Bobbie Herakovich

As providers of leisure services, what is our responsibility when thousands of children suddenly have an unplanned, extended summer vacation due to a teachers' strike?

This question was posed to the Urbana Park District recreation staff last year when the local teachers' union hit an impasse in wage negotiations with the school board. The strike stretched on for three weeks.

Finding an answer

The first reaction of the recreation staff was horror! Our services were definitely needed; children from kindergarten through high school were soon to be left with a lot of forced leisure time. But where should we start with the many program planning details that needed to be answered in a very short period of time?

First, the staff had to decide what age groups were in the most need of programming and what resources we had available to accomplish such an undertaking. The swimming pool had already closed for the season, and summer employees had departed.

The Urbana Park District has a close working relationship with the school board. Hence, a majority of our recreation programs are offered at school district facilities. But to cross a picket line and offer programs in neighborhood schools could aggrevate an already sensitive situation. To avoid possible conflict, programs would have to be offered in a park setting.

Other considerations

Determining program content was next. How long should the program run — half day or full day? It was a gamble; the strike could be over in one day or one month. Parents (and later staff) faithfully listened to the nightly news to determine if school would be in session the following day.

The uncertainty of the length of the strike made it difficult for everyone. A program budget was impossible to develop. As in most park districts money was tight. Volunteers had to be recruited and equipment and supplies scrounged.

The plan of action

The staff decided to take the risk and offer a mass supervised playground program. After all, if a park district couldn't provide the service, who could? The result was a free, half-day, supervised drop-in program called Time Out.

Soccer, softball, tennis, arts and crafts and nature activities were offered in a centrally located park. Children could arrive and leave anytime. However, they had to have a parent's signature to sign in and out.

Junior high and high school students were recruited to volunteer their time. In return for their assis-

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Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 7                                     September/October 1985

Teachers' strike
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tance, they were promised sun visors and t-shirts as they accumulated volunteer hours. Supervisors and volunteers all rolled up their sleeves and racked their brains trying to remember the rules to games like Streets and Alleys.

Radio and television stations were alerted and Time Out was a success, Within 24 hours the recreation staff had put together a successful program. Approximately 500 children visited Time Out each day. The ten o'clock news not only carried word of strike negotiations, but also coverage of Time Out's daily activities.

Extra benefits

Though the purpose of this program was to respond quickly to the leisure needs of the community, the byproducts of this service were not anticipated. The public relations value of the program far surpassed any planned publicity campaign. Parents, PTA officers and teachers were giving the park district rave reviews.

When school finally started, Time Out ended. The staff was sorry to see it end — a hot air balloon liftoff had been scheduled for the next day and there were still so many new ideas and activities to offer.

If the situation ever arises again, we will be ready for the challenge. With a little extra work, a lot of brainstorming and effective utilization of our resources, we in the leisure services profession can make a beneficial impact on our communities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bobbie Herakovich is superintendent of recreation for the Urbana Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 8                                         September/October 1985