The “Monthly Media Roundup” is a curated list of news stories of interest to the OST community, assembled by the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance (KYOSA), that have appeared in national and local media outlets over the past month.
National News Stories
More employers offering child care benefits to lower-wage workers (The Hechinger Report – May 5, 2022)
For years, child care benefits have been an attractive but elusive perk for workers, often more commonly available via built-in child care centers at the headquarters of large companies like Goldman Sachs or Publix, or through tuition discounts or back-up care plans for workers at companies like Citi or Adobe. But now, more companies are starting to roll out child care benefits for the lower-wage and hourly workers who are critical to day-to-day operations but who aren’t necessarily based at a company’s headquarters. Employees at these companies can receive child care tuition stipends and access to programs that can help them find care, bringing much-needed assistance to those who may struggle the most to afford care.
Here’s how much more you’ll pay for summer camp this year. It’s not pretty. (CNN – May 2, 2022)
Prices are going up for everything from food and cars to gas and clothes. Now, families can add summer camps to that growing list. Some 26 million children nationwide are expected to be enrolled in camps this year after schools wind down in just a few weeks. “Demand is extremely strong for camps as parents are desperate for their kids to be out in nature with their peers and away from tech devices after two years of social distancing,” said Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, a non-profit that represents the summer camp industry. As demand surges, parents should prepare to pay more to secure a camp spot for their child. Rosenberg said camp fees are estimated to jump 10% to 15% this summer over 2021.
Child-Care Workers Are Quitting the Industry for Good in the U.S. (Bloomberg – April 27, 2022)
Low pay, demanding work and a lack of benefits have driven child-care workers out of the industry for good during the pandemic — creating ripple effects on the rest of the U.S. economy. Employment in daycare services remains more than 10% below pre-COVID levels, compared with just 1% for the labor market at large. LinkedIn data suggest many of these women — early child-care work is almost entirely done by women — moved to other jobs, primarily in education.
Local News Stories
Spots still available for 4-H Summer Camp (The Sentinel Echo – May 4, 2022)
The time to register youth for Laurel County’s 4-H summer camp, one of Kentucky’s long-standing and great values, is almost over. 4-H camps offer unique experiences each year to children who get to participate in traditional 4-H activities during their stay. Laurel County 4-H summer camp registration deadline is this Friday, May 6. The registration fee is $90 per camper; however, scholarships are available to lower the cost of camp due to the generosity of donors. Camp is open to 9 to 15-year-olds. Space is limited and registrations are taken on a first-come first-served basis.
Summer camp prices expected to increase by 15 percent this year (WDRB.com – May 3, 2022)
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Expect to pay a lot more for summer camp this year (WLKY – May 2, 2022)
Prices are going up for everything from food and cars to gas and clothes. Now, families can add summer camps to that growing list. Some 26 million children nationwide are expected to be enrolled in camps this year after schools wind down in just a few weeks. “Demand is extremely strong for camps as parents are desperate for their kids to be out in nature with their peers and away from tech devices after two years of social distancing,” said Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, a non-profit that represents the summer camp industry. As demand surges, parents should prepare to pay more to secure a camp spot for their child. Rosenberg said camp fees are estimated to jump 10% to 15% this summer over 2021.
More workers than usual needed for seasonal jobs this summer (WKYT – April 20, 2022)
Youth camps and summer activities and events are expected to be much more normal this year than even last summer. But data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows in many industries, 35 to even 60 percent of job openings are not filled. Camps and sports are part of summer fun for children, especially with this year feeling more like normal. But for places putting on the camps, or other activities, finding people to work is not fun and games.
Aviation Summer Camps return to Kentucky this summer (ABC 36, WTVQ – April 19, 2022)
Before establishing organized STEM curricula in our schools, the Summer Camp at The Aviation Museum of Kentucky offered future aeronautical specialists and pilots an engaging experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The campers even enjoyed a flight and the opportunity to enter flying time in a logbook, just like a licensed pilot. These sessions are back again in 2022. For 2022, the Aviation Summer Camps will be conducted in five cities around Kentucky, including Lexington.
From archery to soccer, Lexington organizations offer 2022 summer camps for children (Lexington Herald Leader, April 19, 2022)
From canoeing and camping to drama and dancing, a mix of old favorites and new adventures are on offer at area summer camps this year. We’ve rounded up this list of summer camp options offered by Lexington Parks and Recreation, the YMCA of Central Kentucky and The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of the Bluegrass.
BDC Hosts Summer Camp to Introduce Middle, High School Students to Debate (UK Now: University of Kentucky News – April 20, 2022)
This summer, the University of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Debate Coalition (BDC) will host its annual summer camp. The BDC summer camp introduces middle and high school students in Kentucky to the fundamentals of competitive debate, public speaking and critical thinking.The BDC Summer Debate Camp will take place in-person from Monday, June 20, through Saturday, June 25. Tuition for the BDC Summer Debate Camp is $250. Students will practice their skills in argumentation and public speaking throughout the week, with the opportunity to showcase them during a camp-wide competition on Saturday.
Parks and Rec “Summer Adventure Camp” registration open (Kentucky New Era. – April 12, 2022)
Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation just announced their annual Summer Adventure Camp registration is officially under way. Children ages 6-12 years old are welcome to join in a summer full of adventures. Each week, Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation will have 52 available spots for campers each week.
Louisville mayor signs ordinance to expand child care affordability, accessibility (WHAS 11 – April 12, 2022)
Mayor Greg Fischer has signed an ordinance that would change the zoning around child care in hopes of making it more accessible and affordable. The ordinance would allow more children in home child care facilities which would provide more options for families. Metro Council passed the ordinance unanimously in March. Fischer believes the move would help get more women back into the workplace.
Child care ordinance signed to help families in Louisville (WAVE – April 12, 2022)
Some parts of Louisville, particularly in the west and southwest, are like child care deserts, but changes are being made to make it easier for families to find child care near their homes and workplaces. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer signed an ordinance on Tuesday making it easier to start and operate in-home daycares. This ordinance removes many restrictions from the industry, allowing more providers to open in more locations and better serve families where they live and work. It also includes safeguards to protect neighborhood safety. Previously, in-home day care facilities could only accommodate six children. Daycares can now care for more children under the new rules if the home or property can accommodate it.
Louisville mayor signs ordinance that aims to expand availability of child care facilities (WKLY – April 12, 2022)
Amanda Fletcher and her mom run a 24/7 home day care center on Applegrove Lane near the Buechel neighborhood. “We had it during the pandemic, so it was kind of one or two kids here and then starting this year, we started booming,” Fletcher said. Fletcher says a lot of their clients are parents who work overnight and need a day care that’s able to accommodate their busy schedules. “I had to turn down like two or three parents (that are) coming from Indiana that work here in Louisville that needed night service, and I told them I couldn’t take them because I was already over with kids,” Fletcher said.