PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer a free hybrid (virtual and in-person) summer camp June 21 through August 27 for youth ages 5 to 12. Campers will enjoy fun from the comfort of their home three days a week and in-person two days a week at Heartwell Park. The Mobile Recess Program will also continue to be offered this summer, with a new series running June 21 through August 27. Registration for both programs begins May 10 at 2 p.m. online and in person.

“We look forward to providing fun, engaging and safe activities for our city’s youth to enjoy this summer,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “As we continue to move out of this pandemic and get back to normalcy, our Parks Department is ready to offer re-imagined summer activities – both in-person and virtually— for kids of all ages.”

Hybrid (Virtual and In-Person) Summer Camp
Virtual Camp will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include enrichment activities, arts and crafts, fitness and games to fill the day with excitement.

In-Person Recreation will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heartwell Park, located at 5801 E. Parkcrest St. Campers will enjoy arts and crafts, games and physical fitness fun.

Registration for each program week will be available beginning May 10 at 2 p.m. on the LB RecConnect online catalogue, located on the LBparks.org webpage, or in person at Heartwell Park, Monday through Friday, from 2 to 6 p.m. Registration will remain open until the program reaches capacity. Participants can sign up for one week or multiple weeks. Campers must enroll in the Virtual Camp to participate in the In-Person Recreation and will be required to provide their own computer for the virtual portion.

Spaces for In-Person Recreation will be filled on a weekly basis based on registered participants and at a limited capacity, so early registration is encouraged. Participation in the In-Person Recreation portion is optional.

Virtual and hybrid programs have been generously integrated into PRM offerings this past year, along with an array of other re-imagined recreation programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have been game-changers in the public recreation industry. The Virtual Camp allows youth to interact and engage with recreation staff, participate in innovative virtual activities, and can accommodate a large number of participants in a safe and secure environment.

The Hybrid Summer Camp was developed in response to the popular demand and success of other hybrid programs offered by PRM and requests from parents to extend those offerings for the summer months. The hybrid model also keeps the safety and wellbeing of camp participants in mind as Long Beach continues to positively trend out of the pandemic and into a new normal.

“This exciting hybrid model is an alternative to more traditional programming that caters to both residents who are more comfortable recreating at home and those who want to enjoy the park setting,” said PRM Director Brent Dennis. “We look forward to phasing in more in-person programs as health protocols allow, as well as more new and innovative ways to reach our residents virtually.” 

Mobile Recess Program
The free Mobile Recess Program will continue to be offered for a new series beginning June 21 through August 27, Monday through Friday, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. PRM staff will drive trucks loaded with supplies and equipment to designated neighborhood streets and provide recreation activities for youth ages 5 through 14 (Grades K-8). Streets are blocked off for safety and kids participate in physical fitness and arts and crafts activities. 

Registration begins May 10 at 2 p.m. on LBParks.org, or in person at any of the participating Mobile Recess locations, Monday through Friday, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration will remain open until the program reaches capacity. Space is limited, advance sign-ups are required, and all sign-ups are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Mobile Recess Program will be held at the following locations:

• Monday & Wednesday Sites
  • Hellman Street between Orange Avenue and Cerritos Avenue
  • 11th Street between Dawson Avenue and St. Louis Avenue
  • 67th Way between Orcutt Avenue and Muriel Avenue
• Tuesday & Thursday Sites
  • 17th Street between Henderson Avenue and Chestnut Avenue
  • 8th Street between Gladys Avenue and Freeman Avenue
  • Jackson Street Between Orange Avenue and Walnut Avenue
• Friday Sites
  • 23rd Street between Cedar Avenue and Chestnut Avenue
  • Parade Street between Harbor Avenue and Fashion Avenue
  • Burton Chace Park, located at Market Street and Dairy Avenue

To ensure the safety of all participants and staff, In-Person Recreation and the Mobile Recess Program will adhere to the following COVID-19 safety protocols:

• Health screenings for participants and staff, including temperature check.
• Limiting the number of participants in each camp.
• Maintaining no larger than a 14:2 participant-to-staff ratio.
• Implementing physical distancing protocols, including at check-in and checkout.
• Cleaning and sanitizing facilities multiple times each day.
• Cleaning and sanitizing all high-touch areas frequently.
• Requiring face coverings for participants and staff.

In addition to the Hybrid Camp and Mobile Recess Program, PRM continues to offer several other free and low-cost programs for youth, including the in-person After School Camps and Community Learning Hubs through June 18, in-person summer day camps, and the Nature Kids Discovery Program, which will be held at El Dorado Nature Center beginning June 21 through August 27. More information about other PRM in-person programs will be available soon. 

Information for additional PRM programs is available by visiting LBParks.org or by calling 562.570.3150.