BRIEF: Monarch Camps provide space for scattered students

By Griffin O’Rourke and Nicholas Orozco, Staff Writers

A rock climbing wall for the Monarch Camps climbing gym which will be used by LAUSD students scattered from the three-day strike. (Griffin O'Rourke | Valley Star)

Monarch Camps is expecting to house around 100 kids this week who will be out of school due to the LAUSD teacher union strike.

The daycare program is offering discounted prices for their camps over the course of the teacher strike this week. Per day, the program will charge $75 for a child and $65 per sibling. Monarch Camps normally charges $95 daily over the summer with a sibling discount of $80. The childcare facility will run from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day of the strike. No food will be provided to the kids.

“It’s mostly to make sure the kids have a safe place to be engaged and interact with other kids while the strike is going on,” said Monarch Camps Executive Director Paul Magallanes.

Camp activities include sports, rock climbing, gymnastics, arts and crafts, special projects and inflatables. The camp staff are setting up rock climbing and gymnastic equipment in preparation for the influx of students. With the prediction of rain on Tuesday, the camp will focus on indoor activities using the college space if applicable.

Other daycares across Los Angeles include the L.A. Zoo, public libraries, Got Game Camp, Lizzy’s Schoolhouse and Mia’s Gymnastics, Tumbling and Dance Academy. Prices and schedules vary at different programs.

The strike by Local 99 of Service Employees Union International shut down classes for 420,000 students across the school district. LAUSD tried to reach an agreement with the strikers but attempts fell through. Faculty attending the strike include teachers, bus drivers, school cooks, custodians and maintenance workers.