2/16/05

Summer Camp Slots Fill Quickly
Parks & Recreation Working to Continue to Improve Registration Process

Last year, on the first day of summer camp registration, the Parks & Recreation Department was swamped with parents registering children for the fun and affordable week-long camps. The Town reaped a record one-day revenue. This was a new year, the department implemented a new registration system, and a new record one-day revenue – almost double last year's earnings – was made.

This year, the department improved its registration process from last year by setting aside one day solely for summer camp registration. The department opened rooms in the community center and even set up televisions and refreshments to help the wait for registration pass more quickly. Still, the registration line was long, the camp openings filled quickly, and some parents were frustrated.

“There were a lot of positive comments, where people said this was an improvement from last year,” said Sarah Kennedy, Parks & Recreation office manager. “People realized that we were trying to accommodate them, and they were very thankful. Still, there's room for improvement, and that's what we are working on.”

An improved registration process will be available next year. After employee training, multiple Parks & Recreation employees will enter registration data. Then the participants will take their forms to a different station for payment.

This year, participants went to one station where an employee checked to ensure paperwork was properly completed and supporting documents were supplied. Then, the participant was given a number. When the number was called, the participant visited another station for both registration and payment. By breaking the last station into two segments – registration and payment – Bradley said he thought that registration time next year might be cut in half. The department will try out the new system for the after-school program registration this May.

Another suggestion the department is considering is allowing only residents to register first. Currently, the department does not discriminate between residents and nonresidents; both can register on the first day as summer camp spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. This policy would need to be approved by the Town Council before the department could implement it.

While many summer camps are full, some openings remain. For more information on registering for an open summer camp, contact Julie Tew, Parks & Recreation assistant leisure programs supervisor, at (919) 557-9603. For more information about the registration process and improvements, or to offer suggestions for additional improvements, contact Kennedy at (919) 557-3930.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us