Duke City Fix

Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Angela

Camp Chaparral 2008


No, I didn't take a trip to California for exotic exploration of a natural land state. I camped out at my kids' elementary school (over on the westside) in the hopes of getting them into the city of Albuquerque's before and after school "playground" program.


This is the second time I've camped out at Chaparral Elementary school, and it's generally accepted by the parents at our school as a frustrating yet inevitable scenario.

The option for me?
Stand/sit in line for 24 hours and send two children to the before and after program for $28 a week.
Or...
Call around to the three child care centers in my area of town that does before school dropoff and after school pickup at our school and see if they have space available and pay upwards of $250 a week.

About 100 families showed up last night (and some even the day before) for what has become a community event to snag the 125 slots available for the students that attend Chaparral Elementary School. Yes families. Kids, dogs, moms, dads, siblings, cousins and all. The air around this place is similar to that of a giant slumber party (Okay, I'm trying to be optimistic); the police do come by to do welfare checks every few hours (and ticket those who've parked in the red zone in front of the school) and will deal with an occasional problem that may arise. All in all, it's not frighteningly scary, it's just a major pain in the ass, especially if you're not the camping/outdoorsy kind of person.


Last night for all of us "campers", the worst fear we had was the severe weather that was due to come our way. Generally over on the westside, we get the short end of the stick when it comes to rainstorms during monsoon season, but Murphy's Law being what it is, we were ready for anything. Luckily for us, other than a few sprinkles, we escaped the dangerous weather, relatively unscathed.

Call me lazy, call me crazy but I can't see hauling out the 10-man apartment-like tent that we bought last year for the camping trip we never took to Red River. Instead, I hauled out the old recliner, bunched a few sleeping bags around me and slept on and off through the night, until the news crews showed up at 4:45am on the dot to do their live feed for the morning news.



Things to remember if you find you and your family camping out at "Camp Chaparral":

1. If you can't bring yourself to go behind the building and pee on a tree, the Giant gas station on Coors & Quail is open 24 hours. The restroom facilities are shockingly clean.

2. McDonald's Drive Through (also on Coors & Quail) is open 24 hours, good for emergency 2:00am snack attacks.

3. Starbucks opens at 5:00am. If you're going to buy a "coffee traveler" for you and your newfound friends, please make sure to call ahead if at all possible (if not, be prepared to wait).

4. Please do lock and alarm your vehicle. During the summer Parks & Rec version of "Camp Chaparral 2008", one woman's car window was smashed, and her purse was stolen in broad daylight -- in front of all of us.

5. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times (see #4)

6. Don't park in the red zone. You will get a ticket.

7. Bring an umbrella. Sunscreen. Hats. Mosquito Spray. Chapstick. Lotion. Makeup for the TV crews that do the interviewing.

8. Come in shifts if possible. Don't drop off your chair two days before and expect it to be there the day of, when the doors do finally open, if you leave it unattended.

9. Do get up and move around occasionally.

10. Don't bring alcohol or come to the line intoxicated. It's obnoxious and fuel for potential disaster.

11. Please do try to cut down on the boisterous chatter after 11:00pm.

12. Bring cash or check for the program. The folks that work for the city do not take credit cards (there are always a few...).

Otherwise that's it.
Take care, and see ya'll next year!

11 Comments

JMG Comment by JMG on August 5, 2008 at 11:31pm
At first I thought this was a parody, ala "The Onion." As reality, it is an appalling commentary on what we go through as parents who pay taxes (and all the non-parents too, who pay taxes) for schools and services for children. In a nation that is very productive, because both parents often work, we also pay more taxes. Such programs should be readily available to families with school-age kids. This is a real break down when people are reduced to this kind of thing.
magoo Comment by magoo on August 6, 2008 at 5:40am
actually, this is a well-planned APS continuing education class titled "introduction to camping", which one of your friends/relatives must have signed you up for (it's a well-disguised course, designed to draw in the non-camping types......)
Adelita Comment by Adelita on August 6, 2008 at 6:00am
Maybe you could invite the mayor and the new superintendent next year to lead the camp fire songs!
Angela Comment by Angela on August 6, 2008 at 8:15am
Yes, we got in, (I was #9) but according to the news, 10 had to go on the "waiting list"...
Laura Comment by Laura on August 6, 2008 at 9:26am
Wow! Thanks for the post, Angela. I had no idea. But this is very helpful: my daughter might be starting Kindergarten at Chaparral next year (if she doesn't win the magic charter school "lottery"), so it looks like I'll have to get my camping gear in order.

I wonder how quickly this would change if the mayor/principal/vice president or their spouses had to camp out to reserve a space for their kids...
JMG Comment by JMG on August 6, 2008 at 9:31am
[[I wonder how quickly this would change if the mayor/principal/vice president or their spouses had to camp out to reserve a space for their kids... ]]

You know, somehow, I don't think that's gonna happen. I bet it wouldn't happen for anyone in the Daskalos family, either.
SweetCaroline Comment by SweetCaroline on August 6, 2008 at 9:50am
Gee. Just think. If APS hadn't bought theUptown $$$$ High Rise and laid out another $500,000 to remodel the 'conference room' - they could have provided many schools with this type of program. But...sigh....such are their priorities.
cathyray Comment by cathyray on August 6, 2008 at 10:04am
This makes me happy that my son is already grown up. Camping out to get a kid into a before & after school program that they should all be entitled to attend blows my mind. I know that I would have done it if I had had to. Everyone who works & has children understands the before & after school problems. Recent news articles have confirmed what parents who work have always known: these are the hours unsupervised kids get in the most trouble.

God bless the campers & kumbya ya'll.
Chris Comment by Chris on August 6, 2008 at 10:25am
Sweet Caroline has it all wrong. This program is run by the city, hence the incompetent nail queens and sleazy grease boys that run those programs. It is limited by the space they can use and the number of staff the city can provide. An alternative: longer school days. I hate the ideas, but it might make more sense than a longer school year, which seems to happen more and more...
mombat Comment by mombat on August 6, 2008 at 10:32am
I think it is horrible that this is what you have to do to have a safe place for kids after school.
Has your neighborhood tried working with your city councilor or finding some grant money to expand the program ?
You are a Supermom!

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