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CITY OF MANHATrAN BEACH

MR. 1DRIS ,J. AL-OBOUDIRECREAflON SERViCES MANAGER

1400 HiGHLAND AVE.MANHAflAN BEACH, CA 90266iaIoboudj@cjmanhattafl beach9.-

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An After School PlaygroundProgram That Works

M2nhttan Beach, CA—Whereare a majority of the nation’s children going every day after school?In 1988, an average of 75 percent ofthe women with children ages six to17 were in the labor force. With thislarge a percentage ofmothers working, more children are spendingtheir afternoons in day care facilitiesor are “latchkey children,” cominghome to an empty house. Withoutsupervision they can become boredand misguided. All too often, they sittransfixed in front of a television,wander the streets or hook up withthe wrong crowd. In day care centers they may not receive enoughattention or they may find theatmosphere too chaotic and stressful.

The Manhattan Beach RecreationDepartment After School Playground Program provides analternative. Children in the programmeet daily after school in city parksand participate in planned activitiessuch as sports, games, arts andcrafts, storytelling, and more. Theprogram provides children with aplace to develop recreational skillsto enjoy throughout their lives. Ithas been a success in bringingtogether children in the communityand giving them a place to belong,to learn, and to just have fun.

The goal ofthe program is to helpchildren use their leisure time forcharacter building, and imaginativeplay so that they will grow up to bewell-adjusted adults. It meets thisobjective by providing positive programs that use trained and caringleaders.

The program follows the tenets ofprofessional recreation: challenge,hope, and the thrill ofmastery. Children ages six to 12 are encouraged

to come and meet new friends in asafe and wholesome environment.There are activities that teach children self-control, self-discipline,leadership, and the value of rules.Most importantly, the program fosters an atmosphere of togethernessthat helps children feel that they belong to a group that accepts them asthey are.

Recreation department officialsbelieve that the success of the program is best illustrated by the soaring attendance (today 1,200 children are registered at four sites, a100 percent increase since 1987).This is the result of providing well-organized, quality activities.

The program is not just a place tomeet and play. It is also a placewhere children can grow mentallyas well as physically. The programadheres to the theory of constructive engagement, where recreation leaders have to be proactive.They must provide sound recreational programs and teach lifelongrecreational skills which are enjoyable and enhance one’s character.

Because playground leaders havea vital, positive influence on children, the Manhattan Beach programstrives for quality in its leadership.Most of the leaders are studying recreation at local colleges. In additionto seeking skilled leaders, the department looks for leaders who careabout children.

To help nurture leadership qualities, the department has developeda training manual which stresses theimportance of professional recreation standards. The leaders areselected to do more than maintaindiscipline and order. They serve asrole models and are required topresent a wholesome appearance

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and to conduct activities in a safeand responsible manner.

The department has a stringentselection process for playgroundleaders consisting of several interviews. The special events supervisorusually talks to an average of25 people when filling a vacant playgroundleader position. The process the supervisor follows is simple. First, heor she looks for people who haveshown that they care about helpingothers by their previous civic activities and work experience. Second,to determine if they have the abilityto teach, show, and communicate,he or she will ask them to demonstrate crafts, sing or tell stories. Applicants must be prepared toperform and use their imaginationsjust as they would among the children. Last, the applicants are judgedon enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to working with children.

One of the best indicators of theprogram’s success is parents’ enthusiasm for the leaders. “1 have beenvery impressed with the quality ofthe leaders. They have excellentcontrol and provide discipline forthe children. I always feel that mychildren are safe with them,” explains a parent whose two childrenattend the program regularly.

The Manhattan Beach RecreationDepartment helps each child realize his or her potential through imaginative play. Activities such asstorytelling, pantomime, and playacting are used to challenge theirthinking and help them to visualizeand explore with their minds. Usingtheir imaginations in play is not onlyfun, but it also helps build theircreativity and self-esteem.

Active participation by parents isvital to the success of the program.

There is an open-door policy whichencourages parents to volunteer,give feedback or just watch and enjoy. Special events such as talentshows and craft projects are designed to involve parents. “TheChristmas candy cane hunt wasgreat,” says the mother of a toddlerson. “It was well organized, there

was plenty of candy for everyone,and the parents had a chance tomeet other parents.”

What’s next for the ManhattanBeach After School Playground Program? The department is preparinga teaching manual for leaders thatfocuses on educating childrenabout their environment The manual will include information on nature, pollution, and things that children can do to help preserve theworld they live in. Playground activities will be designed to tie in withthe environment. For instance,there will be scavenger hunts thatwill teach kids about the differenttrees and plants in the area.

Manhattan Beach Recreation Department’s After School PlaygroundProgram is a success because it fills agap in our ever splintering society.It creates an opportunity for families to come together, for childrento learn while having fun, and forthe community to be more than justa place to live.

34lison BerkaMa7thattan Beach, CA

Hila Corn issionFOR RECREATION AND SPORT

18 October 1991

Manhattan Beach Recreation Dept1400 Highland AveManhattan BeachCalifornia 90266U.S.A

Dear Sir/Madam

I read in a recent “Australian Parks and Recreation” magazine about therecreation programme delivered by your department for “latchkey children.”

As Play Education Officer for the Hillary Commission, out of school care andrecreation comes under my jurisdiction and I am always on the lookout forinformation and resources.

I wonder therefore if it would be possible to forward to me, as soon as possible,information on your selection and training process. I would particularlywelcome a copy of your training manual. Pelase invoice me for any costsincurred.

I am including material on the Hillary Commission for your information.

Yours sincerely

Diana O’NeillPLAY EDUCATION OFFICER

Investment House. Cnr Featherston and Ballance Streets,P.O. Box 2251, Wellington, New Zealand

Telephone (04)4728-058. Fax (04)4710-813

II;.

Hillary CommissionFOR RECREATION AND SPORT

4 December 1991

Idris J Al-OboudiRecreation SupervisorRecreation DepartmentCity Hall1400 Highland AveManhatten Beach, California 90266-4795USA

Dear Idris

Thank you very much for all the wonderful information you sent me on yourPlayground Programme, I can appreciate the vast amount of time and effort thathas gone into its preparation.

The Hillary Commission will be funding a 3 day seminar next year on many ofthe issues addressed in the information so it will be invaluable.

The article in “Australian Parks and Recreation” was quite small but I haveenclosed it anyway.

Thank you again for the interesting material.

Yours sincerely

Diana O’NeillPLAY EDUCATION OFFICER

Investment House. Cnr Featherston and Ballance Streets.P.O. Box 2251. Wellington. New Zealand

Telephone (04) 472-8058 Fax (04) 471-0813

Recreational Use of Dam

Fbcu3.Environmental EducationIn South Africa, the Natal Education Department and the SandtonCivic Foundation did some pioneering work in environmental education when they organised the firstENVIRO competition in 1975.Since then other organisationshave joined in this promotion ofenvironmental competitions.

Primary and high school pupils ormembers of a wildlife club competeon a regional basis throughout thecountry. The winners each year ineach region take part in a youthsymposium held at Golden GateHighlands National Park. The introduction of an overall merit prizehas led to higher standards of presentations. Teams undertake projects related to environmentalproblems such as polluted rivers,noise pollution, establishment of

V bird sanctuaries or hiking trails etc.

In 1990 about 30 teams representing the winners of the regions, participated in the National YouthSymposium. The overall winningteam spends a few days at a naturereserve.

From CUSTOS, Oct., 1990

Trees and the WorldCouncil of Churches

Greening Australian ACT Inc mustered a group of volunteers to helpnearly 200 delegates, from theWorld Council of Churches Assembly, plant 300 trees in Urambi Hillssouth of Canberra.

The Assembly brought thousandsof people to Canberra last February and because of the initiative ofthe Greening Australia group, theyhave been able to leave a lastingtoken of their visit. A further 2000trees are to be planted at the siteshortly. This is a good example ofpeople with environmental concerns linking their interests to thoseof a major visiting group. It wouldbe great if every major conferenceheld in this country included somecontribution to parks or the naturalenvironment in their program!

The Toowoomba City Council commissioned Gutteridge Haskins andDavey Pty Ltd to prepare a recreational use strategy for the CoobyDam. The dam is one of threewater supply storages serving the90,000 persons in the Toowoombadistrict.The strategy included the followingfeatures:• identifying the activity zone

along the foreshore on the basisof access, environmental sensitivity, foreshore gradients andserviceability

• recommending the appropriaterange and scale of facilities tobe provided in each activity zonethrough the adoption of recreational opportunity spectrummethodology

• recommending the type andscale of water-oriented recreational activities

• determining managementrequirements and priorities toensure the features of the existing environment are not affected

• Recommending an appropriatemanagement structure and thefund raising measures thatwould introduce greater recreational activities on the dam

• recommending usage and environmental monitoring program

The strategy had to rationalise theobjectives of interested usergroups with the overall objective ofmaintaining water quality. Afterassessing the environmental attributes of the Dam and surroundingareas, GHD prepared a low useand moderate-to-high-use strategy.

GHD recommend the low-use strategy be adopted for a trial period ofseveral years.

Leadership andAfterschool Programs

A US report urges the organisationof well planned and delivered recreation programs for children in theafter school hours. While this maybe perceived as the communityproblem of “latch key” children, theManhattan Beach (California) Recreation Department saw it as achallenge and an opportunity. Children aged from 6 to 12 years areinvolved in a program with positiveaims of meeting new friends, learning self-control, self discipline and

the value of rules. They meet dailyin parks where the tenets of hope,challenge and the thrill of masteryare embodied in programs ofsports, games, story telling, crafts,etc. Attendances have risen to1200 spread around four sites.

In developing the program overseveral years, the emphasis hasbeen on creative pro-active leadership. Leaders must provide constructive programs and teachlifelong recreational skills. Most ofthe leaders are studying recreationat local colleges and they areexpected to do more than keeporder. They are seen as rolemodels. A training manual hasbeen prepared and before beingaccepted into the leadership team,applicants go through a stringentselection process. Criteria forselection include evidence ofinvolvement in civic activities; performance skills and imagination;enthusiasm and commitment toworking with children.

Active participation of parents is avital part of the overall program.They are involved in specialevents, are encouraged to volunteer and to give feedback on theprogram and to come and enjoyactivities as a family group.

Parks & Recreation (USA) Dec1990

Valuable Holes

Anyone in a larger city authoritymust be aware of the problems ofwaste disposal. So if you have alarge hole in the ground you arefortunate. A recent report indicatesthat the largest UK supplier of“holes in the ground” is a Scottishcompany. Shanks & McEwan. Theyown about 80 million cubic metresof holes with options on a further160 million cubic metres.

From Trees and Natural ResourcesDec. 1990.

POLBASEPolbase is a comprehensive federal database which combinesinformation on federal politicians,the federal press gallery, bureaucrats and consultants.Polbase is menu driven. You needan IBM compatible PC with a harddisk. The material is updated regularly. Details from Committee Bulletin, RO. Box 613 Bondi Junction,NSW 2022.

10 AUSTRALIAN PARKS & RECREATION SPRING 1991