SUMMER CAMPS
Philly Play programs are taking place all over the city, which means there’s an opportunity to participate or volunteer somewhere near where you live. If you’re interested in getting involved with Philly Play, we’d like to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Us page or send us your info using this secure form.
Philly Play partners with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to infuse traditional city summer camp programming with active play and health programming at participating recreation centers.
Recreation centers that work with Philly Play offer kids a healthier, happier summer camp experience by providing full-time, dedicated Philly Play Coaches with 80 hours of training in how to lead effective active play time and health programming; healthier food and beverage choices; free, fun active play themed field trips; and free health inspired giveaways.
2016 summer programming runs from July through mid-August at 30 locations throughout the city. At each of our partner recreation sites, kids participate in special active play programming that includes structured active play time, skill building activities, and interactive nutritional education.
Programming varies based on each center’s specific needs, available space, resources, and demand, but the objectives are the same: teach, inspire, and empower kids to be healthier and play more!
Before you sign your kids up for summer camp, check to make sure that the summer camp is a Philly Play site!
POP UP PLAY EVENTS
Every year Philly Play hosts Pop Up Play events around the city, offering activities like biking and swimming. These events are designed to create opportunities for kids to play with their families. These events are open to the public and do not require pre-registration. Join us!
Summer 2016 Pop Up Play Events include:
- Day of Play: July 27th from 10 AM to 3 PM at Dilworth Park, City Hall
- Pop Up Play at Smith: August 5th from 10 AM to 3 PM at Smith Memorial Playground
- Read, Play, Build Block Party in Tacony: September 17th from 10 AM to 3 PM at 6800 block of Torresdale Avenue.
Check back for updates on Pop Up Play events or like us on Facebook.
PHILLY PLAY SUMMER CHALLENGE
Children from across Philadelphia participate in a one-day, kids-only play day: the Philly Play Summer Challenge. In the past, more than 3,000 kids showed off the skills they learned over the summer and competed against other children in various events and across skill and fitness levels.
This summer, Philly Play is partnering with ABF Mud Run to host more than 1,500 kids for the Philly Play Summer Challenge 2016. On August 10th from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Riverfields in Northeast Philadelphia, kids from all over the city will come together to compete in a 15-obstacle obstacle course and show off their moves at a giant outdoor dance party. Space is limited!
Sign your church group, recreation center, or summer camp up to participate!
PLAY HUBS
In 2015, Philly Play launched a three-year pilot project aimed at creating Play Hubs in three Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Community organizers tasked with making each Hub an epicenter of active play are working to mobilize parents, families, teachers, and administrators in support of policies, programs, and investments designed to make schools and neighborhoods healthier, happier, and more playful places for kids. They will educate parents about the process for establishing School Advisory Councils (SACs) and Home and School Organizations, educate the community about the importance of play, train parents groups and community organizations, and support community organizations and schools in developing action plans for play and assessing and eliminating the barriers to implementing those plans. In addition, elementary schools in the Hubs will receive a full time Playworks coach to facilitate structured recess!
Philly Play will continue to expand its work to serve new schools and communities. In fall 2016, Philly Play will establish Play Hubs centered around the newly created community schools initiative.
Under the leadership of Mayor Kenney’s Office of Education and in partnership with the Philadelphia Community Schools Initiative and the Department of Health, Philly Play will ensure that Philadelphia’s community schools are the healthiest, happiest, most playful places they can be!
Philly Play is providing each community school with support in the form of trained health specialists who will work closely with each school to assess, develop, and implement health programming, resources, and training. In addition, Philly Play is committed to developing capital and programmatic investment plans for each school and the surrounding community that foster and support healthy lifestyles through active play.
TRAININGS
Philly Play is committed to creating a more playful world through training.
In fall 2016, Philly Play will partner with Unite Here!, the School District of Philadelphia, and Playworks to offer play training for over 700 School Climate Staff. School Climate Staff are a crucial part of creating a vibrant, healthy, and safe school experience for Philadelphia kids. School Climate Staff participating in the training will learn key skills for managing effective playtime for large groups of kids during recess.
If your office, non-profit, RCO, civic organization, community organization, church group, or union would like to schedule a training with Philly Play or one of our partners, please contact us! Trainings are offered on a sliding scale and are designed to help adults engage kids in active play.