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The Reilly family is a two-income household. Laura will soon be heading back to her job after working from home since March. Her husband Dan always worked from home. Their 6- and 9-year-old girls will start the school year online.
Finding child care, as well as a location suitable for virtual learning, was a concern for the two parents. Then Laura found out that YMCAs in the region are forming learning centers for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
“I really did not know what we were going to do,” Laura said, “because Dan's schedule lacks the flexibility to be able to — you know, especially for my 6-year-old , the first grader — to get her on Zoom and make sure she is doing the work and uploading the assignments. Because she isn’t tech savvy enough to do that on her own.”
The Reillys will spend about $200 a week for each child at the Upper Main Line Branch in Berwyn.
"Our Y has a lovely pool, so they will potentially be able to swim. The Y has 54 acres of outdoor space, so they’ll get to play and run around," Laura said.
The Elmwood Park Zoo is creating a learning center, too, for $60 a day, where students can do their online school work safely. Zoo tours and animal visits will be offered to students during breaks.
“We are focusing on grades third through fifth,” said Laura Houston, director of education for the zoo.
“We thought it was important to stay with one grade band, so we can provide the proper social interactions among the students as well," Houston said. "So, not only are we providing a bit of academic support, we are also having them in similar age groups of their peers."
She described the safety precautions the zoo is taking.
"While they are here, we will provide them with a safe space that has been fully sanitized. We will be taking temperatures and will be taking other COVID precautions. Once they are here, we will help them log onto their virtual learning through their school."
She said zoo staff are not a replacement for teachers, by any means.
"Think of us as a classroom aide,” Houston said.
Safe socialization with other kids is what parents say is part of the appeal.