Around Town: Hands-on camps, summer camps, now hiring, more

Ann Arbor Fire and Police departments host new hands-on camp

The Ann Arbor Fire and Police departments will debut a new four-day camp for local students in June. Blaze & Blue is a free, hands-on camp program for young women 13-18 years of age. Participants will experience the most challenging and exciting tasks in firefighting, first response and law enforcement in a supportive, educational and interactive environment.

Activities will include:

• Fire extinguisher training, vehicle extrication, 100-foot aerial platform rides and rappelling.
• Patrol scenarios, crime scene investigation, mugshots and fingerprints and a day-in-the-life station tour.

The 2022 program will be held Monday, June 27, through Thursday, June 30. Students will train with Ann Arbor firefighters Monday and Tuesday and Ann Arbor police staff Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. The camp also provides access to the women who work in these roles, breaking down barriers and stereotypes in these non-traditional career fields. Registration is open March 7–18. The camp is free, lunch is provided daily, and participants will receive a complimentary Blaze & Blue t-shirt.

Sign up by completing the online form at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=haWvSHVjcEG50enFaLuS8whtLjHFxKtNp2qENkEP4y1URU9YVTNVVDIzR1NXV1ZJWEU3TFlaOTBMVS4u. Questions? Email cjackson@a2gov.org. Priority will be given to city of Ann Arbor residents before Washtenaw County.

Summer day camp registration opens April 4

City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services has been working hard to plan how to safely operate in-person river day camps and pool camps during the summer of 2022. The safety of campers and staff are a top priority, and the state-licensed camps will abide by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, governmental recommendations and regulations. Staff is working with the State of Michigan and Washtenaw County to best understand the regulations and how to offer and implement safe and engaging camp experiences. Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation is looking forward to offering camps again this summer, with plans to open camp registration Monday, April 4.

Make sure your registration process is efficient and issue free. As the City of Ann Arbor finalizes plans for upcoming programs, now is the ideal time to review your online registration (CivicRec) account, to be ready to register Monday, April 4. Double check home address, birth dates of participants, contact information and residency status, in particular. If you find any issues with your account, please email a2parks@a2gov.org immediately for assistance. Due to COVID-19, staff is working remotely and may not be readily available once registration opens. If during the registration process, you encounter an issue with residency or rates, please complete the registration process to secure your spot, then contact customer service, a2parks@a2gov.org. Your email will receive a response within two business days. Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation appreciates the patience and understanding and looks forward to a fun-filled summer!

Savor summer with a city parks job (+ now earn more!)

Is your dream job to teach people to swim? Are you an athlete wanting to be active and/or outdoors working at the canoe liveries, pools and golf courses? You’re in luck: Opportunities to work in the parks are plenty … and now temporary employees will enjoy even bigger paychecks! The city is announcing NEW wage increases for all temporary seasonal jobs, with starting rates at $15.66* per hour for TEMP 1/STEP 1 hires.

Check out the variety of jobs available including golf rangers and grounds keepers, recreation supervisors, lifeguards, cashiers, day camp counselors, canoe livery attendants and more.
Working in the parks can also help a student or young adult build their resumes with leadership and public speaking skills, money handling in some instances, responsibilities in roles such as day camp counselors and swim instructors and strengthened social skills and self-confidence.

There’s never been a better time to join the Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation team! To view the job postings and apply online, visit www.a2gov.org/parksjobs.

(*Pending City Council approval to continue in fiscal year 2023.)

City forestry plan update process underway

The process of updating the Ann Arbor Urban and Community Forest Management Plan is underway. The existing plan, completed in 2014, provided a framework for managing the city’s tree canopy, an important asset that provides essential economic, social and environmental benefits to the community. The update will review existing goals and objectives, and recommend new implementation activities to sustainably protect, preserve, maintain and grow Ann Arbor’s urban forest. As part of this effort, the city is assembling an Urban and Community Forest Management Steering Committee to help guide the update process.

For more information, and to sign up to receive updates (click the envelope icon), visit www.a2gov.org/forestry.

Provide a safe passage for birds

From the middle of March through the end of May, and again mid-August through the end of October, migrating birds fly over Ann Arbor during spring and fall migrations. On clear nights, birds navigate by the stars; but at dawn or on cloudy and foggy nights, they attempt to navigate using the lights of tall buildings, putting them at risk of hitting these lit windows. They either crash going full speed, or they endlessly circle the building until they drop to the ground, exhausted and vulnerable to predators and other dangers.

Ann Arbor joins other cities in helping migrating birds have a safe passage. Occupants of buildings on floors five and above are asked to help prevent these needless deaths by pulling the drapes or closing the shades on windows in lit rooms between 11 p.m. and dawn. http://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/birds/Pages/SafePassage.aspx.