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About Rec Check

What is Rec Check?

Rec Check is a free after-school program for youth in grades 1–5 provided at the recreation centers listed below. Rec Check is open for youth who live or attend school in Saint Paul. 

When is it held?

 Rec Check is offered weekdays from 2 - 6 p.m. on days when Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) have classes in session. (For programming when SPPS is not in session, visit our No School Days webpage.)

What's offered?

Children participate in a variety of structured, supervised activities that are recreation focused.  These may include arts and crafts, community building games, quiet time, and more. To promote health and fitness, staff will engage the youth daily in physical activity. A daily snack is also provided.

How do I register?

Registration will open three weeks prior to the session starting. Registration is available online or over the phone by calling the recreation center directly. (A list of sites and contact information is available in the FAQs below.) A list of session dates are below and participants will be required to register for the specific days that they wish to attend within those sessions. Rec Check enrollment will be limited to 28-30 youth per site with a 1:14 staff to participant ratio. Registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Register for Rec Check

While Rec Check is divided into sessions, reservations are taken on a rolling basis (pending availability). You can register online at anytime or contact the location you wish to register for more information. 

Session  Session Dates No Programming Dates Registration opens
Session 1 Sep 14 - Oct 14, 2020   Aug 24, 2020
Session 2 Oct 19 - Nov 13, 2020   Sep 28, 2020
Session 3 Nov 16 - Dec 22, 2020 Nov 20, 26-27 Oct 26, 2020
Session 4 Jan 4 - Feb 12, 2021 Jan 18, 29 Dec 14, 2020
Session 5 Feb 16 - Apr 1, 2021 Mar 5, 26 Jan 25, 2021

 

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FAQs

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    • Weather permitting, all check in/out procedures will be done outside.  
    • Only participants and staff will be allowed inside the programming space. No exceptions. 
    • Parents are only allowed in the designated check in/out area.  
    • Parents who wish to pick up their participant early may do so at the designated pickup area. Please call the site prior to your arrival so staff can help prepare your child for pick up.  
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    • Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will be following all CDC and MN Department of Health guidelines for youth programs. 
    • Effective Nov. 23, all participants are required to wear a face covering. A limited number of masks are available for those in need or forget.
    • Participants will be in groups of up to 14 participants with one staff member.
      • The groups will be the same each day and mixing of groups will be restricted. 
    • Activities with limited or no physical contact will be emphasized.  
    • Large group gatherings will be avoided.
    • Equipment and touch points will be wiped down on a routine basis throughout the day. 
    • In accordance with MN Department of Health guidelines for youth programs, participants will be expected to:
      • Stay with their assigned group.
      • Maintain 6ft physical distancing whenever possible.
      • Wear a cloth mask when social distancing is not possible.
      • Wash hands frequently. 
      • Cough or sneeze into their elbow or a clean tissue. 
      • Stay home if they are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, such as coughing, sneezing or shortness of breath.
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    • Backpack
    • Cloth mask 
    • Reusable water bottle  
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    Youth are required to check in with Rec Check staff upon arrival and departure. Parents can request to be notified when their child does not check in.

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    A change in Minnesota law now allows Saint Paul Public Schools to transport children to two of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation's youth programs, Rec Check and S'more Fun.

    • The recreation center attended must be within the attendance area or transportation area of the school attended and must be more than one mile of walking distance from school.
    • An application for childcare transportation must be completed if the student is attending a recreation center program that is more than one mile from the school but the student's residence is less than one mile from school.
    • Transportation to Saint Paul Parks & Recreation youth programs must be arranged through the school that the child attends. The application form is available from the school office or the SPPS Transportation Department website.
    • Transportation to any students' residence from Rec Check or S'more Fun is not provided.
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    Arlington Hills Community Center 651-632-3861
    Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center 651-793-3885
    Edgcumbe Recreation Center 651-695-3711
    El Rio Vista Recreation Center 651-789-2500
    Frogtown Community Center  651-298-5820
    Hancock Recreation Center 651-298-4393
    Hayden Heights Recreation Center 651-298-5716
    Hazel Park Recreation Center 651-501-6350
    Highwood Hills Recreation Center 651-266-6391
    Jimmy Lee/Oxford Community Center 651-642-0650
    Langford Recreation Center 651-298-5765
    Martin Luther King Recreation Center 651-290-8695
    McDonough Recreation Center 651-558-2171
    North Dale Recreation Center 651-558-2329
    Palace Community Center 651-298-5677
    Phalen Recreation Center 651-793-6600
    Rice Recreation Center 651-298-5727
    West Minnehaha Recreation Center 651-298-5823
    Wilder Recreation Center 651-298-5727
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    Some recreation centers are not holding Rec Check this year due to limited space and staff availability. Additionally, Highland Park Community Center, Northwest Como, Groveland, and Battle Creek recreation centers offer full-day S'more Fun childcare programs. 

Last Edited: February 11, 2021