What is GLO?
The mission of GLO is to provide quality programs for children and families in San Francisco. GLO is a private non-profit organization which operates before and after-school, non-school day, and summer programs. The summer program is called GLO Summer Adventures.

What are the program dates and fees?
June 14 – July 23, 2010
9am – 4pm: $230 / week
7-9am extended care: $35 / week
4-6pm extended care: $35 / week

How long has GLO offered summer programs for children?
28 years.

What does GLO Summer Adventures offer?
The program offers social and educational experiences in Technology & Science, Arts & Creativity, Sports & Recreation, Fantasy, and Lifestyle (see brochure / website for more detail). Children participate in a variety of experiences which teach new social and leadership skills all while having fun with friends. Activities will include classes, field trips, swim classes, and team building exercises with trained professional staff.

What is the staff teacher ratio?
10 to 1

Is lunch provided?
No. Children need to bring a lunch everyday. A small breakfast is served before 9am. An afternoon snack is at 3:30pm. For GSA 2010, GLO hopes to partner with KIDCHOW; an organization that makes organic healthy lunches for summer programs. The lunch costs $5-7 per child per day. There is a wide variety of options so please check out the website: www.kidchow.com. In order to partner with them we must have 30 participating families each week.

How are the children organized in the program?
Children of the same grade spend most of the day together. There are periods of the day when children are in mixed age groupings: swimming lessons, snack, and lunchtime

Does GSA allow drop in?
No. We would like all participants to have a full program experience.


How do swimming lessons work?
Swimming lessons are offered in partnership with certified instructors at UCSF (Mission Bay Campus). Children are organized by skill level. The student instructor ratio at swim lessons is 4:1. Lessons are offered for pre-registered participants on Tues. & Thursday afternoons for an additional fee.
$75: June 14 – July 2, 2010
$75: July 3 – July 23, 2010
For Swimming Lessons at UCSF, a 3 or 4 week commitment is needed so that children show progress and new skills. Children must be enrolled in GLO Summer Adventures to take part in UCSF swim lessons.
In addition to swimming lessons students will have an opportunity to be involved in recreation swimming once a week at Sava pool. Sava pool is located within walking distance of West Portal Elementary school. We are excited to add recreational swimming to enhance our awesome afternoons.

Is there a naptime?
The children are welcome to rest during quiet time, but cots and blankets are not provided.

Do you accept Special Needs children?
Yes, but only if we can assure a quality experience (safety and enrichment) for the child with the appropriate attention. Please note Families with special needs must register at least one month prior to the beginning of their session unless there is a shadow aide provided by the family.

Does your program take the kids off site?
Yes. The children will take an off-site field trip every Friday, generally between 9am and 4pm.
For most events, children are required to bring their own bagged lunches, unless otherwise stated, and recommended to wear comfortable shoes and to dress in layers of warm clothing for expected cool temperatures.

If a child has food allergies, will you provide him with a separate snack?
We try to accommodate within reason. We encourage parents who have children with food allergies to bring their own snacks when they can. Also, to prevent allergic reactions, we don’t serve any foods with peanuts or chocolate ingredients. Remember to complete any and all medical forms for our staff to be aware of any health conditions your child may have.

Is GLO licensed and what does that mean?
GLO is licensed by the California Department of Social Services. GLO is required to adhere to health, safety, and programmatic regulations as required by the state of California. The health and safety codes include but are not limited to background checks for all staff, fingerprint clearance for employees, and emergency and health documentation for children and staff.

What are the staff qualifications and training?
The program staff and its leaders are professionally qualified through a rigorous screening process including background checks, fingerprint clearances, and demonstrated competence in working with children and families. Staff regularly attend paid staff trainings, relevant college coursework, and participate in staff meetings to discuss best practices for serving children and families.

What if my child takes medication?
There’s a medical form that needs to be filled out before your child attends. By California state law, staff may only administer medicine from an original container labeled with the child’s name. For the safety of all children and staff, sick children are welcome to return to the program 24 hours they have been stabilized.

Administrative Questions:

Is there Financial Aid?
Financial assistance is typically only available to eligible GLO families who participate in the Fee Subsidy Program during the school year.

Will I receive a refund or credit if my child is sick one day and cannot attend?
Refunds and credits are not available in this case.

How do I pay? Do I pay at once or weekly?
Payments can be made by personal check, money order and now by credit card. Credit card transactions are processed one of two ways. Parents may come to the Administrative Offices at 1560 Noriega Street, Suite 204 and have their credit card swiped at that time or by completing the credit card authorization form included in the brochure. Payments made this way will be processed one week after we receive your authorization. All fees must be paid 5 business days prior to the start date of the week(s) attending. If there is a balance on your account, an invoice will be mailed home on or before June 4, 2010.

If I write a check or money order, who can the check be payable to?
Checks and money orders should be payable to Growth & Learning Opportunities.
An additional charge of $25 for any bounced checks / insufficient funds will be assessed.

How do I apply?
There are several ways to apply beginning February 6, 2010.