wayan wrote:Anonymous wrote: I don't consider myself a hard core parent but I wanted my kids to go to DPR camps because it's low cost and convenient. I just don't agree this is the process that is fair.
Well my wife would double over in laughter if someone tired to describe me as "hard core parent". I too see DPR camps as mainly low cost and convenient. One of the few serious perks we get from our local gov, and I wanted to make sure we were in.
Was it over-the-top to go at 5am? Yeah, of course. But that was 1/2 the fun. Was it inconvenient? Hell yes. My wife worked today, I had to juggle pre-dawn care with a neighbour, and it was really cold. But it was also very nice to be done by 9:05am. And nicer still to know that the kids my cold will camp with have parents who really wanted their kids at DPR camp (for whatever reason).
Anonymous wrote:Is every session at every location that was available today full?
wayan wrote:Anonymous wrote:Nobody should have to get up at 4 am to register for summer camp! That is crazy.
Again, I don't think its crazy. Its actually pretty brilliant. Parents like me who are willing to start at 5am (and we really could have started at 7am and got the same result), you know that we want DPR summer camp. Coming early is a great indication of desire that weeds out those that maybe want to send their kids to DPR summer camp from those that are committed. If I were DPR, I would keep this system. Its the best way to ensure those that really want the service, get the service.
Anonymous wrote:I was in the 90s and got one of the last spots available at about 1:30pm. People were getting pretty annoyed once they figured out that the camps they wanted were closed, particularly because of when DPR started handing out tickets (7:45) vs when they said they were going to (9am).
I'm glad I got a spot, but I'd rather not go through this again next year when the line is likely to start even earlier.
I agree, a lottery would be a lot smoother and more fair.
Anonymous wrote:But didn't they "hear it" last year because the internet system wasn't up to snuff to keep up with demand? Anyone can brave the cold and wait out all night, not everyone has access to superfast internet.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:But didn't they "hear it" last year because the internet system wasn't up to snuff to keep up with demand? Anyone can brave the cold and wait out all night, not everyone has access to superfast internet.
It wasn't accessibility to super fast Internet, it was thr DPR registration system getting overloaded by the demand. I don't think today's process is progress. If the system can't handle the demand, implement an online lottery system. This standing in line business seems very antiquated and punishes the people who want to sign up because DPR's system doesn't work.
Anonymous wrote:But didn't they "hear it" last year because the internet system wasn't up to snuff to keep up with demand? Anyone can brave the cold and wait out all night, not everyone has access to superfast internet.