Denton CUUPS has always been an adult-focused group, but we’ve tried to be friendly to families with children.  Our efforts to offer childcare haven’t always worked out.  Many times we’ve hired childcare workers and had no children at the circle.  Other times we’ve announced “we are unable to provide childcare at this event” only to have families arrive expecting someone to watch their kids.  And of course, as anyone who has kids understands, finding qualified childcare workers on a Saturday night isn’t always easy.

Recently we’ve tried announcing “childcare will be provided if requested by the Tuesday before the circle.”  At Beltane, we had four responses, only one of which was before the deadline.  We were unable to find a childcare worker, so one of our members volunteered to skip the circle and watch the kids.  Then nine children showed up.  Our volunteer was overwhelmed.  We found another volunteer to help with childcare, but that was a person who had come to Beltane expecting to experience the ritual, not watch children.

At Summer Solstice on June 22, childcare will be by reservation only.  If you are planning to attend with children too young to participate in the main circle, let us know no later than Tuesday, June 18.  One way or another, we’ll find childcare workers to manage those children.

If you show up with children without making a reservation, you will be responsible for watching your own kids.

We’d love to have a full nursery and kids RE program at all our events, but we are a small group with limited resources.  We will do what we can to accommodate families with young children, and we ask for parents’ cooperation in helping match our resources to actual needs.