Financial Assistance
Mariposa Kids is committed to making play-based after-school and summer programming accessible to families across San Francisco, regardless of income.
Our Financial Assistance Program offers free enrollment in after-school programming (for Flynn Elementary students at our Rolph clubhouse and Huerta Elementary students at our Bernal Heights location) as well as our summer and holiday camps. Eligibility is based on household size and income, and families must reapply annually.
To apply, complete our short attestation form and email info@sfmariposakids.com to let us know you’ve submitted it. We’ll review your information and follow up with next steps, including registration instructions if your family qualifies. Free programming is limited and submitting the form does not guarantee a spot, but we encourage every family who could benefit to apply. Questions are always welcome at info@sfmariposakids.com.
Junior Rec Leader Program
The Junior Rec Leader Program gives 4th and 5th graders in our After-School Program a chance to step into leadership roles, mentor younger kids, and help shape the daily life of our clubhouses. Launched in 2022, the program grew out of a pattern we kept noticing: our older kids naturally gravitated toward helping staff, supporting friends, and looking out for the younger ones. Junior Rec Leaders take on real responsibilities, from helping facilitate activities and orienting new kids to participating in restorative justice conversations, all with close support from our staff.
Each year, four or five Junior Rec Leaders are selected at each site. Junior Rec Leaders receive free enrollment in Holiday Camps during their term, priority registration for camp sessions, special outings with staff, and letters of recommendation they can carry into middle school, high school, and beyond. It’s one of the ways we invest in kids not just as participants, but as leaders in their own community.
Health & Nutrition Program
Good food and active play are foundational to how kids grow, learn, and feel. Our Health & Nutrition Program ensures that children at Mariposa Kids are nourished with healthy snacks throughout the day and exposed to hands-on lessons about food, cooking, and where meals come from. Building healthy habits early matters, especially in a food environment that markets sugar and ultra-processed options directly to kids, and our staff works to make nutritious choices the default rather than the exception.
The program also extends beyond snack time. Children at Mariposa Kids spend significant time outdoors every day in free play, sports, and playground activities, because physical activity is inseparable from good health. We’ve trained our staff in food selection and nutrition best practices, and we share what we learn with parents and caregivers so healthy habits can travel home with kids at the end of the day.
Our Approach
Every child deserves a place where they feel secure, respected, and free to be themselves. Children need the freedom to play and the freedom of choice to develop important life skills. We grow stronger together. Our programs bring children and families into connection with each other and with the neighborhoods we serve.
Get Involved
There are many ways to be part of the Mariposa Kids community.
