Students in Marana Unified School District's LEAP (Learning, Enrichment And Play) program found plenty to keep them occupied during a barbecue at Ora Mae Harn Park.

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

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There's not much participants don't like about the before- and after-school program offered at Marana Unified School District elementary schools.

But then again, what child doesn't like inflatable obstacle courses, snow cones, face painting and hot dogs?

About 250 kids attended the Learning, Enrichment And Play, or LEAP, spring break program, and they all got together last Thursday for a barbecue at Ora Mae Harn Park.

The barbecue takes place annually when the district breaks for spring, and it includes plenty of fun.

But the barbecue is only a glimpse of what the LEAP program offers Marana families.

Before- and after-school LEAP programs — which are licensed by the state's Department of Health Services — are offered at all 11 Marana elementary schools during the school year.

Some schools also host LEAP programs during the summer, but only children who attend Marana schools are allowed to enroll, as is the case with the school-year programs.

"We really look at our program as an extension of their regular school day," said Charlene Sigala, director of Extended Learning Services. "In addition to things like homework help, we have weekly themes built around activities."

Extended Learning Services is part of the Marana Unified School District and also offers preschool at six elementary schools.

Although it provides services for the Marana district, the department does not receive district funding.

LEAP is funded in part by a grant from Pima County, Sigala said.

Parents pay $2.80 per hour for child care, and financial assistance is available, Sigala said.

LEAP employs about 80 people, who work as either supervisors, assistant supervisors or assistants at LEAP programs, which can serve as many as 110 kids at each site.

Staff members submit weekly lesson plans, which are sometimes tied to the Arizona Academic Standards.

"They might have a guest speaker. They might have science experiments," Sigala said.

Other activities at LEAP programs include field trips, computers, board games, arts and crafts projects, and sports.

Patrick Hurst, an assistant at Coyote Trail's LEAP, 23, said his job is perfect because he still considers himself a "big kid."

"I like giving them as many choices as possible," he said. "We have guidelines but I like to encourage them to be their own person."

Hurst and the other staff members are CPR- and first aid-certified. In addition, staff can receive training in areas such as behavior management, literacy and communication.

"The program is really dependent on the high-quality staff that we have," Sigala said. "When people come in and are really impressed and pleased with things, it's because the people really make the difference."

Parents such as Valerie Williams notice how well the workers perform. Williams has a 7-year-old daughter, Virginia Archuleta, at Butterfield Elementary School.

"The staff has been very attentive to not just my own daughter but to the children that are there before and after school," Williams said. "They assess problems and try to resolve them very quickly."