WordCamp US 2019 to Offer Free On-Site Childcare

photo credit: Aaron Burden

WordCamp US announced today that the event will be offering free on-site childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years old. Organizers have contracted A Helping Hand, a licensed conference childcare service company based in Virginia Beach, VA, to provide childcare for all three days, with flexible drop off and pick up throughout the day as necessary.

When WCUS tickets went on sale in May, parents who registered had the option to indicate whether they would be interested in on-site childcare during the conference, as organizers considered different childcare options. This is the first time WordCamp US has offered it as part of the event. WordCamp Europe has included childcare for years and a handful of other camps have also had it available in a varying capacities, including WordCamp Nordic, WordCamp Pittsburgh, and WordCamp Vienna.

Parents interested in using this service at WordCamp US will need to pre-register by selecting a “Parent with Kids ticket.” Registrants will receive an email with a pre-registration link to complete the signup process on the childcare provider’s website. Both lunch and snacks will be provided, so parents will not be required to pick their kids up for lunch.

The availability of childcare makes it possible for single parents to attend and speak at events. It can also be helpful for parents with small children who are unable to be separated from their caregivers for long periods of time. With WordCamp US opting to provide childcare at this year’s event, it’s clear that this is a growing trend to help promote diversity at WordPress conferences.

WordCamp is about diversity, this is not a catch phrase, it is not just a moment. It is about real people, doing real things, in the real world across gender, generation and culture. WordCamp embraces the world. #WordCamp #WordPress @WordCamp #WCUS pic.twitter.com/GdcCDNJYed

— WordCamp US 2024 (#WCUS) (@WordCampUS) May 2, 2019