Heads up, everyone! Registration for SF Rec Winter classes is this Saturday, December 13th, at 10am.

SF Rec offers tons of low-cost, high-quality classes for kids ranging from Toddler Art Exploration and woodworking to scuba diving and baking. It’s really a wonderful city service.

But. That’s if you can get into the classes.

The classes are extremely popular. One friend waited 10 minutes to register (her baby was fighting naptime) and got waitlisted for all 4 classes she wanted.

Here are my tips for actually getting into some of these classes. Your goal, basically, is to get in and get out as fast as you can.

Ready. Set. GO.

 

1. If you don’t already have a family account, make sure you’ve created a family account a few days before registration.

There will be no time to do this the morning of registration, and SF Rec will shut down it’s website as the 10am registration window approaches.

Click here to create a family account.

 

2. Find your local SF rec centers, or figure out which rec centers you’d be willing to travel to.

The classes are listed by rec center in the course catalogue. Many of the rec centers are named after people, which isn’t too helpful when you’re trying to figure out where they are.

Here is a handy map of all the SF Rec facilities. Click on Table of Contents right above the map and then select “rec centers” or “pools.”

 

3. Figure out what classes you or your kids would like to take, sometime the week before registration.

Head to SF Rec’s home page and take a look at the catalogue at least the night before. (Here is the pdf for Winter 2014/2015.)

Again, SF Rec will shut down its website before the 10am registration deadline — you won’t be able to poke around on it the morning of registration.

 

4. Write down all the course codes for the classes you want to register for the night before.

This will cut down on search time during registration.

 

5. Also write down your Login ID and Account PIN, for the person you are registering for.

Blah blah blah, SF Rec website will be shut down registration morning.

 

6. Sit down at your computer a few minutes before 10am on registration day.

Have your credit card handy.

 

7. When the clock strikes 10, try to log on.

 

8. Hit refresh repeatedly for the next 5 minutes or until you get in.

 

9. Enter your Login ID and Account PIN as fast as possible.

 

10. Don’t bother with menus, use the search tool and plug in each course code you have written down.

 

11. Add classes as fast as you can.

 

12. Go to check out as fast as you can.

One friend was able to register for a bunch of classes without problem. By the time she checked out, she found out she was waitlisted for most of them. Yes, you need to check out to guarantee yourself a spot.

 

13. Have a Xanax and text all your parent friends about the insanity of registering for toddler art class.

 

***Randall Museum members get “priority registration” for all classes that take place at the Randall Museum. Membership costs $30 per individual or $45 for families. Priority registration means you’ll get to register a week before the SF Rec open enrollment.