The thought of no summer camp is a dark one for already frazzled parents, and just as bleak for camp directors crunching numbers on what mass refunds would mean to their financial futures.
With the start of the season approaching, many camps are monitoring the pandemic’s progress, and crunching the numbers on potential mass refunds. Some parents have held off putting money down, with camps extending deadlines for enrollment.
Virginia is the only state with a stay-at-home edict that stretches into June. But regardless of whether such orders continue, are imposed anew or lifted, will parents feel comfortable that the coronavirus threat has lessened enough to make camp safe? Thomas Bradbury in Augusta, Maine, has two girls, ages 8 and 12. He has already paid for camp but has no idea how summer will play out. “I feel a mix of unease and irresponsibility sending them to any summer camps,” he said. “Prevention is better than cure, and I want to do my bit to help prevent this virus spreading any more than it needs to.” Most camps have long dealt with disease outbreaks and critters like lice. Screening and health protocols exist. But Tracey Gaslin’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing in recent days. She’s the executive director of the Association of Camp Nursing, which advises nurses and camp directors. “We’re encouraging camps to work on Plan A, with the hope of having camp, but you also need to be working on Plan B and Plan C,” she said. “It could be virtual camping. It could be camping with limited numbers. Who knows?” A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms of the virus in kids, but occur less often than in adults. Young people, along with others, can be silent carriers. More than 22 camps have plans to pivot to “online camp” this summer, including some for kids with special health needs. Other camps are looking at limiting field trips and visitors’ days, or pushing back start dates.The thought of no camp is a dark one for parents already frazzled by taking on home school and keeping kids entertained during lockdown. The prospect is just as bleak for camp directors. “It’s an existential threat to not be able to operate,” Rosenberg said. “What we do know is kids need camp more than ever.”According to industry estimates, the U.S. has more than 14,000 year-round and summer camps serving 20 million campers annually. Geoff Blanck owns and operates the Forest Lake Camps in New York’s Adirondacks region, serving 150 to 175 campers at a time. He’s proceeding with preparations for this season, scheduled to start June 28. His staff of 70 is hired, the water will be turned on soon and cleanup has begun. Seven weeks cost $8,300. “We’re telling families, if we’re not able to run camp because of COVID-19, you’ll get a 100 percent refund. We know it will be devastating for us financially if we’re not able to run, but morally it’s simply the right thing to do,” Blanck said. “This is our extended family.”One of the most difficult things has been families delaying enrollment, Blanck said. Will there be a rush come June, or will he wind up running a smaller program? Todd Rothman, who owns Deerkill Day Camp in New York’s Rockland County, is also planning as if he’ll open, possibly with a delayed start. He usually opens June 29, serving about 800 campers through the summer. If he can’t run buses, he may ask families to drive their children to and from camp. Some campers travel up to 45 minutes each way.Rothman has had only two families cancel. They were refunded their balances, and their $500 deposits per child were rolled over to next year. Doron Krakow, president and CEO of the JCC Association of North America, said about 150 day camps and 25 overnight camps in the U.S. and Canada are operated by Jewish community centers that fall under his nonprofit’s umbrella. Between them, the camps serve about 100,000 young people every summer and are a big part of the community centers’ annual income. In the South, summer camp usually starts at the end of May. That means staff would be headed to camp in a few short weeks for orientation.Gaslin, meanwhile, is putting her trust in public health officials and beefed-up attention to hand-washing and other preventive measures. She’s been running webinars on screening protocols for when kids hop on buses and when they check in at camp. That includes temperature checks and questions about exposure.This story has been corrected to show Forest Lake Camp has hired 70 people, not 23, and camp director’s last name is “Blanck,” not “Blank.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A Look At The New Nightlife In New York City During The Coronavirus PandemicWith non-essential businesses closed and people ordered to stay home, the city that never sleeps has dramatically slowed down.
Read more »
California ventilators head to New York, New Jersey, other statesWATCH: California sends ventilators to New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, Nevada, and Washington D.C. New Jersey Gov. Murphy: 'We will repay the favor when California needs it.'
Read more »
Speed of coronavirus deaths shocks doctors as New York toll hits new highNew York, the hardest-hit state in America, on Wednesday reported its highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in a single day with even veteran doctors and nurses expressing shock at the speed with which patients were declining and dying.
Read more »
New York sees drop in new hospitalizations, deaths keep risingNew York state saw a sharp drop in the number of people newly admitted to a hospital in the past 24 hours to the lowest level since the coronavirus outbreak began, a sign that social distancing steps were working, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday.
Read more »
New York bringing in more funeral directors as death toll hits new highNew York state had 799 deaths from coronavirus in one day, its highest daily toll yet in the pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will bring in additional funeral directors 'to deal with the number of people who have passed.'
Read more »
New York coronavirus outbreak originated in Europe, new study findsA new study has found evidence that the first COVID-19 cases in New York City originated in Europe and occurred as early as February.
Read more »