Summer day camps will operate, with restrictions

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. » The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the look of it, but the Saugerties Summer Youth Recreation Program will be held this year.

The program has adopted many of the federal, state and county guidelines to make its 58th consecutive summer season the safest and healthiest possible, its organizers say.

Half-day and full-day camp programs will operate from July 6 to Aug. 14 in Saugerties. Because of social-distancing rules and the state’s limit on gatherings, children will be assigned to small “pods” within their age group, and there will be no interaction between pods

Also, participants will have their temperatures taken at the beginning and end of each week, and counselors will wear face masks. Children also will wear masks if they able to place and remove them on their own.

The Kingston Parks and Recreation Department canceled all of its summer youth programs in May, though city officials recently said they’ll revisit the decision in light of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing last week that summer day camps in New York can open as of June 29.

The towns of Ulster and Wawarsing also have canceled their summer youth programs, and Ulster reaffirmed that decision after the governor’s announcement.

In Saugerties, the counselor-to-participant ratio will conform to new standards, and a child’s assigned counselor will be the only staff member who will touch a participant’s belongings.

Also, each pod will have its own bins to hold supplies, arts and crafts items, and down-time games; and sports supplies will be cleaned after each group’s use.

Additionally, the large pavilion at Cantine Field will not be the sole pick-up and drop-off area. Multiple areas will be established, and parents will be able to speak briefly with counselors during the drop-off period.

Counselors will wait at the drop-off areas for all their children to arrive before starting a day’s activities.

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