The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Coronavirus vs. summer camps
Many have already decided to close this summer, but others are taking a wait-and-see approach
The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA plans to hold its summer camp this year with new safety precautions in place, but other private and municipal camps across the state already have decided not to open amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The long-running Channel 3 Kids Camp in Andover will be shuttered for the summer, as will others, but Tim Bartlett, senior vice president and chief operating officer with the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, said the organization plans to offer its usual camps this summer — though the experience will differ from past years.
The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA operates Camp Mountain Laurel in Hamden and Camp Wepawaug in Milford, among others.
The experience this summer will change to meet the needs of the moment, Bartlett said.
“In some ways it will be a typical camp experience where kids will get to learn, explore and enjoy the outdoors. However it will be different in many ways,” Bartlett said in an email.
He said groups of campers will be smaller to accommodate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements, field trips will not be held, and, instead of having “large group gatherings for programs, assemblies or presentations,” this year, everything will be done within the small groups “so we can restrict interactions and monitor the health and safety of both staff and campers.”
“Everything we will be doing this summer will be to provide as normal of a camp experience as we can while being as safe and vigilant as possible,” Bartlett said.
The Channel 3 Kids Camp board of directors announced this week that their camp, located in Andover, would not operate this summer, citing “guidance from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, the State Department of Public Health and many other authorities.”
“In reviewing the current recommended guidelines for social distancing and allowable size of groups, and expected health directives for Camp operations in the coming months, the organization’s leadership determined that this was the only option to ensure the protection of the
children and staff,” officials said in a release.
“The announcement was made two months before the scheduled start of summer Camp to give families advance notification of its plans,” according to the camp.
This would have been the 110th consecutive summer of overnight and day camp offerings there, officials said.
Some private and municipal camps have not yet decided about summer programs, while others decided not to open.
In New Haven, Gage Frank, director of communications for the mayor’s office, said the city has an internal committee and it is evaluating options on municipal camp programs.
Scott Cohen, executive director of the JCC of Greater New Haven, which is based in Woodbridge but draws members and campers from across a wide region, said the organization’s leaders “very much want to open camp both for the children and parents’ sake.”
“We will make the decision after careful consultation with public health advisors, our state licensing body the OEC, the local health department and
“I’ve talked with other camps in the area, and we’ve made no official changes or decisions yet. We are waiting on the May 20 deadline and what the governor decides. We’re also working with the American Camp Association, which is issuing guidelines for camp safety. That will give us a better deadline idea, and by the end of May, we’ll know how we’re going to proceed.”
Stephanie Renzullo, director of Camp Moe
guidelines from the Governor’s office,” Cohen said in an email.
“We also have great resources in the American Camping Association and the Jewish Community Centers Association,” Cohen said. “A lot will go into the decision … our desire to get back to serving people tempered by our knowledge that we need to protect the safety of our community.”
In Ansonia, Corporation Counsel John P. Marini said “the city is not planning to proceed with the city-operated summer camp this year.
“However, the decision may be revisited as we get closer to the summer,” Marini said.
In the past, Ansonia has operated summer day camps using high school seniors and juniors to supervised pre-adolescent children at playgrounds and fields.
“At this time we have no plans for summer programs,” said Ansonia Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco. “We need more information from the Governor and we would need to consult the Naugatuck Valley Health District.”
In Seymour, Community Center Executive Director Mary McNelis said no decision on camps has been made, as the department is waiting to see Gov. Ned Lamont’s reopening plan.
According to its website, the Sterling House in Stratford is registering campers for 2020 summer programs.
Further west in the state, the Danbury Recreation Department’s Safe Summer and Summer Playground programs have been canceled for this year, according to Director of Recreation Nick Kaplanis.
“We use the schools and it does not appear they will reopen for remainder of the school year,” Kaplanis said. “All schools have been sanitized and it would not make sense to bring students into buildings for one month.”
Redding also canceled its summer camp because of coronavirus, which has helped the town cut its budget as it looks to keep the tax rate level during the economic and health crisis.
Brookfield, however, is still deciding. First Selectman Steve Dunn has been discussing the options with the town’s director of public health, and the director of parks and recreation. They hope to have a final answer in the next few weeks.
“Our summer camps are very important to our families in town but we do not know what the final state position is on camps and we have to be very sure that our summer camps are safe for the children, staff and parents,” Dunn said.
New Milford is still looking to provide day and summer camps. The town’s youth agency and the parks and recreation department run camps and both are working on their programs, as well as coordinating with schools as parts of the summer camp and day care use school buildings, Mayor Pete Bass said.
“These offerings would fully comply with safety regulations,” Bass said, adding this includes social distancing and taking the temperatures of campers prior to entering the buildings.
Laura Dianis, director of external relations at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, said staff “are using our social distancing time to prepare ourselves and our facilities for a great camp experience as soon as it is safe to do so,”
“We are accepting registration now for our camp programs,” she said. “In light of the unusual circumstances this upcoming camp season, we will collect payment when confirmation is received from authorities that camp can proceed as planned.”
Stephanie Renzullo, director of Camp Moe in Torrington, said whether to open is “the million-dollar question,”
“I’ve talked with other camps in the area, and we’ve made no official changes or decisions yet. We are waiting on the May 20 deadline and what the governor decides,” she said. “We’re also working with the American Camp Association, which is issuing guidelines for camp safety. That will give us a better deadline idea, and by the end of May, we’ll know how we’re going to proceed.”
A number of families already have registered for Camp Moe’s 2020 season, which is supposed to begin June 22.
Renzullo said the deadline for registration was extended from June 1 to the first day of camp, June 22, and she anticipates the opening date might change. “If camp gets canceled, refunds are absolutely an option. People can get their money back, or we can keep it for them and carry their registration over to our 2021 camp. We’re also willing to do some sort of payment plan, if we do open this year, for people who might not be able to pay in full.”
At Central Connecticut Coast YMCAs, the summer will be “unique,” Bartlett said.
“There will be additional policies and procedures put in place so that everyone can have a fun and safe experience. Every YMCA is working hard to make sure that happens but parents should ask questions so they feel comfortable in bringing their child to camp,” said Bartlett.