Summer camps in CT return after year away
STAMFORD — Summer camps in Connecticut are back, after a season in which half of them closed due to the spread of COVID-19.
While health protocols will still be in place, the vast majority of restrictions have been lifted.
After May 19, the only major requirement left will be mask-wearing, as children will be required to do so indoors. The state’s most recent guidance scales back restrictions related to cohorting, cleaning, and social distancing, while still strongly recommending them.
Debra Johnson, director of the licensing division of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, said the new normal of less
limitations has resulted in plenty of interest from families looking for fun summer activities.
“The governor is pushing for how important it is for kids to have rich summer experiences,” she said. “They’ve been isolated, it has been challenging, and the need for them to get out and have fun learning experiences and to interact with other children is of a high priority.”
Parents seem to agree, as camps have filled up quickly this year. Johnson said many camps reported long waiting lists.
In Stamford, marinebased SoundWaters filled up its summer camp slots in record time this year, totally booked by March.
“That has never happened,” said Christina Genz, director of education for SoundWaters.
One of the biggest differences across the state this summer, compared to last, is that residential camps, or sleep-away camps, will be allowed to operate.
Louis Lasko, camp director of Camp Laurelwood in Madison, said the longstanding sleep-away summer program was unable to operate normally last year once the state shut down overnight stays. Instead, they offered day camps over three separate weekends.
This year, while safety procedures will be in place, the camp will look a lot like it did pre-COVID.
Some of the safety protocols include testing campers before they arrive, as well as providing testing once they are at the camp. That means only campers with a negative test will be able to attend.
“Our plan is to keep our kids as safe as possible, and to follow the science and what we’re hearing,” he said.
The camp, which runs for seven weeks, caters to children from second grade to juniors in high school. While most children in that group are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the older ones can get it, as anyone 12 years or older is now eligible.
Lasko said the camp is encouraging campers to get the vaccine if they can.
He said families are happy about returning to the camp, but everyone is “both cautious and excited.”
“I think parents really want their kids to have a somewhat normal experience this year,” he said.
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood has provided camps with ongoing guidance, but has also told them to pay attention to the CDC, which has detailed advice for sleep-away camps, and suggests that campers, their families and staff should get vaccinated if possible for overnight stays.
Further, the health agency suggests that unvaccinated participants in those camps quarantine for two weeks prior to arriving, and that centers ask for proof of a negative test.
Michael Rouse, executive director and co-founder of ESF camps, said this summer has a special significance for him, not only because the organization will celebrate its 40th year of existence, but because they will be able to offer a more typical summer school experience after being severely limited last season.
ESF runs multiple summer camps in various states, including one at Greenwich Catholic School.
Last year, they ran sports camps, with partnerships from major sports organizations such as the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, and English soccer club Arsenal.
That experience has given the organization a leg up, Rouse said, since it allowed them to establish health protocols that will partly be in place this summer.
They even created their our own health and safety “playbook,” which is available on their website.
The protocols include limited enrollment and smaller cohorts, as well as a mandated medical clearance for campers to attend. There is no requirement that those eligible for the vaccine be inoculated prior to coming to the camp, however.
Health monitoring of campers and staff will take place every day and a nurse will be available on site at all times.
Typically, the Greenwich camp gets about 550 children a week. This year, that number will be around 350 or so. The slots have filled up “very quickly,” Rouse said, but there is still availability.
“I am excited for kids this summer,” he said. “They need to play. They need the power of play. They need the ability to have joy in their life.”