Town’s FullDay summer camps moving forward

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » Following a recent announcement on summer programming from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the town is rapidly working on establishing a successful Full-Day summer camp program and the slots are filling up fast.

Due to state protocols for social distancing, the camps will have only 120 spots available per day instead of the usual 200. The camps will open Monday, June 29. Half-Day camps will not be offered this season.

Full-Day camp has a total of eight weeks. The usual minimum requirement of four week registrations has been dropped this year. In a statement from the town, every child currently registered for Full-Day Camp will remain as a participant for 2020.

As of Monday all weeks of camp except the first, June 29 to July 2, are full and have waiting lists. The cost is $120 per child per week for the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before and after care is available for an additional fee.

When registering for the FullDay Camp children are signed up for an entire week. This will allow town Staff to meet an expected guideline that children are to remain in the same group of campers with the same counselors for an extended period of time.

Residents wishing to be placed on a wait list for the weeks that are full are being asked to contact the town Parks and Recreation Department. If a parent would like to cancel their child’s registration, please contact the Parks and Recreation Office at 518-3716667 for a full refund.

With regard to opening the town’s three swimming pools, town administration has inquired with New York State regarding guidance for pool operations. Because the town is uncertain if its proposed July 1 opening date will be approved, the town has cancelled the first session of swim lessons which would have run from June 29 through July 17.

Residents who purchased a pool membership or registered for swim lessons will be receiving a full refund by check.

Late last week the town learned the state was allowing playgrounds and swimming pools to open. The announcement was timely as the town, along with many other municipalities with swimming facilities, was quickly reaching the point where it would need to cancel the entire pool season.

As of the state’s June 11 announcement, the town has be

gun to further advance its pool reopening efforts. In a statement on those efforts, Clifton Park Supervisor Philip Barrett said he intends to keep residents apprised of the reopening over the next couple of weeks.

“We have a great deal of preparation that must be completed in a short period of time, to open in early

July,” he said. “We will review any guidance released by New York State related to operations for municipal pools.”

In the Town of Halfmoon,

the town administration has decided to cancel all its usual full-day summer programming for the season. However, Recreation Director Ross MacNeil

is offering three, sixsession, sports camps for small groups. He can be reached at (518) 371-7410 ext. 2272.