Metro Creative Connection
2020 BE STOFB K .COM
COURIER LIFE, MARCH 4-10, 2022 3
Children make cherished
memories at summer
camp, where many
youngsters fi rst discover passions
and hobbies they will enjoy
for the rest of their lives.
Summer 2020 was a camp
season unlike any other. Some
camps closed their doors due
to the COVID-19 pandemic,
while others downsized their
offerings in an effort to keep
campers safe while still providing
them with a muchneeded
outlet. As the 2021
summer camp season approaches,
parents may be a little
less hesitant about sending
their kids to camp than they
were a year ago. The rollout of
COVID-19 vaccines has helped
millions of people return to
some semblance of normalcy,
and that rollout has put summer
camp back in play for
families.
Choosing a summer camp
is not always so easy, and it
might be especially tricky as
the world slowly emerges from
the pandemic. The following
are some tips for parents as
they consider if camp is a good
idea this summer.
• Consider your comfort
level. It’s understandable if
parents are hesitant about
sending their youngsters to
camp this summer. In fact,
some camps may still be
closed while others may only
offer limited day camps this
summer. Parents should consider
their comfort levels before
enrolling kids in camp.
Vaccines have proven effective,
but COVID-19 hasn’t
gone away, and some regions
have yet to vaccinate teenagers.
Vaccines also have yet
to be offered to children under
16. Parents can ask themselves
how comfortable they
are sending kids to camp, and
if they’re hesitant to do so they
can explore their alternatives.
• Ask children if they want
to go to camp. Everyone is experiencing
some measure of
pandemic-related burnout,
and that includes kids. Kids
may be sick of wearing masks
at school all day and, even if
they have loved camp in the
past, may not be looking forward
to wearing masks all
day at camp this summer. Others
might not be experiencing
such burnout and may see
camp as a way to quell boredom
at a time when boredom
has seemingly lingered over
every day. Either way, solicit
kids’ input and let them know
their feelings matter regardless
of which side of the fence
they’re on.
• Inquire about safety protocols.
When researching
summer camps, ask about the
safety protocols each camp
will have in place. Will masks
be mandatory for both campers
and staff? How much direct
interaction will campers
have with each other? Have
staff members been vaccinated?
What measures are being
taken to keep kids safe?
Camps should have detailed
protocols and share those protocols
with parents upon request.
• Ask about alternatives. If
parents and/or children are
hesitant about attending camp
in person, ask camp offi cials
if there will be any virtual
events or programs this summer.
Some camps may be organizing
activities like craft
projects online, and that can
help kids overcome the boredom
of being stuck at home all
summer.
Summer camps may not be
fully back to normal in 2021.
However, families likely won’t
have to go without access to
summer camps for the second
consecutive summer.
— Metro Creative Connection
How to handle summer camp
questions in the COVID era
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