It would be an understatement to say that the COVID19 pandemic changed and disrupted Summer 2020. Families cancelled vacations, friends saw each other only outside, and the beloved tradition of summer camps for kids either didn’t happen or had to proceed with serious adjustments. Organizations offering camps got creative, however, offering virtual or modified in-person experiences. Following all government and CDC guidelines, many places still managed to produce memorable summers for the kids.
After months cooped up in their homes, the children who attended in-person camps were able to engage with other kids and adults at a safe distance, and spend time being active outside, and on a limited basis, inside, participating in an amazing variety of activities. Virtual camps, offered by numerous places, including Anne Arundel Community College, presented courses on coding, gaming, drawing, Manga, and more. Barring another complete lockdown, the plan is for camps to continue bringing options, and expanding on them as permitted.
“If I could have done 11 more weeks of camp this past summer, I would have, as it went so well,” says Zalanka Jones-Anderson, Program Director of the Y in Arnold (Greater Annapolis). Nobody was sure what to expect at the beginning of the summer, but the Y created full, in-person day camps from mid-June through the first week of September. They set up huge tents outside for all activities, and campers stayed in their own “neighborhoods” consisting of a small group of kids, for the whole week. “We were reminded that this was the first time these kids had been out of their homes and with other kids. The activities helped them deal with the emotional piece they had been dealing with, which is anxiety,” Jones-Anderson says. “It was our chance to think outside the box.” Activities included hiking, dancing, trivia, arts and crafts, and more.
While attendance was about 50 percent the normal rate, the campers enjoyed the extra attention of having smaller groups. Jones-Anderson continues, “We are planning to run our full summer next year, and plan to keep all the safety procedures in place. Based on executive orders, we can decide what to add or take away. Our outlook is we know the challenge, and we will meet you there, and make whatever that looks like a success for the kids. They need it.”
Some of these safety procedures across all camps include daily screening questions, multiple temperature checks each day, mask wearing, social distancing, cleanings between use of areas and materials, and nightly deep cleanings. “We’ve gone to cohorts of no more than 10 people in any designated space inside, and slightly shortened daily hours to allow for disinfecting time each night,” says Lisa Lindsay-Mondoro, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. “We are hoping for a vaccine down the road that will allow us to get completely back to normal, where kids can high-five and sit closer together, but we will plan to continue the social distancing for as long as necessary so that these kids can still have an amazing experience. People are still very scared and unsure, so we want parents to feel comfortable knowing that we adhere to all the rules!”
There is no question that the pandemic has affected the mental health of children. The Boys and Girls Club incorporated a yoga curriculum into the daily activities to offer some mindfulness in the middle of the fun. “In the midst of all of the uncertainty, we wanted the kids to find their center and feel calm. It helped them to take their minds off the outside world, look inward, and help them with coping skills,” Lindsay-Mondoro says. Olivia, a camper at the Boys and Girls Club this past summer says, “It was sad to end the school year the way that it did, but coming to summer camp made me feel happy and comfortable, knowing I can talk, laugh, and learn fun things with my friends and the staff.” The Boys and Girls Club plans for a full summer program next year focusing on good character, healthy lifestyle, and more fun. “We’ve already done it, so we can do it again, even better. We are prepared for anything,” Lindsay-Mondoro says.
YMCA Camp Letts, in Edgewater, plans to return to overnight, as well as day camps this summer, after only day camps in 2020. “We were able to keep kids in small groups and segregated from other groups for all of their activities. We were COVID free all summer, with no scares,” says Andrew Mason, District Executive Director of YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Camp Letts is moving forward with plans for next summer with social distancing measures still in place. “Kids are all already used to masks and protocols, so it ended up not being too hard on them. They were just excited to be outside, do water activities, and engage with their peers. We will plan to do all of that and more, as allowed, this summer,” Mason explains. These activities include canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, field games, zip lining, drama, arts and crafts, and more. If restrictions are lifted more, then kids may also have the chance to go sailing, and use the high ropes course.
Photos courtesy Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis & AA Co., YMCA Camp Letts, and The Y in Arnold
The School of Rock offered in-person camps, and the option for virtual performance learning at their locations. “Small groups were allowed inside for camps, with clear, curtained isolation booths for each camper to play their instruments, but still be together and see the other kids in the band,” says Ed Beever, General Manager of the School of Rock in Arnold. “The kids were so excited to be there, and knew that social distancing was key to be able to stay, so there were no problems at all. We had just one camp planned, but it went so well that we added two more!”
For families uncomfortable with in-person music lessons and camps, the school offers virtual lessons and performance opportunities, so that students can record their parts and the staff will put it all together as an amazing music compilation with other students’ recordings. “We give kids every chance possible to perform. At the end of camp weeks, we usually book a local space for them to put on a show, but in summer 2020 we did a live stream, so even grandparents in Florida could watch the kids play. It was fantastic. COVID has caused us all to get a little more creative with how we do things, but it’s also brought our community of kids and parents together even more. I’ve been totally amazed by how adaptable and cooperative all these kids are, given the changes,” Beever says.
Summer camp is a vital experience in the lives of so many children. Organizations continue to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances to provide meaningful moments in the upcoming seasons. While we don’t know exactly how things will look, groups are committed to giving kids the opportunities to make memories for a lifetime. The hope is for normal business as usual. The reality may be something different, but even more special.
