What a difficult time for those people who ordinarily run local summer programs, whether at private day camps or at municipal facilities like Crystal Lake and Gath Pool. A recent letter from the operators of Fessenden Day Camp is illustrative of the problems. Excerpts:
We have made the determination to cancel June Sessions One and Two (June 8-19) camps and programs. This was a difficult decision that we made with the health and safety of the campers and staff as our top priority. The current lack of guidance from authorities does not give us the time to plan for a safe and fun experience for these June programs, most of which focus on teamwork and require close collaboration. Please know that we are currently still putting plans in place for opening camp during the summer, and if we can open, we will most likely need to make significant modifications in order to be able to do so in a safe manner.
We continue to pay careful attention to the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are in regular contact with the Department of Health and Human Services in Newton, the Massachusetts Camp Association, and the American Camp Association (ACA). We anticipate guidance from the CDC, the state, and also from the ACA by mid-May. Following this, we expect direction from the Newton Department of Health and Human Services. Given potential new requirements from these authorities, we will need to determine when, and even whether, we can reasonably provide a safe and fun experience for children on our campus this summer.
I’m guessing that, at a minimum, the City will likewise find it impossible to have the usual early summer (June 8-26) schedule at Crystal Lake and Gath Pool. Assuming that some form of social distancing will still be required into June, it’s hard to imagine how it would be possible on the beach or around the pool. Even if attendance were strictly limited, it would certainly not be possible to carry out emergency life-saving procedures (or even practice them) without being in close contact with people.
Whether later aquatic sessions would be possible, as Fessenden hopes for their programs, is subject to a lot of uncertainties; but the clock is ticking there because it takes weeks to choose and train lifeguards and other staff. After a certain point, you just can’t get it done. (Ironically, this could be the one year when recruitment of lifeguards might be easier, in that many high school graduates and college students are at home!)
So, some more tough calls for our state and municipal officials as the weather gets warmer and children get restless to play–and as parents (probably) start to go back to work. This article reports Governor Baker acknowledging “that one of the issues that hasn’t yet been figured out is whether there can be summer camps and childcare this summer.”
Yes, we recently pulled the plug on our annual Feast of the Falls. Somehow it seems unlikely that 400 people will feel comfortable eating at one big table this june no matter how good the food is.
Parents can’t go back to work without daycare options and I don’t hear much said about this issue or reference to possible contingency plans.
This will be a difficult needle to thread in any circumstances. I do hope, with regard to the lake and pool, that if things start out more constrained and then open up later due to improved circumstances that we might be able to have a partial season rather than no season at all! This will take lots of forethought and contingency planning, for sure.
One thing is for sure…people will flock to Crystal Lake regardless of whether the City beach is open. They will continue to violate the laws of swimming outside of the designated area and they will continue to thumb their nose at the rules. This pandemic won’t alter how folks will use Crystal Lake.
Camps are going to have to function in some capacity, because we’ll be going back to work soon. They’re going to have to adapt with things like smaller groups, hand washing stations, no field trips, masks, etc. I’m not sure what to expect and I’m sure some camps will opt to close for the season, but there is a real necessity for them this summer and they’ll need to figure out how to continue their offerings safely.
We are waiting to hear from our NH Overnight camp. At this point, I know the normal 7 week program isn’t going to happen. BUT, I would be happy with a 2-3 week session with no visitors, no trip days, testing for lice and COVID prior to camp, etc. However, I don’t think it is going to happen. What I don’t want is to pay for Zoom camp. Zoom school is over, and at this point, I Camp TikTok is my reality plus some sprinkler action in the backyard.
Luckily we put in AC a few years ago, but I can’t imagine having two kids home with NO a/c, no beach and no pool, which is what many families are facing for the summer. I can’t see people flocking to the beach even with social distancing, and how do we handle the public restrooms?
While our family will follow the rules, I know there will be many who will go to beaches.
But I do wonder if this year’s tanline will be with the face mask?
So this is one reason I and several other councilors, along with Bike Newton, have been thinking about how to use our biggest public space–the streets–for social distanced recreation and cooling. We can’t all go to the parks for shade or to the lake for a swim without putting ourselves and others in danger.
But if cars continue to careen down residential side streets (for what emergency? A pickup at Wegman’s?!) we can’t even walk on the street safely.
Of course, people will need to keep moving, rather than holding block parties. But lots of residents don’t have air conditioning, or other options.
I enthusiastically support this idea.
Having not one, but many streets around the city closed to (all but local) traffic would provide a lot more space for spread out, safe, physical activity. It would also take some of the pressure off some of our parklands. Some of our parks have been getting busy enough that social distancing, at times, gets difficult.