A lot of my friends, both online and in “real life”, have asked me whether it’s safe to send their kids to camp this summer. And the answer is… it depends. On the type of camp and where it’s located.
Let’s discuss the camp type first. I don’t recommend overnight camp (also known as sleepaway camp) this summer. Overnight camp can be a wonderful experience for kids: they can gain independence, make new friends (and reconnect with old friends, for returning campers), and spend time in nature. But kids in overnight camp are in very close contact with bunk/cabinmates, and communicable diseases can and have rapidly spread through camps. Overnight camps often attract campers and staff from all over the country or all over the world, including locations currently experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, and might unknowingly bring the virus with them. And it’s harder to isolate and quarantine sick kids at overnight camp: many camps don’t have enough empty rooms to isolate kids for up to 14 days, and parents and guardians who live out of state or in another country may not be able to promptly pick up sick kids.
In contrast, campers at day camps don’t live together, they go home each afternoon, in many cases parents and guardians are required take sick kids home soon after being called and the camp can easily prevent a sick or quarantined kid from returning before they are medically cleared.
Of course, each camp’s safety will depend on how diligent the owners and staff are at following health department COVID-19 prevention recommendations. My best advice is to research the camp and speak with the owner or management. Does the camp have a policy on COVID-19 prevention? If they’ve already shared it with parents of registered campers and/or posted it on their website, that’s a good thing. If you have to really search or beg for their COVID-19 prevention policies, consider that a red flag.
The CDC recommends that campers remain in small groups that don’t mix (or mix minimally) with other groups, maintain 6 feet of distance as often as possible, wash their hands frequently and wear face coverings when not swimming or eating. They should stay home if sick, bring their own food and beverages, and never share water bottles or other high-touch objects like phones, tablets, pens/pencils and art supplies. The camp should regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, require sick staff to stay home, stagger pick-up and drop-off times if possible, conduct daily health checks of campers and staff, and avoid field trips, family events and other large group gatherings. Your state or local health department might have additional requirements or recommendations.
Location, location, location! Within the U.S. (with apologies to non-U.S. readers), COVID-19 cases are currently declining in most of the Northeast, Midwest, Puerto Rico, Mississippi and New Mexico but cases are increasing in most of the U.S. South, West, Alaska and Hawaii. (Check out this incredibly informative NPR article for more details!) If you and/or the camp are in an area where COVID-19 cases are on the rise, then I wouldn’t recommend sending your kids to even the safest day camp.
Bottom line: Summer camp can be an amazing and fun experience for kids, but it can also spread communicable diseases like COVID-19. If COVID-19 cases are consistently decreasing in your area and the area where the camp is located, if you’re sending your kids to a day camp, if the camp has COVID-19 prevention policies consistent with CDC, state and local recommendations and requirements, if the camp management is open and communicative with parents and guardians about how they will protect their campers and staff and if you trust them, then a day camp might be a good option for your kids this summer. If you can’t confidently say that all of these “ifs” are true, then I wouldn’t recommend it.
😷 Dr. B