What have camps in the tri-state learned to keep our children safe? Experts discuss their findings as they prepare to open this summer

Camps across the tri-state are on the road to reopening this summer. But there are still questions about what to expect and what measures will be taken to protect our children.

News 12 Staff

Feb 23, 2021, 2:46 PM

Updated 1,321 days ago

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Camps across the tri-state are on the road to reopening this summer. But there are still questions about what to expect and what measures will be taken to protect our children.
This morning, News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Susie Lupert, executive director of the American Camp Association New York and New Jersey, and Michael Baer, owner/director of Camp Chipinaw, an overnight camp in the Catskills.
Now is typically the time when parents begin their summer camp research.
Last year, camps had what was called NPIs. Nonpharmaceutical Interventions are actions, apart from getting vaccinated and taking medicine, that people and communities can take to help slow the spread of illnesses such as COVID-19.
Camps utilized the following NPIs in 2020:
- Pre-arrival quarantine (overnight camp only)
- Pre-arrival testing (overnight camp only)
- Post-arrival testing (overnight camp only)
- Symptom screening/temperature checks (day and overnight camp)
- Cohorts (day and overnight camp)
- Face coverings (day and overnight camp)
- Physical distancing between cohorts (day and overnight camp)
- Enhanced hygiene measures (day and overnight camp)
- Cleaning and disinfecting (day and overnight camp)
- Outdoor programming (day and overnight camp) }
Lupert discusses how camps can help children and what NPIs are:
When looking at the camps that were able to open in 2020, what successes did directors find? Baer answers:
Cohorting is an important concept. Lupert discusses how cohorts helped keep children safe at camp last year:
Overnight camps will likely require children to be tested within a certain number of days both before and after arrival. What role will parents have before kids get to camp? Baer explains how parents can help keep kids safe:
Right now, camps are working on different sets of plans should changes arise, so what the plan is now at this infection rate can change as we approach a summer, when even more people are vaccinated. Lupert and Baer talk about the evolving plans:


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