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Communities breathed a collective sigh of relief over news that summer day camps in the city can open for business later this month, but skeptical moms and dads worry that may be easier said than done.
After weeks of worry over what to do with restless children bored with Google classroom and itching to go outside, Gov. Cuomo — boosted by good news in the battle against coronavirus, — gave the OK on Tuesday for day camps to restart operations.
But critics said the summer camp decree is hardly a ray of sunshine. And without precise guidelines for parents on how to keep their children safe, many kids will be bunking in their bedrooms.
“We’re going to go a couple of weeks and spend some time with close family,” said Andrea Brustein, an Upper West Side lawyer whose two kids usually go to sleepaway camp. “They’ll get to play with their cousins for a couple of weeks. Then after that I don’t know.”
Brustein, 42, said her 8-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter took it kind of hard when their usual summer spot was closed because of coronavirus.
And as much as she would like to make the sad faces disappear, Brustein said she is not ready to take the chance at Camp Question Mark.
“Even if there was a way to have people at camp and have it be safe, it wouldn’t have felt like camp,” Brustein said. “Nasal swabs and temperature checks. It just wouldn’t feel right.”
There are no plans for nasal swabs at Asphalt Green’s two Manhattan summer camps, but kids will start their day with some quality thermometer time.
Camp Director Katie Duffy, who runs Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side and Battery Park sites, said temperature checks will be part of the daily health screenings that will start each child’s day.
That’s not all that’s different. Instead of 800 daily campers, counselors will play host to only 200 kids to accommodate social distancing. Equipment will be sanitized between uses, and activities will be more structured and closely monitored, Duffy said. There will be no field trips.
Even lunch will be different. Instead of family-style feasts, meals will be pre-plated to cut down on the number of mitts touching the food.
And there will be lots of hand washing, Duffy said. Lots and lots of handwashing.
“We’re taking a look at everything in camp from the second it starts to the second it ends,” Duffy explained. “We wouldn’t be opening if we didn’t feel confident we can run a safe camp.”
Among those applauding Cuomo’s decision to reopen is the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey.
“Camp is essential for childcare in New York during the summer months as well as beneficial for children’s mental well-being and we are thrilled that he has recognized the importance of these small businesses,” the group said. “We are hopeful the governor will consider opening New York overnight camps as they provide similar benefits for children and parents. Our camp operators are now anxiously awaiting the immediate release of guidance by the Department of Health so camps can continue to plan for opening at the end of the month.”
But no matter how much hand sanitizer and social distancing, summer camp won’t get off the ground unless parents buy in, said City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn).
Brannan said parents in his Bay Ridge district have been hitting him with camp questions since Cuomo made the announcement. And Brannan doesn’t have many answers.
“It’s going to come down to the confidence of the parents to send their kids,” Brannan said. “Everyone wants to open the city. Some people would come. But not everybody. Some people aren’t confident that it’s safe. There’s just a lot of confusion. It’s going to have to look different from what last year looked like because COVID is still there.”
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