Sleepaway camps

[vasc]

My daughter's YMCA overnight camp is still planning to open.  Wanted to share the new health and sanitation guidelines for those of you also waiting to hear from camps.


www.campgreenville.org/covideresponse

[mae0111]

DD1 sleepaway camp sent out an email stating that they were holding one 4-week session this summer (usually they are open for 8 weeks with different options available). There were tons of restrictions. Campers have to quarantine for 14 days before arrival. Rolling drop off - parents not allowed out of the car. No trips. 2 cabins match up as groups, and no traveling outside the group (severely limiting the activities available each day). Required COVID testing before arrival.

The timing stunk for us too. We would have to leave our beach vacation early to bring her (if we can go), and pick up conflicted with a planned camping trip for DH and his brothers and families (if they can go). DD1 loves that camping trip.

So we aren’t sending her. It just doesn’t seem worth it. She cried and was resistant (of course) until she found out that we couldn’t get out of the car. Rolling drop off for 4 weeks seems extreme. They could have let parents in one by one and given us 15 mins to unpack while masked and gloved. She’s sad, I’m sad, but it’s the right thing.

[madringal]

I am so thankful that our church camps decided not to open this summer. My girls were really excited about it, but I don't think I could have sent them. I would have been way to afraid. I'm just glad the decision was made for me, so they didn't get mad at me! lol!

[mae0111]

madringal - we sort of made it look like it was her decision. I‘d planned to lay out all of the negatives and I just got to “I can’t move you into your cabin.” That was it. She didn’t want to go. Rolling drop off for a 4 week camp is really hard.

But if she wanted to go, we were going to tell her no.

[Deleted]

Our YMCA overnight camp cancelled earlier this week. Reading those guidelines posted by another YMCA makes me sad that our felt they couldn’t do it. None of that stuff seems that unreasonable or undoable. I would have absolutely sent my kids with those conditions. Sigh, but we weren’t given the choice. I’m so sad. My kids are so sad. It was my oldest’s last year and my youngest’s first year and the ONLY year all 3 would have been gone (and it just so happens to be our 15th wedding anniversary right before that so we were going to take a kid free cruise). Effing corona man.

[sdlaura]

That’s a pretty impressive website vasc

[vasc]

May 22, 2020 19:13:44 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

That’s a pretty impressive website vasc

They really really been reaching out to their camp following ever since COVID hit the states. They’re active on FB, Insta, and Twitter and have been organizing ZOom meets for campers, virtual spirit weeks, etc. We haven’t participated in any of that, but I do think it’s a testament to their Internet presence, for sure.

[vasc]

My biggest concern of just dropping DD off and leaving her to unpack herself in her bunk is how on earth will she get the fitted sheet on the mattress?? LOL but she’s also the type that wants us gone ASAP so she can have parent-free fun.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2020 20:36:03 GMT -5 vasc said:

My biggest concern of just dropping DD off and leaving her to unpack herself in her bunk is how on earth will she get the fitted sheet on the mattress?? LOL but she’s also the type that wants us gone ASAP so she can have parent-free fun.

Wait do other parents send their kids with sheets to overnight camp? I always just send my kids with a sleeping bag. Our packing list only ever says sleeping bag, never sheets. I’m sure the counselor or other campers will help get a fitted sheet onto the bed though.

[vasc]

May 23, 2020 21:44:11 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

May 23, 2020 20:36:03 GMT -5 vasc said:

My biggest concern of just dropping DD off and leaving her to unpack herself in her bunk is how on earth will she get the fitted sheet on the mattress?? LOL but she’s also the type that wants us gone ASAP so she can have parent-free fun.

Wait do other parents send their kids with sheets to overnight camp? I always just send my kids with a sleeping bag. Our packing list only ever says sleeping bag, never sheets. I’m sure the counselor or other campers will help get a fitted sheet onto the bed though.

Just a fitted sheet for the mattress, then a sleeping bag on top.

[mae0111]

vasc - I had the same concern. We are told to send 2 sets of sheets, blankets, and sleeping bags. The camp Is in northern New England, and it can get cold at night - maybe that’s why?

DD1 had severe executive functioning issues. She can’t organize herself. She has made tremendous strides with keeping herself organized once I do it for her, and did very well at camp last year once I set everything up. She made a few small changes to make things work better for her, but otherwise kept everything where I put it.

She was terrified at the idea that I wouldn’t be able to help her set her stuff up. The counselors would help, but they don’t know how her mind works, you know? She’d wind up spending all of her free time “reorganizing” and forget where she put 1/2 of her stuff. Rolling drop off was the single biggest stressor for her and made her decision to stay home easier.

[shakinros]

I’m sorry mae0111. Sounds like the right choice for her but I know how much you were all looking forward to her goi g to sleep away camp!

[mustardseed2007]

Our YMCA camp called and DS' week is going to be the first week they'll be open and doing overnight. We decided to beg off though.

UPDATE: And now its all canceled after all. I wonder if they didn't have enough people or what? Anyway, hopefully next year.