Summer camp odds

[shakinros]

I was just over on the Money Matters board and several people were saying they are not expecting summer camps to run.

What do you think? We wouldn’t have started DD in camp until July so I remain hopeful but maybe that’s too optimistic?

(This was a thread about stopping dependent care contributions. Which I am now going to look into!)

[sdlaura]

We have summer camp scheduled to start June 15 - school doesn’t get out till the 19th but I booked an extra week as a back up in case we don’t go back at all. I have no idea, but at that point we will have been on shelter in place for over 3 months. I’m hopeful that even if things aren’t exactly back to normal, they will be able to break kids into smaller groups and take precautions to still run camps.

The provider probably matters as to how willing they’ll be to open - our camps are through the YMCA - they’ve already sent surveys asking how many essential worker parents need childcare, so I’m hopeful that they’ll open if they legally can.

Our fourth baby is due 6/9. Please please please let there be summer camps!

[mae0111]

DD1 is set to go to sleepaway camp for 4 weeks. Her camp has been running zoom calls twice a week for all of the kids, and they keep saying that they're going to be open.

I honestly don't see how it can happen. Sleepaway camp especially - they're all jammed in there in those tiny bunks... I just don't see how they're going to be deemed safe. And even if it is... I'm not sure I could get myself comfortable with it. I think I could handle day camp, but I'm not sure about sleepaway...

Sigh... she is so looking forward to it... I hope things shift soon...

[phdmomma]

The idea of summer camp is helping me cling to shreds of sanity. The summer camp that DS will go to emailed us to the say that they are working on it, and aren't cancelling yet. The other summer camp he is going to has had radio silence. DD will go back to her preschool for a final summer....and I really would like them to go back. I am so very behind at work right now, trying to keep them alive and learning.

[mellym]

Our Rec Dept sent an email yesterday that all programs are suspended indefinitely. We use the YMCA day camps and they haven't said anything yet but their school age programs were suspended. The Y daycare is considered essential and open. The Y camps are for school age kids so I'm not sure what they will do.

[librarychica]

The JCC and science museum where our kids split their summers are currently closed. I am assuming if they reopen that camp will also reopen.

I am praying that the worse of this has passed by June. I cannot imagine continuing on like this through the summer.

[mustardseed2007]

Day camps are a whole other matter. No one has told us they are closing but we'll see....

and yes they all seem to be closed right now.

[hocus2]

I feel like camp will open but maybe only 4 or 6 weeks out of the normal 8. I've asked my HR if I can suspend FSA payments if camp closes because I won't hit 5K without it.

There maybe regional variations too. If the peak in NYC is this month then we should return to some normal interactions by June (camps run July/August given that school runs so late) but if you're in the south or west with a later peek AND an earlier camp season I'm just not sure. I'm actually holding out some hope the kids will go back to school in June.

[sdlaura]

hocus2 I may be overly optimistic, but I think the west coast is further along in all this than New York. I think the combo of school closures/shelter in place orders at least a week earlier than New York, plus less population density means we just won’t have/haven’t had as severe of a peak. California has more than double the population of New York State and we’ve been holding steady at about one-tenth the number of cases. Some of that is likely due to less testing but it’s a huge gap. I agree with you though that peaks could be later in the south and parts of the Midwest/mountain west.

[mrsGreeko]

I discontinued my FSA contributions because I just don’t know if day camp will run or not and if it doesn’t I’d be out nearly all the money I would have contributed through the rest of the year.

This was the first year I signed my kids up for “fun” day camps and all 3 were going to overnight camp at the same time. They will be so sad if overnight camp doesn’t run. It’s my oldest’s last year and my youngest’s first year.

[hocus2]

Mar 31, 2020 10:56:37 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

hocus2 I may be overly optimistic, but I think the west coast is further along in all this than New York. I think the combo of school closures/shelter in place orders at least a week earlier than New York, plus less population density means we just won’t have/haven’t had as severe of a peak. California has more than double the population of New York State and we’ve been holding steady at about one-tenth the number of cases. Some of that is likely due to less testing but it’s a huge gap. I agree with you though that peaks could be later in the south and parts of the Midwest/mountain west.

  I was more thinking about Texas and Arizona which were slower to get in action on this issue. NYC may end up having better herd immunity numbers given the higher prevalence here. I am hoping that softens any second waves that come back once schools and/or camps reopen.

[twinmomma]

Our camp is through the Boys and Girls Club and they are closed indefinitely right now. They did email to say they were extending the early bird summer registration dates, so that feels promising? But who really knows.

I'm glad you posted this, I wasn't even thinking that without summer camp I won't hit the dependent care dollar amount I had been contributing! Not to mention the lost month or two of before/after care costs. Just reached out to HR for clarification on that.

[acr]

DS goes to a sleepaway camp beginning early June. I'm about 99% sure we won't send him this year. Even if they run it, I can't imagine we'll feel secure that it's safe. He always comes home with some skin infection as it is.

Camp has extended the payment deadline til May 1 at least, so we can continue to monitor.

[covergirl82]

I really hope summer camps are still on. I haven't heard anything yet, but I assume I'll hear something in the coming week.

[sdlaura]

covergirl82 I don't feel like any summer camps will really be able to know for sure for another couple months at least. So I'm not expecting to hear anything for awhile.

[mustardseed2007]

Mar 31, 2020 11:50:31 GMT -5 acr said:

DS goes to a sleepaway camp beginning early June. I'm about 99% sure we won't send him this year. Even if they run it, I can't imagine we'll feel secure that it's safe. He always comes home with some skin infection as it is.

Camp has extended the payment deadline til May 1 at least, so we can continue to monitor.

Yeah this is a concern I do have. Even if they DO have it, is it smart to send him? 

there will be kids from all over going to the camp and they'll be sleeping in a communal environment. 

[phdmomma]

I'm not changing our flexible account contributions yet, assuming that aftercare is open in the fall, then we should still be able to use all of it. Buts that's largely because we have used it for daycare. Actually, I have old receipts to submit still....I will go and do that.

[mae0111]

mustardseed2007, acr, I'm feeling the same way about sleepaway camp. DD1 has terrible seasonal allergies that can sometimes trigger her asthma. Her asthma is VERY mild, and usually only becomes a problem if she's sick or during allergy season. We sent her with instructions for daily Zyrtec and with a rescue inhaler which she was required to carry at all times (per camp policy).

Given her (very mild) respiratory issues, I have concerns about sending her. But OMG she will rain down fury, the likes of which have never been witnessed, if they open and I tell her she can't go. Holy Moses. I can't imagine...

[waverly]

In terms of sleepaway camp, we had already registered them but only done the initial payment. It’s for after July 4th which probably would be fine (ish), but if we are uncomfortable we won’t send. We are renting a house that week, so we’ll just bring them with us instead. It’s way out in the country, so it’s still social distancing but not shelter in place. I hope shelter in place is over by then. If not we will cancel altogether like we did our spring break. Good point on the asthma. DD has viral induced asthma. She is very slowly growing out of it but if she gets a cold at camp she may need her nebulizer. They are a good camp for medical needs, but it’s just one more thing to manage.

[sdlaura]

Coincidentally, I just talked to one of the preschool/camp employees at our YMCA. Today was sign-up day for YMCA preschool starting in August. Normally you have to get there at like 3 am and wait in line for 5+ hours, but since the Y is closed they had everyone submit their info by email this morning and then they called you to tell you whether you got a spot (and we did - yay)!

I asked her about summer camps. She said they could need to split up groups differently based on the legal gathering size at the time, or they could need to push back opening a bit, but as of now they hope to still have them.

[mustardseed2007]

Ok speaking of FSA contributions, normal summer day camps that aren't sleep away camps are eligible costs right?

We're fine for 2020 because DD is in preschool, so her tuition payment more than will cover our contributions but she's in Kindergarten next year so we're left with after school care and then I think summer day camps...

It looks like we'll be fine to keep contributing towards the max but I want to be sure.

[twinmomma]

mustardseed2007, Mine is eligible. It's run through Boys and Girls Club, which is a facility that also offers childcare and before/after school care though, so I don't know if that makes a difference since it's already an eligible place.

[waverly]

Yes our summer day camp is eligible.

[186momx]

Yes day camps are eligible.