Choosing a summer camp involves more than finding activities your child will enjoy. Parents should ask about health and illness policies, supervision, handwashing and cleaning practices, time spent indoors and outdoors, group sizes, and how the camp handles a child who becomes sick. Families should also consider their child’s individual health needs and the health of vulnerable family members when deciding whether a camp is the right choice.
Navigating camps during a pandemic is not an easy task. Thankfully Dr. Ashley Moss has laid out some important points to think about before sending your child out the door.
COVID restrictions have forced a healthy reprieve from our overscheduled, hectic lives but now that some summer activities and camps are reopening, a little bit of structure, exercise, and time with friends sounds appealing. So are “socially distanced” summer camps something that would work for your family? Just like child care, each family is different in terms of the risk that they are able, due to underlying medical conditions, or willing to accept. Here are a few important things to consider when deciding if summer camp this summer is right for your family.
- Will the camp be regularly following and implementing the CDC’s guidelines for summer camps? The CDC outlines measures to promote behaviors that decrease the risk of infection spread, guidelines for safe operations, and protocol for what to do when someone becomes sick at camp.
- How will camps monitor campers and staff daily for COVID-19 symptoms?If a child develops symptoms while at camp, how will the camp manage sick children and facilitate their safe departure? Will the camp notify other families if a child tests positive for COVID and what will the policy be? Will the camp close and if so for how long?
- How will the camp encourage social distancing?
- How much time will campers spend outside and how much time, if any, inside?
- Who will be required to wear face coverings at camp?When at camp will face coverings be required?
- How will infection control strategies (social distancing, hand washing, proper use of face coverings) be implemented?
- Does the camp have adequate supply of tissues, hand soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products?How will the camp be effectively cleaning and disinfecting surfaces?
- What will be the maximum number of campers per group?Will the same staff be assigned to the same group everyday?
- How and how often will shared areas (bathrooms, lunch tables and craft rooms) be cleaned?
It is important for each family to weigh the benefit of summer camp against the risk of exposure to the virus. If your child has an underlying medication condition such as chronic lung disease, asthma, heart problems, severe obesity, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, or are immunocompromised, or if your children are exposed to elderly grandparents or someone who is immunocompromised, you consider alternative activities to summer camps where even small groups of people will increase your child’s risk of exposure to the virus.
We at Spring Valley Pediatrics are more than happy to discuss any questions that you may have and help you make the best decision for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should parents consider before sending a child to summer camp?
Ask about the camp’s health and safety policies, supervision, group sizes, cleaning procedures, handwashing practices, indoor and outdoor activities, and procedures for handling sick campers. Your child’s individual health needs should also factor into the decision.
What health and safety questions should I ask a summer camp?
Ask how staff monitor children for illness, what happens when a camper becomes sick, how families are notified, how frequently shared spaces are cleaned, and what hygiene practices are expected from campers and staff.
Why should I ask about summer camp group sizes?
Knowing how many children will be in each group can help parents understand the camp environment and level of supervision. You can also ask whether children remain with the same group and staff throughout the day.
Should I ask how much time children spend outdoors at summer camp?
Yes. Ask how much of the camp day is spent outdoors versus indoors and what types of activities take place in each environment. This can help you better understand your child’s daily routine and the camp’s approach to health and safety.
What should a summer camp do if my child becomes sick?
Parents should understand how the camp identifies and manages illness, where sick children wait for pickup, how quickly parents are contacted, and what policies determine when a child can return to camp. The original article specifically recommends asking how camps monitor campers and manage children who develop symptoms.
What should I ask about cleaning and hygiene at summer camp?
Ask how frequently bathrooms, lunch areas, activity rooms, and other shared spaces are cleaned. Parents can also ask whether adequate handwashing supplies, hand sanitizer, tissues, and cleaning products are readily available.
Should children with medical conditions attend summer camp?
The decision depends on the child’s condition, the camp environment, and guidance from the child’s healthcare provider. The original article advises families to weigh the benefits of camp against potential health risks, particularly when a child or close family member has health conditions that may increase vulnerability to illness.
