It was 7 a.m. and drop off was beginning at Camp Eggert in Orchard Park. Everyone was excited, especially 7-year-old Carson Cox.
What You Need To Know
- YMCA Buffalo Niagara summer camps kicked off June 29
- 11 of the 22 camps are open
- Operating at a reduced capacity and in designated groups
He says being at home since March hasn’t been the most fun. This is Cox’s second year at Camp Eggert. Despite the pandemic, he had no doubts he would be back.
“(I will be) making friends,” Cox said.
And he was looking forward to seeing some old ones, too.
“Xavier is coming,” Cox pointed to a truck driving into camp.
They’re just two of nearly 700 kids across WNY who will be spending the next 10 weeks at summer camp thanks to the YMCA. But getting kids back on the four square court took a lot of planning, says Penny Snell, the Y’s Vice President of Program Quality and Innovation.
“For example, it was said we could have nine kids per one adult, and then new guidance came out saying we could have 10,” Snell said.
Snell says that made a huge difference since they have to operate at 50 percent capacity.
“I think some parents are unsure, so hopefully throughout the summer we will get more kids,” Snell said.
If you are one of those unsure parents, here is how day camps will operate. Temperature checks will be taken upon a child’s drop off. That drop off set-up is why some kids will be spending the summer at a different camp than usual. The Y could only use camps that offered pick up and drop off options. So, 11 of the Y’s 22 camps are open.
“Kids will have a home base where they will work out of,” Snell explained. “And then we will have a few shared spaces like fields and gyms.”
Each group has its own set of equipment, too.
Snell says to help kids transition back to seeing other kids and adults other than mom and dad, each camp will have an inclusion specialist. Plus, kids a sense of camaraderie have always been a pillar of summer camp. So, the Y has gotten innovation when it comes to teamwork in a time of social distancing.
“This summer is going to be a lot of competition, so how can each individual group get points,” Snell explained.
But really, if you ask Cox, this summer will be all about one thing.
“Hanging out with friends,” he smiled.