Having to live with Coronavirus was tough worldwide, but what is the impact at our summer camps? Like us all, summer camps have implemented strategies, safety measures and barriers to keep everyone at camp is safe. In this blog, we will explore how coronavirus will change US Summer Camps this year.
Summer Camp Jobs are going ahead in 2022. And what safer place to have a covid free bubble than at camp? Camps have adapted to Covid-19 and will ensure that children, staff and everyone associated to the camp are away from the risks of infection. Many camps have put into place additional staff facilities, allowing more availability to enjoy days and evenings off on-site.
All US summer camp staff will have had the Covid-19 vaccination. In addition, those international summer camp staff attending camp on a J1 Visa will also be offered a vaccination by most camps. They will provide you with transportation to and from the vaccination centre, making it super easy for you to get vaccinated! If staff are vaccinated, it means you will be able to leave camp on days and evenings off as you please.
It’s super important to make sure precautions are put in place to stop the virus from entering the camp grounds. Children and American staff will be required to provide a negative test 5 days prior to entering camp. The same thing for international J1 summer camp staff. You will be expected to provide a negative test result in order to leave their home country and fly to the states. You will then be expected to provide another negative test result upon arrival at camp. It’s an inevitable action, but one that ensures the safety of yourself and those around you. Yes, it’s a different set of actions to those of the past, but it will mean the continuation of camp and the peace of mind for everyone involved in summer camp which of course, includes the camper’s parents.
It’ll be different, yes. In 2020, the biggest issue camps faced was the fact that Covid-19 had undoubtedly changed the traditional camp experience. Summer Camp is about high fives, pats on backs, hand shakes, hugs, and being a team. Take these moments away from camp and it removes part of the fun and the whole reason we do what we do.
Summer camps had to put in extra precautions. Cabins were not full due to social distancing and age groups couldn’t mix. There was extra cleaning, extra sanitising and in many cases, different set of rules at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Camps had to act fast and didn’t know enough even then about the virus. It was camp, but it wasn’t the same.
Now as we look into 2021, taking away the coronavirus risks by vaccinating and creating that bubble at camp, we are able to continue as usual and stick to the very principles of what makes camp, summer camp! Expect the roars, high fives, chants, winning incredible games and the very things that make dinner time exciting. Camp will continue, it’s business as usual. This summer will be different. The aim is to return to the amazing camp experience we all love.
So will anything change from day to day? With these new policies put into place, campers and staff will be able to sleep in the cabins the same as before. The daily schedule will remain unchanged. We will all still be able to battle it out in colour wars, race against each other in the camp olympics and enjoy the excitement of “break out”. Skits will remain the same, summer camp performances will be untouched and there will be no stopping us singing around the camp fire. S’mores will be served, pizza eaten and drinks drank.
Camps will be split into teams, of all ages and play out the competitions against each other. Win or lose. The fist pumps, high fives and chest banging will continue. No matter the type of camp, or camp location, you can be sure everyone is in this together.
Whilst Covid-19 has changed the way we operate and the way we interact, camps are working hard behind the scenes to ensure everyone is safe and getting the summer camp experience that we all dream about. Yes, there will be more checks and even more cleaning, but every step and action they’re taking is to continue doing what they do best… Organising the best summer of your life!
Many camps closed in 2020. It hurt. They don’t want this to happen again. They missed the children, the staff, the parents and each other, but by working together, 2022 will be the best summer yet. Apply today!