LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News) — Gr8 Kidz in Liverpool opened for the season on Monday, Jun. 28. With two locations and over 100 kids, the summer camp had to modify its program to follow CDC guidelines and keep everyone safe.
Carlos Tearney, the owner of Gr8 Kidz, said that they stayed open last year through the pandemic.
“Last year was our most challenging year because we didn’t know what to expect from the whole COVID thing and how it was going to affect our camp, the kids, and the community,” said Tearney. “This year we went in more confident knowing that we were able, last year, to make it through COVID with our summer camp.”
According to the CDC website, cases among children haven’t been as high as those who are immunocompromised and people older in age. The summer camp does not enforce mask-wearing and lets the parents decide.
“We’re telling parents if they’re comfortable with their kids not wearing masks, they don’t have to wear them. If they’re uncomfortable and they still want them to wear them, they can still wear the masks.”
The vaccine is also only available to children 12 and older. Staff members at Gr8 Kidz are fully vaccinated and do not require campers to come into the building. The program model they designed helps isolate children if they’re exposed to anyone with COVID.
“Our kids are set in cohorts so they’re all kind of in their own age category and groups…so if we have a case that comes up with COVID we know that it was just in that primary group and it won’t affect the whole facility and everyone in the program”, said Tearney.
Tearney also said that they do not plan to do vaccine or immunization checks. When children arrive, camp counselors do a temperature check before they come into the facility and frequently wash the camper’s hands throughout the day.
“You have some parents who don’t really want their kids to be vaccinated,” said Tearney. “Parents are really on the fence…we haven’t had a conversation like that with our parents yet.”
Gr8 Kidz Summer Camp was open in their Syracuse location last year during the pandemic. Opening this new location has put them in a better position compared to last year.
“Last year was our most challenging year because we didn’t know what to expect from the whole COVID thing and how it was going to affect our camp, the kids, and the community,” said Tearney. “This year we went in more confident knowing that we were able, last year, to make it through COVID with our summer camp.”
