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Cuomo Gives Go-ahead to Summer Camps Cuomo Gives Go-ahead to Summer Camps

By Michelle Knezovic

MICHELLE: IN JUST LESS THAN A MONTH SUMMER CHILDCARE AND DAY CAMPS IN NEW YORK STATE CAN OPEN, BUT THIS YEAR THEY WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, WEARING MASKS, SMALLER GROUPS, AND OF COURSE TRYING TO STAY 6 FEET APART.

NATALIE SCAVONE: “We do tell the parents it is impossible to keep kindergartners impossible to stay 6 feet away from each other. We are going to try and do that, but that is a challenge.”

MICHELLE: “The New York State health department released guidelines today that there can be no more than 10 kids at a time in an enclosed space.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BASCAL, NATALIE SCAVON, says that this means they won’t be able to have as many kids at camp this year”

NATALIE SCAVONE:”We can but we do have those space restrictions, so it is kind of a double wammy of the parents that are looking, and I often hear the front desk clerk saying can you get it in by Friday, cause we want to make sure we can service those children”

MICHELLE: In addition to having smaller groups, scheduled hand washing times, all the employees are required to wear masks, and kids don’t have to but can if they want to. Scavone also said that traditional summer camp games won’t be the same.

NATALIE SCAVONE:”Some of the games that we have been playing are ones that require less physical contact like tag or something like that, so it keeps the kids a little more separate while they’re playing.”

MICHELLE: SUMMER CAMPS CAN OPEN UP AS SOON AS JUNE 29TH.
YOU CAN find the full guidelines from the department of health on NCC News online. Reporting in Ballston Lake im Michelle Knezovic

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that summer camps in New York state can open this summer.

This afternoon the state Department of Health released the guidelines that all summer day cares and camps need to follow to open on June 29.

Some of the guidelines include

  • All employees must wear masks
  • Stay 6 feet apart
  • No more than 10 kids in an enclosed space

The full list can be found here.

In addition to these guidelines, programs have had to find new ways for the kids to play.

“Some of the games that we have been playing are ones that require less physical contact like tag or something like that, so it keeps the kids a little more separate while they’re playing,” said Natalie Scavone, executive director of Bascol.

Although Bascol was deemed essential, they still have specific guidelines they must follow throughout their summer program.

“Traditional times where kids and staff wash their hands for example, so that has doubled since COVID-19 has come,” said Scavone.

Some of the guidelines are easier than others to follow, like cleaning.

“We do tell the parents it is impossible to keep kindergartners impossible to stay 6 feet away from each other. We are going to try and do that, but that is a challenge,” said Scavone. 

 

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