Are Neighborhood Camps A Good Option This Summer?

Summer camps have traditionally provided parents with childcare and kids with a fun break from school.  But, this year has been anything but traditional.  While months of distance learning and isolation have made kids even more eager for socializing and summer fun, the threat of COVID still looms large. Up to 80% of overnight camps and 20% of day camps have closed, leaving many families scrambling for alternatives.

So what can parents who need to return back to work do to ensure that their kids will have safe, fun childcare this summer? For many families across the country, neighborhood camps have become an appealing option.

What is a neighborhood camp?

Neighborhood camps are generally small, outdoor camps led by teenagers or college students. Kids get together for a few hours a day and play games and do arts and craft projects under the supervision of one or more young adults.

Are they legal?

Because the laws on child care vary from state to state, there’s no clear cut answer. Anyone seeking to operate a camp at their own house should first contact their insurance company to see if they have coverage. Janet Ruiz, a spokeswoman with the Insurance Information Institute, says that in some places, coverage  may be as simple as an inexpensive add-on to the existing policy. 

Parents considering sending their kids to these non-traditional camps should speak with the homeowners to make sure they’ve taken the necessary legal steps.

Are they safe?

Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer to this question either. While the small, outdoor nature of the camps makes them seem like a relatively safe option, there are a lot of factors to consider: Will kids be sharing supplies? Will they wear masks? Maintain distance? Monitored for signs of illness? Are the counselors prepared to enforce safety precautions? 

As educators with decades of experience struggle with these questions, it seems unlikely that young, inexperienced counselors will be able to deal with all the complications that the pandemic has introduced.

Is it worth the risk?

Most experts don’t think it is. Deborah Gilboa, a family practitioner in Pittsburgh and a frequent writer and speaker on parenting and youth resilience says.,“This summer, I would say, if you can’t find a day camp running near you that keeps kids safe enough, then a pop-up camp run by teenagers is not a safe substitute.” 

The president of the American Camp Association, Tom Rosenberg agrees. He believes that there are just too many variables involved in backyard programs to make them safe. “Whoever’s hosting that backyard babysitting program is really taking a lot of risks,” he said.

But, some families, whether out of necessity or desire, have decided that they’re willing to take the risk. 

Rachel, a therapist in Beverly Hills, California was concerned because her young son had been showing signs of emotional distress from  the months of isolation.  She hired a teenage boy to run a camp for her son and a few of his friends. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. five days a week, rotating daily among the backyards of the six families involved.

While she has been thrilled with how much happier and calmer her son has been since camp started, she still has concerns. “I second-guess myself a lot,” she said. 

She worries that the other families who are part of the camp have not been as careful about social distancing and struggles with the group’s desire to bring in coaches and other experts to add more variety to the camp.

So, what’s the answer?

Unfortunately there are no easy answers. While some families are keeping their children home this summer, many working families and those concerned with their children’s emotional well-being don’t see that as an option. 

During these unprecedented times, perhaps the best thing we can do is to stay informed, weigh the options, and choose the safest options for our family.