az grown health
SAFE
summer camp
EXPERIENCES By RAK Staff
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, as cases of
to the great relief of stressed parents and
COVID-19 began that first ominous
cooped-up kids.
surge in our state, summer camp
Still, the virus remains a threat,
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a statement reassuring parents that transmission of the virus
directors were scrambling to make
especially as variants circulate and
among children and staff is rare in
tough decisions about remaining open,
vaccination rates remain far below herd
controlled settings where safety protocols
skipping 2020 completely or moving
immunity. With that in mind, we asked
are followed, including wearing masks,
their programming online.
pediatrician Darlene Melk, M.D. what
practicing physical distancing, and being
precautions parents should ask about when
diligent about enhanced cleaning and
evaluating a summer camp program.
disinfection of surfaces.
This year, we know a lot more about the coronavirus — and how to safely contain it — as the camp season
Parents should ask about a camp’s
approaches. With the example of
Hot summer temperatures in the greater
mask policy and whether children and
reopened schools, and guidance from
Phoenix area mean most day camp
staff are required to wear masks. Keeping
the CDC, camp directors are once again
activities must be conducted indoors. So
children in small groups with dedicated
ramping up in-person programming,
how does that work during a pandemic?
staff will help minimize COVID-19 risk.
12 April 2021 RaisingARIZONAKids.com
