l How loca s p m a c s u m me r d te p h ave a d a ep x e r to delive e th in riences 9 1 ID V era of CO
By Kat S
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t would be an understatement to say that the COVID19 pandemic changed and disrupted Summer 2020. Families cancelled vacations, friends saw each other only outside, and the beloved tradition of summer camps for kids either didn’t happen or had to proceed with serious adjustments. Organizations offering camps got creative, however, offering virtual or modified in-person experiences. Following all government and CDC guidelines, many places still managed to produce memorable summers for the kids.
After months cooped up in their homes, the children who attended in-person camps were able to engage with other kids and adults at a safe distance, and spend time being active out-
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side, and on a limited basis, inside, participating in an amazing variety of activities. Virtual camps, offered by numerous places, including Anne Arundel Community College, presented courses on coding, gaming, drawing, Manga, and more. Barring another complete lockdown, the plan is for camps to continue bringing options, and expanding on them as permitted. “If I could have done 11 more weeks of camp this past summer, I would have, as it went so well,” says Zalanka Jones-Anderson, Program Director of the Y in Arnold (Greater Annapolis). Nobody was sure what to expect at the beginning of the summer, but the Y created full, in-person day camps from mid-June through the first week of Sep-
whatsupmag.com | March 2021 | What’s Up? Annapolis
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