Summer Camp, Child Care Options Limited Due to COVID

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COURT HOUSE – Parents looking to place their children in a youth camp or day care this summer are likely to have difficulty finding one that’s open and available due to restrictions required because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A random survey of municipalities, agencies, and organizations across Cape May County indicated most summer camps would not be held this year because of the increased health guidelines and safety precautions that must be followed. Dennis, Lower, and Middle townships, as well as Sea Isle City, indicated there would not be any municipal-sponsored camps this year.
Wildwood Crest is offering a camp, but only for one-third as many children as in the past. Cape Christian Academy’s Summer Camp opened June 15, and there were some open spots, but not many since they are serving about half the normal amount of campers. Some private businesses are also planning to hold specialized camps, but openings are limited.
Efforts to find day care providers were unsuccessful; however, at least one agency, based in Rio Grande, is offering babysitting, pet, elderly, and house sitting services. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Child Development Center continues to offer services to children of all active duty, civilian, and full-time contract employees who work at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May and all tenant commands, such as the cutters, for children as young as infants to school age 12.
Cape May has not run its pre-school program since March when it was ordered closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Restrictions ‘Too Much’
According to Dustin Sturm, superintendent of recreation, Middle Township, a discussion was held about possibly holding a summer camp at Goshen Complex for the employees of the municipality, “but it never made it further.
“We looked into the guidelines, restrictions, and modifications and realized it was too much to conquer with the COVID-19 precautions,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed across organizations, despite the governor allowing youth day camps, including municipal summer programs, to operate, beginning July 6, as long as they complied with required social distancing and other mitigation policies. Residential and overnight camps are prohibited from operating.
Child care centers were allowed to open June 15, as long as they comply with requirements, as well. In both cases, reopening plans, proving the facilities and camps would adhere to the safety precautions, are required two weeks before any opening.
Police Department-sponsored Camps Nixed
In Wildwood Crest, Capt. Robert Lloyd said the police department wanted to start a youth camp this year, but those plans were delayed until at least next year. 
“It would have been a good opportunity for the kids in the community to get to know the police officers better, and for the police officers to get to know the kids better, but unfortunately, it is not working out this year,” he said.
Camps operated by the police departments in other municipalities, including Middle Township, are also not operating this year.
“I have kids myself, and with the water parks still closed, I don’t have a solid answer for what working families can do for child care this summer,” noted Lloyd.
Gov. Phil Murphy announced outdoor water parks could reopen July 2, after Lloyd was interviewed for this story.
Crest Offers Outdoor Camp
Children in second through fifth grades can participate in Wildwood Crest’s Outdoors Explorer Camp, a re-designed program that will accept 60-80 children, rather than the usual 200. 
According to Frank Basile, Wildwood Crest superintendent of recreation and director of the camp, most of the activities will be outdoors, in small groups, adhering to social distancing, using hand sanitizer and disinfectant, as required, and wearing face masks, according to the COVID-19 guidelines.
“Our building is pretty large. We have the beach, outdoor fields, and space to spread out and be safe,” he noted. “We were lucky to bring back half of our staff, who were still available to work. We contacted each one of our families to explain the situation to them, and offered them a chance to sign up for the camp if they wanted.
“We usually offer the camp to pre-K through second grade, but decided not to do the younger kids,” he added. “The younger kids hold hands; for instance, when they walk to the beach or any place, and it would have been too hard to keep them from social distancing.”
Basile expects a “handful” of new participants this year, as early indications show that most previous participants will join again this year.
SIC Specialty Camps Still Possible
In Sea Isle City, Katherine Custer, director of community services and public information officer, said they usually run two different camps: one playground-based camp, organized and operated by the city, and one sports-oriented camp, organized and operated by individual organizations.
“The municipal-sponsored camps have been canceled,” she said, noting the camp normally operated for half a day for 5-to-12-year-old children. The counselor-in-training camp for 13-year-olds was also canceled.
“Our events attract people from all over since we have weekly visitors, summer residents and second homeowners participating,” she explained. “We decided to cancel the activities because of COVID-19 concerns.”
The city hosts a basketball league for boys, girls and adult men, which was also canceled.
“We also contract with individual organizations that sponsor camps for specific sports, such as lacrosse and fitness, and they will be allowed to operate if they can adhere to the restrictions in place at the time the event will occur,” Custer said. “We hope some will run.
“Luckily, we have the beautiful beaches in Sea Isle City,” she added.
Licensed Daycare Offers Summer Camp
As a licensed day care, Cape Christian Academy’s summer camp began June 15, with numerous procedures in place to ensure a “safe and fun camping experience,” according to program administrators.
School Administrator John Spriggs said they are operating at about half the usual size, with 10 students allowed in a room staffed by one teacher, instead of two. 
“Once assigned to a room, that’s basically it,” he noted. “The teachers wear a face mask, and we encourage the students to wear a face mask, especially when they are in the hall or bathroom where they might not be able to social distance. We have been explaining why they are needed and trying to explain how to stay and keep healthy, as well.”
Camp Director Ruth Rosenberg said when the students arrive at the camp, they wash their hands outside while parents answer questions about their health and potential exposure to anyone who was sick. Temperatures are taken in the lobby, and campers wash their hands again in the bathroom before entering the main camp areas.
“Toys are put into small containers, so they use the same ones, sharing only some of the time,” Rosenberg said. “They are washed after each time they are used and the students wash their hands after each activity.”
Outdoor activities also limit contact between campers, she said, and children bring their snacks and lunches. “We aren’t microwaving anything either because we want to be sure the staff doesn’t have to handle anything more than needed,” she said.
“The kids are doing better than the adults,” joked Spriggs, when asked how the first weeks of camp were going. “They see each other wearing masks, so we find even the little children want to be like their older siblings and wear a mask. Parents are explaining to their children about why they need to wear a mask and health issues, so that all helps.”
The “hardest part,” he said, “is wondering what and when things will change again, when will we get to a new normal, whatever that means. I think the state has done a good job in providing guidelines for us, and if there is a question, we err on the side of caution. We are really conscious of making sure everyone is safe and healthy.
“The kids are laughing, playing, and having fun,” he added, “and the teachers are working hard to make things interesting and fun. Parents need this service and kids are resilient. We want to make new, normal, positive experiences.”
Specialized Camps Operating
Carol Ann Futrell, owner of Maverick Art Studio, said she is offering 3D art, painting, pottery, and music lessons to children 6 to 12 years old at her Sea Isle City and Court House locations. Since the class size is only eight compared to 12, each camper gets their own table and supplies for the week.  
For now, camp is offered only in the morning, although Futrell is considering offering an afternoon option, as well. “Our goal is to keep our community safe, so we are doing all we can to make sure they are safe and having fun,” she said.
Michelle Powell, owner of Sea the Future Learning Center, in Marmora, is offering a pre-school curriculum to about 40 2-to-8-year-olds, instead of the usual 62. Children are rotated through outdoor and indoor activities, bring their own food, and are asked to bring their own masks.
“It was devastating in March when we had to close, but, at that time, about 90% of our families had called out they weren’t coming,” she said. “I thought when the children returned there might be some tears as kids said goodbye to their parents, but they barely looked back.”
Sitters Don’t Know What to Expect
One Rio Grande-based agency is offering sitters for families throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties. Christine Meehan, owner of Sitters at the Shore, said she has a pool of women of all ages and backgrounds who are available to sit for children, pets, the elderly, and homes. She’s been in business since 1997, and usually services vacationers and second homeowners, but doesn’t know what to expect this summer because of the pandemic.
“Most of our sitters do outdoor activities if they can, and will wear a face mask if required,” she noted. “They usually sit for one family at a time, as well.”
Coast Guard Center in First Responder Mission Mode
The Coast Guard’s Child Development Center has been operating during the pandemic. In the spring, usage was restricted to mission-essential personnel working that day only, with no other means of child care. 
At that time, only five to seven children were present, according to Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Tamargo, Coast Guard Training Center Cape May public affairs officer, and all COVID-19 screening guidelines were followed.
Now, the center is operating at 40% capacity for infants, pre-toddlers, toddlers, pre-K, pre-school and school-age children. Infants and children under 2 years old are separated into rooms, only coming into contact with the same care providers each day. 
The program for the school-age children happens in a different building from the others, so contact between age groups is limited, according to Tamargo. All providers wear masks, and they and the children are medically screened daily.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.