Coronavirus Puts PA Summer Camps In Limbo

The coronavirus outbreak has played havoc with family traditions in 2020, from spring break to prom to graduation. Now, kids and parents are wondering whether summer camp may be the next to go.

In Pennsylvania, there's no one answer right now.

Some camps — from those run by the state itself to the Girl Scouts to those at Penn State — already have been canceled. Meanwhile, others are holding out hope, saying that as of now, plans for summer camp are still on.

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Camp NAC, a summer day camp at the Newtown Athletic Club in Bucks County, still plans to open starting June 1. "This is always subject to change," said Brianne Feinour, the director of Camp NAC. "As of right now, we are just taking things day by day."

Bucks County's YMCA also said recently that camps were still a go, even as they made accommodations to hopefully combat the spread of COVID-19.

Trish Feinthel, the chief operations officer of YMCA of Bucks County, told Patch that the Y's Camp Bucks 2020 is, for the time being, still on.

Safeguards, including temperature checking, social distancing, campers remaining with "camp families" and frequent hand washing, are being put into place, she said. And, this year, the Y isn't requiring deposits and is guaranteeing refunds if camp is canceled or delayed due to the coronavirus.

And at The George School, on Newtown Langhorne Road, camp organizers also are hoping for the best.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently watching the CDC restrictions and the governor for more direction," said Mike Bailey, the director of summer camp at the school. "As long as we are able to keep our campers and staff safe with all of the CDC restrictions implemented, we are staying hopeful and still planning to open at this time."

Not every Pennsylvania camp is full-speed ahead, though.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania have canceled summer day camps through at least June 19 while their counterparts, the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, have canceled summer camps outright.

At Bucks County Community College, the traditional Kids on Campus summer camp series has been canceled for 2020. The school is offering refunds for everyone who had registered, while restructuring "to offer new and exciting remote camps."

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has canceled all programs, events and large gatherings through June 15 in state parks and forests located in counties that are designated red under the state's color-coded reopening plan.

In counties designated yellow, events with more than 25 people will remain canceled, according to the department.

Pennsylvania's six-week Outdoor Corps program has been canceled.

And at Penn State, in-person summer camps have been canceled through at least June 19.

A decision about summer camp programming after June 19 will be made later this spring and based on the latest guidance of government and public health authorities, according to the university.

"We understand that canceling summer camps is disappointing for our campers and their families, and we share that same disappointment," said Penn State President Eric J. Barron in a news release. "Given the uncertainty of how the pandemic will continue to unfold, this decision was made now to give campers and their families time to adjust their calendars."

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