Austin Summer Camps, Pool Programs Delayed Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — Summer camps and pool programming in Austin has been postponed given an ongoing reach of the coronavirus, parks officials announced.

Typically, registration for summer camps begins in February and aquatic (pool) programming in April, parks and recreation officials explained in a city advisory. While the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine continues to evolve and provide hope for the future, the unknown length of the local Stage 5 Risk declaration provides uncertainty as it relates to summer program planning, officials said.

The postponement enables the Parks and Recreation Department, in cooperation with the Austin Public Health Department, to consider the local characteristics of the virus as vaccine distribution evolves, offiicals said. At the appropriate local Risk Stage, parks officials can offer in-person programs safely but this time frame is not yet known, offiials added." Delaying registration until there is a path forward for the safe delivery of programming can eliminate concerns related to program cancelations and refunds," officials wrote.

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus threat, parks and rec officials have not determined new registration dates for summer programs, but will notify families prior to registration dates to allow ample preparation time. Offiials noted they continue to work closely with state and local health authorities to make operational decisions that ensure both the health and safety of participants, families, and parks employees.

In the meantime, parks and rec continues to offer free, virtual lesson plans and activities that families can access on PARD's YouTube channel - youtube.com/austincityparks. Updates on summer programming will be released as conditions change, officials added.