Campers in for some big changes this summer

FALL RIVER — Free swim is out, but summer camp is in.

Kids attending summer camps at local YMCAs and the Boys and Girls Club’s Camp Welch are in for some big changes this summer.

“It will be a different camp program from what people are used to, but it’s the best alternative to what’s available in the current situation; they can be outside in the fresh air, in the sunlight with fewer contact surfaces,” said Bill Kiley, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Fall River, which operates Camp Welch in Assonet.

On Tuesday, Kiley said they were getting their first glimpse at the guidelines the state Department of Early Education and Care issued June 1 for child care facilities and youth programs such as summer camps. The guidelines, he said, address the minimum requirements for health and safety such as staff training, social distancing group sizes, regular hand-washing and hygiene, use of protective equipment, screening and monitoring staff and campers.

Camp Welch is tentatively planning to open June 29, with approval from the Department of Health to make sure they have all the protocols in place. “Obviously the safety of our campers and staff is No. 1. The camps run weekly, typically 10 weeks with the last week back in the city. This year, if the camp is able to open on June 29, it will run for eight weeks.

The camp generally has kids from Dartmouth, Westport, Fall River, Freetown and Tiverton. This year, no out-of-state campers or staff will be allowed at the camp due to quarantine regulations. The majority of kids come from Fall River. In prior years, they’ve had as many as 350 to 400 kids but this summer, Kiley said he anticipates significantly less as capacity guidelines are based on the space available for social distancing in sheltered areas in inclement weather. “It’s all numbers and data-driven. That might change as the summer goes on,” said Kiley.

In the past, kids have had the freedom of choice of activities, but this summer kids will be assigned to a group for contact tracing purposes. The group will travel to different activities together and eat lunch together. “It will be a much more rigid program schedule than what we run. They will still be outside with peers in the grass and fresh air. I think everyone needs a little social-emotional health right now, particularly kids that haven’t been able to run around outside,” said Kiley.

There won’t be any buses to the camp this year, instead parents will have to drop their kids off at the Assonet-based Camp Welch.

Physical activities will be more of what he described as “skill and drill,” rather than contact sports such as basketball and soccer. “We’re fortunate we’ve invested a lot of money in the past years. We put in two new pools, a big pavilion, two new playgrounds…. We’ve been able to expand the footprint of usable space,” said Kiley.

He said they’re presuming they can open the pools this year, especially with two pools that will give them ample space for socially distanced, pre-planned group activities. “Free swim is out. There is no such thing as free swim anymore,” said Kiley. “I’ve heard people mention a number of times, you’re taking the fun out of being a kid ... . But until everyone has a better handle on what this virus will be and what it will do we have to do everything we can to be safe.”

Kiley said added he’s grateful to his staff, who have been doing virtual programs since March and he’s confident their enthusiasm will carry over to the summer campers.

As the economy starts to reopen and people head back to work, parents will be looking for places like the Swansea YMCA’s summer camp as a child care provider, said Michael Moriarty, executive director of the Swansea YMCA.

Like Camp Welch, there will be no buses transporting kids from the YMCA in Fall River to the Swansea YMCA camp so it will be just drop-offs this summer. “The YMCA is the largest childcare provider across the United States,” he added.

The summer camp typically starts June 22, but this year Moriarty expects it to start June 29, if all goes as expected. “Luckily we have 40 acres of outdoor space so it will be able to resemble a camp,” said Moriarty as he was awaiting guidance from the state early last Monday.

Typically the YMCA has about 100 kids in the summer and with kids coming from Fall River it’s up around 300. But this year, he expects the capacity will be significantly less as well.

At the Fall River YMCA, Executive Director Stephanie Mancini said after seeing the guidelines released on Monday they were still finalizing some plans for summer camp at the Y. “Essentially we will be operating at around 50% less capacity,” she added. “Normally in the summer we have about 160 kids.”

Ninety percent of the things in the guidelines are things they already do, she said. The ratio of kids to staff will be 1-to-10 and the next two weeks will be devoted to staff training to get them up to speed on the guidelines. “Hand sanitizing, social distancing…. We’re going through the guidelines with a fine-tooth comb,” said Mancini.

While they are still finalizing plans, Mancini said the former education director will be running the camp so she will be integrating some of the educational components into camp. The YMCA’s Power Scholars Academy, geared to their English language learner students, will not be running this year due to capacity issues. “It’s definitely going to look different. We’re looking at 65 to 70 kids and we’re gearing it to the families that we already have engaged through our school year program, but there’s some flexibility.”

In addition to activities inside the Y, they’re going to be using the outdoor space at the Y in Fall River as best as they can and the pool will be open. “We intend on making the best summer we can possibly make it under circumstances,” said Mancini. “We’re very fortunate that we have an incredible team and they’re devoted to bringing the best they have…. We need to ensure safety for these kids and families.”