[tis]

Originally Posted by camp guy

Summer camps present just too many obstacles to the social distancing idea of COVID-19 prevention. The campers and staff generally come from all over, and generally not in the immediate area of the camp in question, so this begs the question of isolation as a means of protection. The campers and staff have to actually get to the camp, traveling from wherever, but, nevertheless from somewhere and through a lot of "somewheres" just to get to camp - more exposure.

Many camp activities are all about groups (teams), and this isn't social distancing; many camps have activities that take campers and staff off the camp property to visit museums, climb mountains, paddle canoes on rivers and lakes; many camps participate in local activities in the towns where they are located, again, not social distancing. The list could go on.

Meal services at camps are almost always all at once, everyone sitting at a number of tables - no social distancing, food being passed around, arms and elbows all over the place.

Maybe a camp could develop a strict protocol of enforced social distancing, almost constant hygiene activity, and zero contact with the world beyond the four corners of the camp property - but what kind of a camp experience would that be for either the campers or the staff.

Sure, missing out on a summer of "the camp experience" will be tough for some people, but turning on the bright lights of the alternative will show that under those circumstances it would be tough (if not worse) for many people. A camp must look at the big picture, and even though it may be unpleasant, do the right thing - stay closed.

You should know if anybody should! Still it's very sad for the camps and the kids.