Summer camp closed? Kids still have options – Asbury Park Press

For kids, summertime is a destination.

Those precious months between the last and first days of school mean freedom from homework and projects and busy schedules. Summer is for relaxing and being with friends, for spending days doing nothing – or everything.

This year, things are different. That beloved freedom comes with restrictions, courtesy of a pandemic that has changed how we move through our days. 

Large gatherings are not allowed. Summer camps can open in early July but will do so with restrictions, and some have been canceled completely. Seasonal businesses, normally a boon for teen summertime employment, require fewer employees than usual at the moment.

So, what is there for kids to do? More than you think. 

Summer camp goes virtual

In March, when schools closed and classes went online, Maplewood Middle School math teacher Megan Lin had an idea: full-day virtual summer camp, packed with social interaction and STEM-based games and projects. 

“Right at the start of distance learning, I sat down and thought through everything and it came to mind how important it could be this summer,” said Lin, 25, who initially planned to spend the next few months teaching summer school. “Our thought from the beginning (was) it is so unknown what’s going to happen, so let’s get ahead of this.” 

The Jersey City resident partnered with family members who are teachers and fellow educators to create Camp Mave, an eight-week program for children ages 10 to 14 (begins July 6, $199 per week to $1,349 for the full program). 

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“The whole purpose of our camp is to really replace a fun, physical summer camp with educational elements. We’re not just trying to be online learning completely,” she said, acknowledging that both children and adults may be tiring of virtual schooling.

Each day will begin with live interaction via Zoom before campers start the day’s lessons and projects – creating marketing materials for a dream vacation, testing recipes for an imaginary ice cream shop, or using household items to craft a complex creation known as a Rube Goldberg machine.

“Every day is a new project. It’s supposed to be fun and social to keep the kids engaged,” said Lin, adding that campers from Canada, Washington, D.C., and New York have shown interest. “It’s all online. You don’t have to go to a physical location, so it’s open to everyone.”

As for camps that traditionally convene in person, online programs have been made available – in record time – while organizers await guidance from the American Camp Association, said Eileen Higgins, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

“There will be something in place in person, we’re just waiting for the state guidelines,” Higgins said, adding that family and troop camping is a possibility at the council’s two camps, Amity Acres Day Camp in Barnegat and Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale. “We do have quite a few people holding out hopes since March. They check in with us almost weekly.”

In the meantime, Scouts can participate in virtual camp, which includes STEM-focused programming from AT&T, weekly themed programs, a new literacy component that includes a weekly box of activities, and Badge in a Box, which comes with all the materials a Scout needs to earn a badge.

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“People are loving them, they are able to do what they would usually be doing, and they’ve been working on them virtually together,” said Heather Coburn, chief operating officer. 

“We’re trying to weigh out the screen time versus getting girls outside,” Higgins said, adding that online camp begins with a gathering on Zoom for the flag salute, followed by self-guided activities during the day.

A benefit of virtual classes is that viewers sometimes catch a glimpse of how others live; Higgins recalled a yoga class that was interrupted by the instructor’s dog. 

“She doesn’t lose her cool. It showed the families this is what may be happening at your home, but we’re all okay with it,” she said. “We’re all here to take of each other. Not everything has to be perfect.”

For girls interested in joining, enrollment is currently open. 

Boy Scout councils are offering merit badge classes online as well as in person: Scouts can work on advancements in subjects like golf, the law and electricity. 

“We have Scouts from around the country joining on our website, probably 1,000 or so,” said William P. Montanaro, assistant Scout executive of the Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts of America. He expected enrollment to open soon for the council, which usually sees 700 Scouts at summer camp. “It’s going really well.”

The council’s camp, Quail Hill Scout Reservation in Manalapan, will host workshops and day activities – hiking, fishing, swimming – following state guidelines on capacity and social distancing. 

While children may miss out on summer camp as they know it this year, consider this sentiment from Matt Ruttler, director of Camp Happy Times, a weeklong sleep-away camp in Essex County for children battling cancer: “Camp is not a place. It is the people, the feelings, the love and the family … that is camp.”

Go outside

In late May, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that non-contact, outdoor organized sports could resume June 22. That was good news for Tara Kelly, executive director of The First Tee Jersey Shore, a local chapter of a national nonprofit that teaches golf to children.

Other chapters serve the northern and western parts of the state: The First Tee of Great Trenton, Raritan Valley, Philadelphia and Metropolitan New York. 

“We’re lucky because our program is naturally spaced and socially distant,” said Kelly, adding that even in light of that, this year’s eight-week summer camp program will have half as many participants as usual. Usually offered at a dozen locations, the camp, which serves children from Atlantic Highlands to Cape May, will take place in two: The First Tee Learning Center at Ocean County Park in Lakewood and the William F. Larkin Golf Course in Ocean Township. 

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“Our mission is to reach as many kids as we can, introduce them to the great game of golf,”  Kelly said, adding that the group, which is donor funded, offers financial help to families that need it – including golf clubs and other equipment. “There are core values and inherently healthy choices and character-building lessons built into golf, so it’s a really good platform to bring those youth-development principles to kids and expose them to a sport that is so beneficial to them throughout their life.”

For parents who are not comfortable with organized activities just yet, simple bike rides, walks and runs can relieve stress in children and adults. 

“All the outside time has been nice, seeing neighbors,” said Tara Paulson, 41, of Ocean Township, mother of four children ages 3 to 10. Normally, summer means between 18 and 20 hours of competitive gymnastics lessons per week for two of her daughters. But the gym has been closed for months. 

“It’s hard for the the kids, not being in a normal routine,” she said.

Is it safe for teens to work?

This is a decision that, like many in the world of COVID-19, depends on individual comfort level.

“When things were really high, with high cases, we actually had him stop working because we got concerned,” said Betsy Giordano, whose 16-year-old son Andrew works at Strollo’s Lighthouse in Long Branch. “Now, I think for his sanity, he needs to go to work. We’re okay with it, we see the precautions they’re taking.”

This is the Long Branch teen’s third summer at the Italian ice shop. As expected, this year is different. 

“We all have to wear masks and wear gloves, and then we have a second pair of plastic gloves on top of the vinyl gloves that we have to switch out every customer,” said the Long Branch teen, who is finishing his sophomore year at Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown. “It’s hard to breathe, you start sweating. We have to stay 6 feet away from each employee at all times to make sure we’re not getting too close.”

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Deanna Ryan of Eatontown has two teenage sons, one works at a beach club and another as a food runner while waiting to return to his job as a caddie on a golf course. 

“My husband and I are both small business owners, so we know first hand that hard work and showing up even during hard times is an important tool to learn,” Ryan said. “We educate ourselves and our children and adhere to the provided guidelines to not only keep our family safe, but for those that we come into contact with through our work and daily activities. Masks are worn, lots of hand washing, keeping socially distant and staying educated.” 

Kelly Bremmer of Brick has three working teenage sons, ages 16, 17 and 18; two work at McDonald’s and one at Taco Bell. The pandemic changed how the boys go to and come home from work.

“They now leave and return through the back door, which is in the laundry room,” said Bremmer, who is a fourth-grade teacher. They leave a change of clothes there and when they come home from a shift, they change, put laundry in the washing machine and go shower.  We disinfectant spray their sneakers.”

Bremmer’s feelings echo Betsy Giordano’s. “I have been okay with them working during this time because it has allowed them some distractions from being cooped up at home for the first few weeks,” she said. “I am grateful that I have three healthy children who can work. 

“My husband and I have been honest with our kids about our concerns, and I think that has helped them be more aware,” she said. “We have had great conversations, and communication and respect for each family member’s opinions are important.”

More summer activities for kids:

• Learn to fly: The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is offering free online classes, delivered via Zoom, to children ages 3 and older. Kids can learn juggling, handstands and much more; phillycircus.com.
• From the library: Their doors may be closed, but libraries have a lot to offer. The NJ State Library launched a free e-book library of more than 150 graphic novels and comics, which are available for children and teens, no library card required, at    njsl-vlcc.biblioboard.com. The Moorestown Library (moorestownlibrary.org) offers weekly book discussions for children and teens via Zoom; the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (bccls.org), comprising nearly 80 branches in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties, hosts live craft events, literary trivia contests, and book readings through social media; and the Woodbridge Public Library has a blog for teens.
• Under the sea: Lovers of marine life can “visit” The Center for Aquatic Sciences at Camden Aquarium, which is offering virtual sea camp through August; aquaticsciences.org.
• Learn something new:  For children who like horses, riding lessons are an ideal activity right now. Kierson Farm and Riding Academy in Flemington offers day camp and lessons for both new and experienced riders; 107 W. Woodschurch Road, 908-528-3307.
• Get coding: Tweens and teens who love computers and gaming might enjoy a class with Code Ninjas, (codeninjas.com), a company that teaches coding to children through building video games. In-person classes are not currently available (there are nearly a dozen locations between Norwood in Bergen County and Toms River in Ocean County), but virtual classes are available. Code Ninjas also offers a junior program for children ages 5 to 9.
• Go camping: Families who need a night away can spend a weekend at Quail Hill Scout Reservation in Manalapan. Bring your own tent, Scout membership not required. 
• In the kitchen: This is the perfect time to teach kids to cook, a task made even more fun when the ingredients arrive at your door. Check out Raddish, Baketivity and Kidstir, which have kid-friendly instructions. 
• Get moving: At 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 5 p.m. Thursdays, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore offers follow-along activities via Facebook, membership not required. So far, participants have created indoor and outdoor obstacle courses, practiced yoga, and taken dance classes. “It’s just really to keep everyone engaged and have fun,” CEO Eileen Higgins said. 

A lifelong Jersey girl, Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey more than 15 years ago. Reach her at sgriesemer@gannettnj.com.

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