The novel coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on in-person summer camps across the country, but a few local camps are keeping the spirit alive virtually to prevent kids from a gloomy summer.
Premier Doug Ford announced in mid-May that overnight summer camps are cancelled in response to the COVD-19 pandemic.
He said day camps in July and August may be allowed to open under “strict” health and safety measures as long as trends continue to improve during the pandemic.
Certain camps in London are now switching to online learning, virtual bonding, as well as camp kits to keep campers busy and safe at home.
Katie Urban with the Museum of Ontario Archeology told Mike Stubbs on 980 CFPL’s London Live Thursday the museum is keeping its tradition of maintaining interactive activities.
“(The kids) would usually be doing all sorts of games, and crafts and activities that related to archaeology but also to history, nature, and the London area around them,” said Urban.
But this summer, the campers will be learning through the museum’s camp kits.
“We’re offering our Summer Camp Kits, which is something we’ve come up with to bring the camp into the home, so kids will have some similar games, crafts and activities, (and) we’ll have some components that are online (such as) recorded instructions.”
Urban adds the camp also plans to do different live activities on a daily basis that kids will be able to participate in.
For Matt Story, the camp director at Easter Seals, which is a camp for children and youth with physical disabilities, cancelling in-person summer camp was a difficult but obvious decision due to COVID-19.
Story told Jess Brady on 980 CFPL’s Afternoon Show Friday the camp has switched to a virtual camp this summer in hopes of ensuring campers have the opportunity to bond with others.
“We wanted to offer a platform that would allow our campers to still feel connected,” said Story, “and still be able to be social with each other (with) some fun camp activities.”
Story said Camp Woodeden in London is set to provide a variety of activities including “arts and crafts, sports and games, outdoor adventure, life skills, music, and drama.”
Cozy campfires are not getting booted out either. Story says the camp plans to have “… a few live campfires, (so) the campers can go (online) and sing the songs along with the (staff and volunteers).”
Currently, the camp is holding a fundraiser called the 21 Times Challenge.
“The need for all this equipment is still there, but not being able to fundraise for it has had huge impacts on families.
Elsewhere in the city, Great Big Theatre Company is offering its Virtual Drama Program this summer.
Campers will be placed in a group video call, and collaborate and engage in drama games, improvisations, art projects, plays and scenes, along with music, movement activities and dance parties.
Brick Works Academy is also offering virtual camps involving Lego, Minecraft and mobile app development and design.
The City of London has announced the cancellation of its Summer Day Camp programming, as well as all June leadership programming and June PA Day camps.
The city says all registrants will automatically be refunded.
Other local camps that have cancelled their summer camps include:
- Sport Western Summer Camp
- Sports Discovery Camp
- Boys and Girls Club of London’s summer camps
- Forest Cliff Camps
- YMCA camps
- Book Camp London
- Kee-Mo-Kee Summer Camp
- Childreach camps
- East Park camps
- John Hatch sports camp
- Kidscape camps
- London Clay Art Centre’s camps
- London Waldorf School’s camps
- Mad Science London’s camps
-With files from 980 CFPL’s Jacquelyn Lebel