T's the time of year for the great outdoors and the sounds of summer – or rather, a socially-distanced summer.
IN SOME PLACES..DAY CAMPS AREOPEN..
WITHCHANGES THATCOULD OFFER AROADMAP TOREOPENING SCHOOLSSAFELY.MAYA RODRIGUEZHAS THE STORY.THE GREATOUTDOORS.
ANDTHE SOUNDS OFSUMMER.((nats))OR RATHER.
ASOCIALLY-DISTANCEDSUMMER.((49:23)) Ryan Amato,Recreation ProgramSupervisor for Camps:"When we're outdoors orkeeping a social distancewith kids, they have alittle more flexibility."RYAN AMATO IS THERECREATIONPROGRAMSUPERVISOR FOR DAYCAMPS IN FALLSCHURCH, VIRGINIA.ONE OF THE 56-HUNDRED DAY CAMPSTHAT USUALLYOPERATE ACROSSTHE COUNTRY.THIS YEAR - 62-PERCENT OF CAMPSCLOSED.
BUT THEONES THAT DIDN'T.UNDERWENT SOMECHANGES.((50:02)) Ryan Amato,Recreation ProgramSupervisor for Camps:"We really had to, I don'twant to say dumb down,but really minimize theactivity we do and findthings we can do whilesocial distancing and stillkeeping their interest."THAT MEANT PLACINGKIDS IN SMALLER,INDIVIDUAL CAMPGROUPS.
ANDTRYING TO KEEPTHEM OUTSIDE ASMUCH AS POSSIBLE.BUT EVENTUALLY.WHEN THE HEATFORCES THEM TO GOINSIDE.
SOME OFTHE CHANGESBECOME MOREOBVIOUS.
LIKE THEUSE OF THIS ROPE.((51:17)) Ryan Amato,Recreation ProgramSupervisor for Camps:"We do have a rope thatwe keep and keep themsix feet when they'rewalking.
They shouldmask on as well becauseit gets a little congestedin hallways."((11:27)) Maya El-Hage,Camp Counselor:"There's definitely facesthat I see every summerthat are not here."CAMP COUNSELORMAYA EL-HAGE SAYS.THAT'S NOT THE ONLYTHING MISSING - SOARE FIELD TRIPS.LIKE TO THE POOL.SO INSTEAD.
IT'SMORE CLASSROOMGAMES AND ARTS ANDCRAFTS.
AT ADISTANCE.((10:57)) Maya El-Hage,Camp Counselor: "We'remaking it work.
We're setup like these 6-foottables, so that they knowwhere they're supposedto be."BUT COULD THESEDAY CAMPS - WITHCLASSROOM SET-UPS-- SERVE AS A GUIDETO SCHOOLS TRYINGTO REOPEN?((59:41)) Danny Schlitt,Falls Church, Va,Director of Parks andRecreation: "I think theirchallenges are a littlegreater, but I do thinkthere's some learningthat the school systemscan learn from watchingsome of the summercamps in theirjurisdictions."YET, THEY ADMIT.THEIR PROGRAMSARE GEAREDTOWARDS FUN.
ANDSCHOOLS HAVE AMORE COMPLEXMISSION.((58:36)) Danny Schlitt,Falls Church, Va,Director of Parks andRecreation: "It's alearning environment inthere and they're going tobe there for long periodsof time.
//((58:46)) "Onceyou get indoors things dochange a lot, you know,and it really is important itbecomes that muchmore important for themask wearing and thesocial distancing."WHICH IS WHEREPARENTS CAN MAKE ADIFFERENCE, THEYSAY.((52:58)) Ryan Amato,Recreation ProgramSupervisor for Camps:"The parent starts athome with, you know -talk about the importanceof social distancing,importance of wearing amask -and when theycan enforce that, it helpsour staff do it here - itmakes our job easier."AND POTENTIALLYSAFER.IN FALLS CHURCH,VIRGINIA, I'M MAYARODRIGUEZ.AHEAD OF THEBREWERS SEASON
Many nonprofit organizations, such as summer camps, schools, sports leagues, membership associations, religious organizations,..