FAIRLEE — Excitement. That’s the word leaders of Upper Valley sleep-away and day camps are using to describe their feelings about the upcoming summer season.
A year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many camps to skip a season or dramatically overhaul operations, they’re back and preparing for a closer-to-normal summer. This couldn’t be truer for the sleep-away camps that operate in the Upper Valley.
“We definitely weren’t sure if were would going to open,” said Vanessa Riegler, executive director of the Fairlee-based Aloha Foundation, which runs six camp programs that draw campers from around the country and begin in June.
As vaccinations became more widely available, COVID-19 spread declined and Vermont loosened restrictions, it became more apparent that after a year on hiatus — the first in its more than century-long history — the Aloha camps could come back.
The overnight programs will be at 90% capacity and day camp programs will be up to 80% capacity to abide by regulations, bringing this summer’s total to around 1,200 campers. Multiple hand-washing stations have been added, and big marquee tents are being set up for outdoor dining. Campers will be in pods and masks will be required during indoor activities, along with some other activities if social distancing isn’t possible. Campers will also be given COVID-19 tests before officially starting their session if they are not vaccinated.
“We get to have camp this summer. That is the sweetest part of all this,” Riegler said. “We can figure out all the details because we’ve got enough information, got enough support on our side and can make it all work.”
The Aloha Foundation has also hired another nurse as well as more housekeeping staff, and all staff will undergo additional training related to COVID-19 protocols. All of the more than 300 employees are also required to be vaccinated.
“There wasn’t a lot of pushback and we had a lot of support,” Riegler said, adding that the organization has partnered with Little Rivers Health Care in Bradford, Vt., to provide vaccines. “It’s taken an extra bit of an effort, but I think it makes people feel like we’re banding together and doing this for all the kids we’re taking care of.”
While the Aloha Foundation typically hires some counselors from outside the U.S., that has become more complicated due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, and Riegler has been working with hiring agencies to fill positions. Teachers and other educators who work during the school year also have traditionally served as counselors, but some have experienced burnout during the pandemic and chose not to return this summer.
Both the Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and the Lebanon Recreation, Arts and Parks Department will be running day camps. Hartford ran a program last summer, but it was split between three locations, the hours were reduced and 65 to 70 campers attended, according to program coordinator Jay McDonough. This summer, the program is back to 80 campers, who will be split between two locations.
“We’re looking forward to being able to mix groups and have some larger group activities and to go on some local field trips which we were not able to do last year,” McDonough said.
Lebanon’s camp program is returning after being canceled last year, said recreation coordinator Kristine Flythe. All campers will be at Hanover Street School and activities, such as music lessons, will be brought to them. Groups will also be kept smaller.
“There’s changes, but there’s going to be some really fun additions to the program,” Flythe said.
In Thetford, day and overnight campers will be returning to Camp Farnsworth, which is run by the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, beginning in late June. Last summer, traditional camp programs were suspended, but the introduction of family camp programs on weekends helped make up for lost revenue, said Karyn Martin, assistant director of outdoor program for the nonprofit organization. That family camp program so popular that it will continue this year.
Masks will be required in some circumstances, and staff have been encouraged to get vaccinated. Beds will be placed 6 feet apart.
“We were not required to change our capacity for this summer,” Martin said. Camp Farnsworth has been able to find the staff they need locally, though there is still hope that a handful of staff from overseas will be able to come to camp.
Camp Downer in Sharon is still recruiting staff for the summer, camp director Emily Myers said. Closing last summer disrupted the nonprofit organization’s counselor-in-training program and some of the campers who participated in that program have chosen to do something else. As of Monday, Myers was looking for six more counselors and two kitchen aides.
“We’re really putting all pedal to the metal, if you will, to search high and low for people who would be a good fit for us,” Myers said.
It is the first time in more than a decade that Camp Downer has had to advertise for staff. While employees are not required to be vaccinated, everyone who has been hired so far has voluntarily told Myers that they have been.
The camp will also be running at 75% capacity in order to better allow for social distancing. Families who enrolled their kids for last summer were given priority. There will be about 111 campers per session compared with roughly 140 prior to the pandemic.
“No one was turned away. We thankfully didn’t have to come to that,” Myers said. “It was just through families’ decisions, if their plans changed for the summer, if they were able to come back or not, so it worked out by itself.”
Campers at Downer are set to return beginning June 27.
“We’re just happy that we can allow kiddos to just get back into nature and to become friends with all different kiddos from around Vermont and New England,” Myers said. “We know how crucial it is that kids get this time to be themselves and be kids and get away from the screens and experience new opportunities and new people. We’re just really excited to see everyone this summer.”
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
