Most in-person activities for kids and teens – including camps and preschools – are closed for the 2020 summer season.
We know this is really hard for parents and caregivers who need to go back to work or simply need a break. We also spoke with camp and childcare program directors about how they made decisions and it’s clear that a lot of energy and care went into their decisions.
We are not listing the camps and childcare options that are closed this summer. See below for what IS open! This list includes any formal (as opposed to informal parent or neighborhood networks) in-person programs we could find and several of the online options for activities. The list will be updated as we learn more!
We also included some info about how directors of camps and childcare programs made their decisions. Scroll to the bottom of this page if you interested in learning more about the decision-making process.
Please let us know if you have information about more options, especially for in-person programs. Email ilana “at” frcog.org.
OPEN THIS SUMMER
In-person programs adapted for COVID-19
Franklin County and the North Quabbin
Ja’Duke Preschool (as of 6/11/20) plans to open for summer, pending state approval.
Location: Turners Falls
Dates: Planning to open June 29. 8AM – 4PM during open dates. Mon – Fri or part of the week schedules available.
Age Range of Participants: They have spots for infants, toddlers, preschoolers (ages 3-4), and ages 5 – 6.
Contact: https://jaduke.wixsite.com/preschool/Contact
Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts is running in-person summer workshops for dance.
Location: Turners Falls
Dates: Multiple sessions, see website. 9AM – 4PM during open dates.
Age Range of Participants: “Triple Threat” ages 7-18; Dance Intensive ages 11-18
More info and registration: https://www.jadukecenter.com/workshops
Contact: jcpa “at” jaduke.com; 413-863-0001
Montague Parks & Recreation
To register, call 863-3216. (No registrations through Facebook.)
Summer Play Groups
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Mondays – Thursdays (Fridays – rain day)
– Separate 5-8 yr. old and 9-12 year-old groups
– Enrollment Limit: 8 children per group
*Currently accepting Montague residents ONLY
Arts & Crafts Playgroups: $50 per session
Session 1 – July 13 – 16
Session 2 – July 27 – 30
Field Games Playgroups: $50 per session
Session 1 – July 20 – 23
Session 2 – August 3 – 6
– Participants may only register for a maximum of 2 weeks. Those wanting more weeks will be placed on a waiting list.
– This program will be following COVID-19 guidelines by the MA Dept. of Public Health.
*Non-residents (if we are able to offer placement): apply an additional $10 to enrollment fee.
The Hilltown Youth Theatre is offering an in-person summer workshop. Description here.
Location: Charlemont
Dates: Jul 13-Aug 7
Age Range of Participants: 10-18
Contact: 413-387-8783 ♦ hilltownyouth@gmail.com ♦ hilltownyouth.org
Financial Aid and Scholarships available.
Recovery Theatre is offering a 1-week in-person intensive for ” young people overcoming anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, and other behavioral health challenges.” More info here.
Location: Charlemont
Dates: Jul 5-11
Age Range of participants: 12-19
Contact: 413-387-8783 ♦ hilltownyouth@gmail.com ♦ hilltownyouth.org
Financial Aid and Scholarships available.
Rattlesnake Adventure Camps at Morse Hill Outdoor Center
Description here. Programs usually include on-site low & high ropes courses & team-building initiatives, as well as off-site rock climbing, canoeing, raft building, mountain biking, caving, hiking, & more. See the website for more info about changes and protocols due to COVID-19.
Location: Near Lake Wyola in Shutesbury
Dates: Jun 22-Aug 28
Age Range of Campers: 8-18
Contact: 413-253-1807 ♦ summer@morsehill.com ♦ www.morsehill.com
Trails and open spaces have remained open throughout the spring and are open now.
The City of Greenfield has re-opened the tennis courts on Davis Street and at Beacon Field. At Green River Park on Petty Plain Road, the pickle ball court and dog park are now open as well.
The Town of Montague has re-opened the skate park. The bike path has remained open.
The Athol Area YMCA is running day camps, Camp Selah, for children entering grades 1 – 6 as well as Y-ACES (for ARRSD students entering grades K – 4 who meet CLCC requirements) and Y-ARMS (for ARRSD students entering Grades 4-8 who meet CLCC requirements) – contact lsaisa@ymcaathol.org. Camp Wiyaka is an overnight camp in Richmond, NH affiliated with the Athol Area Y that is also open this summer. More about the requirements, openings still available, and more at links above or contact the Athol Area Y.
Looking for more to do in the North Quabbin region? The North Quabbin Community Coalition (NQCC) Calendar is a great place to find events and activities that are still happening this summer!
Hampshire, Hampden, Berkshire, and Worcester Counties
Hilltown Families has compiled a list of in-person programs for kids and teens that have been adapted for COVID-19. In addition to those listed above in Franklin County, there are listings for several more. The additional programs are in Lenox, Westfield, Springfield, Northampton, and Chesterfield.
The Hampshire Regional YMCA plans to open camps at the YMCA facility in Northampton on July 6. These camps include Camp Prospect, Gymnastics Camp and Camp Koala. (Camp Norwich is closed this summer.) The website says “There is also still limited space for new enrollments. For more information about camp registration, please email Kim Allore at kim.allore@hrymca.org.“
Berkshires.org has a list of in-person camps on their website. Some are actually open for in-person and some are still in the process of making decisions or have just closed, so it’s worth visiting the individual camp websites.
As of June 14, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts’ website says that it’s “moving forward with camp planning” in accordance with COVID-19 regulations. If they do open, they have several camps in the Worcester area and throughout Central Mass.
OPEN THIS SUMMER
Virtual programs adapted for COVID-19
Greenfield Community College is offering week-long Virtual STEAM Camps for kids ages 8-11 and 11-14, with courses focused on animation, video game design, coding, inventing, electronics, etc. The curriculum and instruction is provided by a company called Black Rocket.
Camp Kinda is offering free weekly online adventures for kids K-8, and comes recommended by the MA Dept of Education. This is how the company that created it describes it.
Community Action Youth Programs is continuing to run its youth groups this summer. They are currently meeting virtually and will transition to modified in-person meetings when possible.
Shout Out! is an inclusive and energetic youth leadership group. More info here.
Stand Up is a weekly social and support group for youth of color ages 14 to 21. More info here.
Gen Q is a confidential educational and social/support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth and straight allies ages 14-21. More info here.
Hilltown Families has an extensive list of Virtual Summer Programs in the region.
The Decision to Close or Open this Summer
We talked with some directors of camps and childcare programs who made the difficult decision to close for the summer 2020 season. Below are some of the things that informed their decisions.
If there are weather-related warnings like severe thunderstorms, tornado watches, high winds, or other issues that require the camp to have children seek shelter, many facilities would not have enough space to socially distance inside a shelter. Weather warnings are quite common during the summer in New England, and this type of thing often happens at least once during a summer season.
The idea of children outside on hot days wearing face masks concerned some camp and preschool directors. Also, they said they could not get clear guidance about children with health conditions like asthma who might be at greater risk for breathing issues if they did wear masks and greater risk from others who didn’t.
Some camp directors were concerned about not being able to run a full day schedule. With no early or late care option, they felt that the families who need care the most might be unable to use the program due to this issue.
For programs that provide transportation, regulations for transportation meant that transportation would have been extremely limited.
Supplies were also a concern. Directors of larger programs were concerned they would not be able to procure the number of gloves and other protective equipment required to run the camp during COVID-19. Procuring individual art supplies and other items for each camper was also a challenge.
Leaders of programs that have decided to open have also thought carefully about their specific facilities and situations and have found ways to deal with the challenges created by the necessary but strict regulations.