For many families, Missouri’s Kanakuk camps are synonymous with summer. This year the network of camps deciding to open with extra precautions. On june 26th, families were notified one of its overnight camps was closing after two positive cases. Tonight that number is up to 82. Camps in at least eight states are seeing coronavirus outbreaks. A pediatric infectious disease specialist usually sends his daughters. but not this year. Once you get one patient or one person or child or counselor ill, now it’s going to spread like a wild fire. 26 million children typically attend summer camp. This year only 6.5 million are expected.
It was a big decision this year, but it was something that we thought that they really needed. 60% of parents say they have have no idea how to keep kids engaged this summer. Dr. Newland says outdoor day camp may be safer than sleep-away, but it all comes down to risk. Probably the question we all want to know better is what is the likelihood that some of these children took it home and passed it to an adult? Kanakuk did not respond to our requests for comment, but Missouri’s health department reports the camp plans to reopen later this summer once test results show it’s safe to do so. The school is incredibly important for young people. we also think camps are important. And how camps fair this summer could be key to whether schools open this fall.