Little Theater of Alexandria
As summer approaches and school comes to an end, summer camps are on many family’s minds as a way to get lost in the great outdoors and feel some sense of a new normalcy — and a way to keep kids occupied as parents continue to work from home or go back to the office.
Even though summer camps may look different this year, many camps are continuing with online and modified in-person activities to keep kids safe as COVID-19 continues to circulate.
Even though some camps have returned to in-person experiences, many will be offering classes at limited capacity. Sportrock summer camp, an interactive indoor and outdoor rock-climbing camp, will begin running camps starting June 14 at 50 percent capacity. “Camps will be broken down into smaller pods” with a 6:1 counselor to camper ratio, where each pod will be assigned a home base for indoor camps.
Spy Rock Summer Camp
Despite the option for outdoor adventure camps offered at Spy Rock, social distancing, masks, and increased hygiene will be required at all times. Transportation will not be offered for the outdoor climbing camps, but pick up and drop off locations will be available. Rafting normally included with the outdoor adventure camp will not be offered, redesigned the curriculum to ensure safety for staff and campers.
In comparison to the usual 600 children registered during the course of a summer camp season, The Little Theatre of Alexandria will limit the number of acting and theatre camps offered. Three camps per week, K-2, 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grades, will be available “with each camp limited to 8 students each. As opposed to pods, “each of the three camps will have its own dedicated classroom, which will be sanitized daily by our housekeeping staff… using specially purchased sanitizing equipment,” as well as their own dedicated bathrooms. With mask wearing and temperature checks required, campers at Little Theatre will be given their own separate package of materials
Even with safety measures, Little Theatre will continue to run online camps for those who choose that option. They have “had zoom classes since last April and have found these — and the online camps we ran last summer — to be particularly appreciated by families who have moved out of the area, or who want to take an LTA camp while vacationing.”
Recently, the City of Alexandria has announced they will offer a wide variety of summer camps for youth and adults in online and in-person formats. Registration will begin April 7 for residents and April 9 for nonresidents. In addition, the city will be offering the Out of School Time (OSTP) Modified Summer Camp designed for essential workers who cannot work from home and have limited options for daycare. Pre-registration for the OSTP is due April 7 and spots will be randomly selected.
For more summer camps, go to alexandriasummercamps.com, the Alexandria Council of PTAs summer camp directory, or check out the City of Alexandria website.
