Summer camps returning in Western Pennsylvania
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Updated: 7:53 PM EDT May 18, 2021
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Updated: 7:53 PM EDT May 18, 2021
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REPORTER: MANY SUMMER CAMPS WE FOUND ARE REOPENING FOR DAY CAMPS AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS, BUT THINGS WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THERE WILL BE SOCIAL DISTANCING, OF COURSE MASKS, AND SOME ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS. HERE AT THE WOODLANDS, THEY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO BRING THE KIDS BACK. AND ONE FAMILY TELLS ME THIS IS NEEDED. ARE YOU EXCITED? THAT’S THE WAY IT IS. JOHANN KOLLING IS MORE THAN READY TO BRING BACK SUMMER CAMP. >> THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A HIGHLIGHT. REPORTER: FOR 12 YEARS, JOHANN HAS PARTICIPATED IN CAMP HERE AT THE WOODLANDS IN WEXFORD. THIS CAMP CATERS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. OFFERING SPORTS, SWIMMING AND LOTS OF FRIENDSHIPS WHICH LIKE MOST SUMMER CAMPS WERE ON HOLD FOR MORE THAN A YEAR DUE TO COVID-19 AND DOCTORS SAY IT HURT. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTH, IT’S NOT JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH, TOO. REPORTER: ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK DR. MICHAEL PETROSKY IS A FORMER CAMP COUNSELOR HERE AT THE WOODLANDS AND NOW A BOARD MEMBER. >> WE’RE EXCITED TO HAVE SUMMER CAMPS BACK. WE KNOW KIDS, ADULTS HAVE MISSED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, SOCIALIZATION, EMOTIONALLY GROWING, DEVELOPMENT. BUT WE KNOW SUMMER CAMPS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE BEFORE. REPORTER: DR. PETROSKY SAYS THE WOODLANDS LIKE MANY OTHER CAMPS THIS SUMMER WILL OPERATE AT A LOOK CAPACITY. 75% HERE. MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD OUTSIDE AND EVERYONE WILL WEAR MASKS. THEIR CABINS WILL HAVE HALF THE CAMPERS THEY TYPICALLY WOULD AND THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE KEPT IN PODS SO THEY STICK WITH THEIR GROUP DURING THEIR WEEKLONG STAY. >> DATABASE SPORTS CAMP. THAT IS YOUR FAVORITE, RIGHT? REPORTER: THEY ARE ALSO FULLY VACCINATED ARE HAPPY TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND ANY ADJUSTMENTS JUST TO GET CAMP BACK. >> YOU CAN SEE THE SMILE ON HIS FACE. EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN’T TALK A WHOLE LOT, GET SO EXCITED. REPORTER: IF YOU’D LIKE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON THE WOODLANDS AS WELL AS OTHER SUMMER CAMPS, WE HAVE A LIST AT WTAE