Sarnia's YMCA is planning to offer summer camps to children, and a possible partnership with the city could increase its capacity.
Jerry McCaw Family Centre General Manager Paul Skuza said camp and leadership staff have been busy planning.
"We know that it will be modified, but we were able to run camp last year in 2020 and it was still a success," said Skuza. "It was a lot smaller and much more restrictive than our camps that we've run in the past. But, we still were happy that we were able to do something, as were some families looking for care, and give kids an opportunity to go and be in that day camp experience over the summer, which is great."
He said the camps would run at the Finch Drive location, and the Learning and Career Centre on Oakdale Avenue in Sarnia.
"Those are our two traditional sites that the Y has run camp out of in previous summers. We're already taking registrations and hopefully everything runs and they can keep their spot. Obviously, if there is any backpedaling that we need to do, people will be contacted and everything will be taken care of."
Skuza said there will be enhanced cleaning and that safety is always a top priority.
"All of our staff are masked up, the kids are required to wear masks, no groups will be mingling with each other... kind of like what they're doing in schools and childcare centers right now. That group is going to be its own cohort for the whole week of camp," Skuza said.
For now, they're planning for the pool to be closed, as it was last year.
"We can still be outside. So all kinds of outside activities where distancing can be more reasonable, whether it be some recreational sports, like soccer, but we can even do some crafts."
Skuza said they're also exploring opportunities to expand.
"We're hoping to do more for the community, but not able to confirm anything at this time."
The city has been working behind the scenes to strengthen its relationship with the YMCA and has proposed a pilot partnership that would see over 500 additional camp spaces created for children this summer.
Staff said, in a report to council May 3, the city was not equipped to offer any of its regular day camp or park programs at Camp Saredaca, Newton and Wildwood Parks given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The city said depending on restrictions at the time, the Y could register up to 60 more children per week and utilize the additional city sites to operate camp cohorts.
There would be 15 camper spots available at Newton Park, 30 at Camp Saredaca and 15 at Wildwood Park.
A decision on the possible partnership has yet to be announced.
More information on camps the YMCA is currently offering can be found here.