BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

The CDC Has Issued Updated Guidelines for Summer Camps

Considering sending your kid to summer camp? Read what the CDC has to say on how to keep them safe.
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published April 27, 2021
child wears mask before attending summer camp
Image: Getty Images

After a year of being cooped up and dealing with remote learning, many parents are eager to send their children to summer camp. Luckily, the CDC has updated its COVID-19 related guidelines for summer camps.

According to the new guidance, released April 24, kids should maintain at least three feet of distance between all campers within the same cohort. That number increased to at least six feet between all campers outside of their cohort, as well as between staffers and campers. Masks should also be worn at all times, except when eating or drinking (but six feet of distance should be maintained between everyone), napping or swimming.

The guidelines recommend conducting as many activities as possible outdoors, including singing, chanting, shouting or playing instruments. Those activities that must be done indoors should be done in a well-ventilated area with open windows. The guidelines state windows should also be kept open on camp buses and vans being used for transportation. Close-contact and indoor sports and large gatherings (such as assemblies) should be avoided, and kids should refrain from sharing toys, books or games. For summer camps with younger children, the recommendations include clearly labeled cubbies and assigned nap mats that are sanitized before and after use. Plus, enough hand sanitizing stations should be available at key locations to prevent crowding.

In addition to these updated guidelines, the CDC maintains that all eligible participants should get vaccinated; stay home if they’re sick; use correct, well-fitted masks; properly hand wash and cover coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect as needed; and contact trace in collaboration with the local health departments.

To learn more about the updated guidelines for summer camps, visit CDC.gov.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

5 Easy At-Home Activities for Little Ones to Do on Sick Days Off
5 Easy At-Home Activities for Little Ones to Do on Sick Days Off
By Nehal Aggarwal
close up of band aid on baby's leg after vaccination from doctor
Top Questions About COVID Vaccines for Babies and Toddlers, Answered
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mother feeling baby's head for fever
What to Know About COVID in Babies and Toddlers
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
young boy getting a vaccination at the doctor office
The COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults: Answers to Your Top Questions
By Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto, MD, MPH
Pfizer to Push Back Its COVID-19 Vaccine for Babies and Toddlers
Pfizer to Push Back Its COVID-19 Vaccine for Babies and Toddlers
By Nehal Aggarwal
women helps child put on face mask before going outside
Kids 5 to 11 Are Now Eligible to Get Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine
By Nehal Aggarwal
pattern face masks for kids from old navy
17 Best Places to Buy Cute, Comfortable Kids Face Masks
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
adult helps child put mask on outside
Experts Are Recommending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Teachers
By Nehal Aggarwal
Mom helping her daughter put on a mask.
Most Parents Will Either Wait or Not Vaccinate Their Kids Against COVID-19
By Nehal Aggarwal
Toddler with her mom at the doctor's office.
Pfizer Will Seek COVID-19 Vaccine Approval for Kids Aged 2 to 11 This Fall
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman exercising at home while holding her baby up.
One Year of Covid: the Lessons Learned and How to Get Back on Track
By Rebecca Parlakian
baby at doctor's office check up
Moderna to Begin Testing Its Vaccines in Babies as Young as Six Months
By Nehal Aggarwal
Mom breastfeeds her newborn baby with partner close-by.
Doctor: the Latest COVID Vaccine Info for Pregnant and Nursing Moms
By Jessica Madden, MD, FAAP, IBCLC
ADVERTISEMENT
new parents embracing their newborn baby at home
How to Protect Your Newborn Against COVID-19
By Korin Miller
Pair of hands changing baby's diaper.
New York State Will Partner With Baby2Baby to Provide Free Diapers
By Nehal Aggarwal
What Having a Baby During COVID-19 Taught Me About Spending and Saving
What Having a Baby During COVID-19 Taught Me About Spending and Saving
By Diana Kelly Levey
new mom consoling her newborn baby at home
If You Had a Baby in 2020, You May Be Eligible for Stimulus Money
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
mom holding her young child by the christmas tree
Helping Children Cope With COVID-19 Holiday Disruptions
By Robyn Mehlenbeck
mom lifting happy baby wearing a bonnet into the air
These Are Etsy’s Hottest Trends for 2020 and Predictions for 2021
By Nehal Aggarwal
christmas elf on the shelf sitting by greenery and wearing a mask
20 Elf on the Shelf Displays That Perfectly Sum Up 2020
By Emma Gallo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.