(WWJ) With children and parents cooped up together for months, there's extra excitement in the air as kids head to camp.
Under an executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last Friday, coronavirus-related restrictions were lifted for overnight residential, travel and troop camps statewide beginning Monday.
“As we’ve worked together to bend the curve and protect our families from COVID-19, our kids have lost time in the classroom and missed out on playdates, birthday parties and graduations. That’s why I’m glad they’ll have an opportunity to spend a week or weekend away at camp,” the governor said.
Carrie Krawiec, of Licensed Marriage and Family therapists, said things might get a little easier for families as summer begins.
"The pressure of just the nuisances of school from home probably give a lot of relief for kids and their parents," said Krawiec, speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 on Sunday "And although there was a lot of probably positive time together, there was probably a lot of stressful time. I think that the independence and socialization with other people — whether that's peers or caregivers — will be good for everybody in the family."
Although some schools and organizations will have delayed or canceled their summer camps, others are raring to go right away — with some changes.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has posted detailed guidelines camps statewide must follow to comply with Whitmer's orders. - Read them here -
Shawn Wilson of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan says the COVID-19 protocols will limit the number of kids they can have at their camps in Auburn Hills and Detroit.
"Our clubs are super packed during the summer," Wilson told WWJ's Ron Dewey. "You're looking at anywhere between, you know, 350 kids per day, per club. And this year they're gonna look at about 100 kids per day, per club."
"We have about a month of experience operating under some of the strictest safety guidelines, and now we're going to be applying those same guidelines to our summer camp programs," he said.
Wilson said became they're not able to accept as many kids at heir camps offering sports, career exploration and other activities this year, there is an option to accommodate the overflow crowd.
While some parents are opting to keep kids home from camp due to continued virus concerns, others are sending them as usual.
Krawiec said people need to realize that each household situation is unique.
"I think each family is going to have to sort of find their own path, and be really reasonable and non-judgemental with themselves and others if they're not sort of doing the exact same thing another family is," she said.
This comes as COVID-19 case numbers have dropped dramatically in the state, and more and more is opening up, including barbershops and beauty salons today. The governor announced last week that she hopes to more the entire state to phase 5 by July 4, which would lifting of even more restrictions on business and activities.