Will you send your child to summer camp?

Scruff101 · 06-06-2020 8:35am #1

Just wondering the general consensus around this?

Pawwed Rig · 06-06-2020 8:39am

Yes I will. He needs the activity and the social aspect. You do your best at home but there is no substitute for kids their own age.
We have followed all the guidance to date so if the guidance says camps are ok then they can go.
I am seeing a lot of camps with 7 as the minimum age though so I think our options are going to be limited.

Widdensushi · 06-06-2020 8:44am

Yes I will, they haven't seen their friends since the schools closed

Class MayDresser · 06-06-2020 8:45am

Same here, trying to get them on the list is going to be tough though. Like you say Pawwed Pig, they need their own age to play with, only so much we can do.

pwurple · 06-06-2020 8:45am

Yes, absolutely if we can. It's an outdoor camp.

shesty · 06-06-2020 8:54am

No idea tbh.I am getting the impression there won't be that much available for younger kids.

Edit to say, I should clarify....if they don't go here, it has nothing to do with Coronavirus, it's finding something suitable.I think they should go to them now, if I am honest, while they can be together outdoors.Could be a whole other story come the Winter.

kandr10 · 06-06-2020 9:13am

Yeah I thought it was for teenagers? Up to 15 people in the group. I just assumed it was going to be sports based ones made up of people Who already attend clubs. Wasn’t keen on sending kid back to playground but it seems our local ones won’t be reopened on Monday anyway.

_Brian · 06-06-2020 9:15am

Depends on the camp and what systems are in place.

But yes we’re hoping to youngest out to a camp over the summer.

Digs · 06-06-2020 10:22am

Yep would send my eldest who’s 7 in a heartbeat. She is desperately missing social interaction. All depends on if that age group are catered for, I am hoping they will be at some stage during the summer.

12 weeks off school already and who knows how many more to go!!

touts · 06-06-2020 10:26am

Absolutely. Kids desperately need it.

But yesterday they announced summer camps for post primary only which is all but useless as there are very few camps amyway for post primary students. They are mainly for children up to the age of maybe 13. Hopefully they will have copped on before primary schools officially finish in a couple of weeks.

JL555 · 06-06-2020 10:29am

Summer Camp? Maybe, but what should be happening is the schools opening up, even if only for a dry run for September. My extended family's kids in Slovakia are back in school this month and July, then a month of in August and back as normal in September.

jlm29 · 06-06-2020 10:40am

I’d absolutely send my 8 yr old, but I’d say it will be hard to find something for him, if places are limited, which they will be.

the corpo · 06-06-2020 10:42am

Annoyingly, the summer camps that can open in phase 2 are for *post* primary children, and I'd imagine 90% of the audience for summer camps are primary aged

Jambalaya · 06-06-2020 10:44am

I have my two booked into a camp for a week in July. It usually books out quickly so I booked it ridiculously early. The vast majority of it occurs outside so I'm hoping they can tweak it and get permission to run it.

It has been a long few months for them and to have some unadulterated fun would do them the world of good.

NIMAN · 06-06-2020 10:45am

If the Cul Camps are running, I think I'll send my 3 kids to it ok.

But ours usually has 150 kids at it, so not sure it can be accommodated.

jlm29 · 06-06-2020 10:51am

NIMAN wrote: »

If the Cul Camps are running, I think I'll send my 3 kids to it ok.

But ours usually has 150 kids at it, so not sure it can be accommodated.

I’d be very surprised if cúl camps were allowed to run. They’re so so packed, and ours wouldn’t have many adults at all there to supervise.

Pawwed Rig · 06-06-2020 11:43am

jlm29 wrote: »

I’d be very surprised if cúl camps were allowed to run. They’re so so packed, and ours wouldn’t have many adults at all there to supervise.

They have been given the go ahead. I would say these were the ones in mind of the govt when making the decision so if anything goes ahead it will be Cul Camp.

NIMAN · 06-06-2020 11:52am

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

They have been given the go ahead. I would say these were the ones in mind of the govt when making the decision so if anything goes ahead it will be Cul Camp.

In was thinking that myself, once I heard summer camps mentioned.

However, did they not also specify a max of 15?

shesty · 06-06-2020 1:04pm

JL555 wrote: »

Summer Camp? Maybe, but what should be happening is the schools opening up, even if only for a dry run for September. My extended family's kids in Slovakia are back in school this month and July, then a month of in August and back as normal in September.

I think it is abundantly clear at the moment where the strong lobby groups are in this country...and it is not the childcare or education sectors, or parents groups.

lazygal · 06-06-2020 2:01pm

Yes without hesitation.

eviltwin · 06-06-2020 2:14pm

Yes. My son is 10 so he's old enough to know how to manage his own safety, hygiene etc. He's desperate to get back into a routine and tbh so am I.

kowloonkev · 06-06-2020 2:21pm

JL555 wrote: »

Summer Camp? Maybe, but what should be happening is the schools opening up, even if only for a dry run for September. My extended family's kids in Slovakia are back in school this month and July, then a month of in August and back as normal in September.

As are many/most countries. It's actually a disgrace that schools are waiting until September to open up just when a second wave is more likely than not to happen.

The government have got a lot right in so far but the impact on education and especially social development of younger kids will be looked back on as a disaster, especially if schools have to close again in the autumn and we lost all of this time in the summer.

JL555 · 06-06-2020 2:43pm

kowloonkev wrote: »

As are many/most countries. It's actually a disgrace that schools are waiting until September to open up just when a second wave is more likely than not to happen.

The government have got a lot right in so far but the impact on education and especially social development of younger kids will be looked back on as a disaster, especially if schools have to close again in the autumn and we lost all of this time in the summer.

Unfortunately the unions I would imagine are the ones who have the clout in not allowing it to happen, though I stand corrected. Priorities seem to all over the place.
Interaction from my kids school in particular has been very minimal to zero, a message on the seesaw app once in a while is about all we get. We do what we can with them but we both still work. I see no evidence of teachers in our school working, but I doubt the teachers are furloughed.
For me, this gap in education and support has been unacceptable, it surely would not have been beyond the realms of possibility to get organised on Zoom for example to schedule at least 1 hr per day on key subjects.

shesty · 06-06-2020 3:17pm

September proposals at present are a disaster too, particularly for primary schools.Bubbles and on/off blended learning.Right, who is going to sit home with the kids teaching them on their off-days or tuning them into Zoom classes?The parents who are meant to be back at work?Or how about the parents with several kids in school, ferrying one or 2 into school, and keeping another at home for home-schooling depending on the day???How on earth are they meant to be kept up to a sufficient level of schooling to keep up each week?

If this has highlighted anything, it is that education and childcare in this country are second-class citizens when it comes to funding and investment.

byhookorbycrook · 06-06-2020 3:44pm

JL555 wrote: »

Unfortunately the unions I would imagine are the ones who have the clout .

Teachers and their unions have no “ clout” in the re-opening of schools .

We heard via parents , who heard it through the media that schools had to close . We got less than 3 hours to try and sort work out for the children , re-assure them and their parents and try to grab what we could for working remotely .

Ten weeks in , a circular was released by the DES ( late on a Friday as per usual ) to “guide” remote learning .

July Provision is to be extended according to a DES press release ( again, late on a Friday ) and once again we heard it through media channels . But we haven’t been told who will qualify , will it be school based , will there be funding for all the extra disinfecting etc.

My point being , teachers are often the last to know about anything . We had/have no say in the dates for school closure or re-opening .

Capping a summer camp at a ratio of 15:1 is going to make them commercially non-viable. You would need at least 2 adults present at all times .

Taking Cúl Camps as an example . Crèches have been told that children shouldn’t share toys , so how do you play football without touching the ball!
Hurling / camogie wise , children would have to have their own helmet and hurley.

Bathrooms would need regular cleaning , children would need to be supervised at hand-washing. Trying to get the children to stay 2m apart in the activities would be very difficult as they would be “ on the move” far more often than at school .
Will children need to be temperature tested each day? What happens if the weather is wet ? It’s not quite as simple as you might think.

kandr10 · 06-06-2020 3:47pm

I would say the opening of camps, even in a limited setting, is probably a litmus test for what they’ll do when reopening schools.

JL555 · 06-06-2020 4:33pm

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Teachers and their unions have no “ clout” in the re-opening of schools .

We heard via parents , who heard it through the media that schools had to close . We got less than 3 hours to try and sort work out for the children , re-assure them and their parents and try to grab what we could for working remotely .

Ten weeks in , a circular was released by the DES ( late on a Friday as per usual ) to “guide” remote learning .

July Provision is to be extended according to a DES press release ( again, late on a Friday ) and once again we heard it through media channels . But we haven’t been told who will qualify , will it be school based , will there be funding for all the extra disinfecting etc.

My point being , teachers are often the last to know about anything . We had/have no say in the dates for school closure or re-opening .

Capping a summer camp at a ratio of 15:1 is going to make them commercially non-viable. You would need at least 2 adults present at all times .

Taking Cúl Camps as an example . Crèches have been told that children shouldn’t share toys , so how do you play football without touching the ball!
Hurling / camogie wise , children would have to have their own helmet and hurley.

Bathrooms would need regular cleaning , children would need to be supervised at hand-washing. Trying to get the children to stay 2m apart in the activities would be very difficult as they would be “ on the move” far more often than at school .
Will children need to be temperature tested each day? What happens if the weather is wet ? It’s not quite as simple as you might think.

Of course it won't be simple, but is certainly doable, just take a look at how other countries are doing it.

It will be interesting to see how summer camps perform, but from what I gather these are only open to post primary kids.

Of course unions have influence in what happens, they have already been in touch with the dept on more than one occasion about the issue, they prefer a controlled phased re-opening which is all very well and good, but from when? The end of August? Not great really.

The opening of summer camps ahead of schools is to me, an odd plan of action.

fits · 06-06-2020 8:39pm

Too young for summer camps but if they weren’t I’d send them.

Sunrise_Sunset · 06-06-2020 10:38pm

My kids aren't in the post primary age group so for now are excluded (correct me if I'm wrong). I will see how things are in August and might consider it then, if their age groups are being catered for.

DSN · 09-06-2020 6:08pm

There's a water one ours go to go which they & I'd love them to to go to this year but have not heard if it's open or not yet (or the price of it as am sure prices will sky rocket!) Mine are primary though. I don't know of hardly any post primary kids who do summer camps - maybe special needs kids?

Education & childcare has been treated awfully & kids & parents are really anxious for next year. This week the extent of our primary school 'remote learning' is sending out an email a day to listen to mindfulness audio for 20mins & going 'virtual school tours'!!
As my daughter said 'are they trying to make us feel worse for missing the real thing?! In fairness I think our teachers are all very keen to get back to the classroom though - none of them a fan of it (clearly!)

jlm29 · 09-06-2020 6:19pm

DSN wrote: »

Education & childcare has been treated awfully & kids & parents are really anxious for next year. This week the extent of our primary school 'remote learning' is sending out an email a day to listen to mindfulness audio for 20mins & going 'virtual school tours'!!

I think the worst thing is how inconsistent it is. We had very little for the first few weeks, but it picked up after the Easter hols, and when they were allowed on the 18th May, the teachers went in and packed up their books and we were given time slots to go in and collect them. We only do 4 days academic work per week but there’s plenty in it (but not too much, it’s a good balance) it’s corrected daily and sent back with feedback. I think it’s awful that some teachers are putting in an effort, while others are sitting at home doing little or nothing, and they all get paid the same. But obviously I know it’s like that every year (And in every profession), just more pronounced With this situation

shesty · 09-06-2020 6:43pm

I find that the reality is for us that they can announce all the phases they like but until.September is settled and the kids are sorted, the phases don't really mean much.The loosening of restrictions helps a bit, but the reality is we cannot plan past the start of September right now because we have no idea what will happen, or how the school thing will play out, and that is quite tough.The whole thing has not been well handled for kids at all.

Millem · 10-06-2020 7:47am

Have I been reading it correctly that under 6’s do not need to social distance and just need to stay in groups of 6 in a pod? There are no changes to ratios? If so then are all Junior and Senior Infants going back together full time in September?

My son is only in JI so hasn’t really done any summer camps!
He would of liked to do the cul camp this summer and the one the PTA run in the school.

uli84 · 10-06-2020 7:48am

I will if I find one

Cakerbaker · 10-06-2020 8:35am

Millem wrote: »

Have I been reading it correctly that under 6’s do not need to social distance and just need to stay in groups of 6 in a pod? There are no changes to ratios? If so then are all Junior and Senior Infants going back together full time in September?

My son is only in JI so hasn’t really done any summer camps!
He would of liked to do the cul camp this summer and the one the PTA run in the school.

I’m not sure how if the pods would work in schools. The pods in crèche (for the older kids anyway) are 12 kids per pod and 2 staff members. To translate that to a junior infant class with 24 kids would mean you’d need 4 staff members per room. And a Perspex screen down the middle of the room to split pods. The teacher would be allocated to one of the 2 pods so would only be able to interact with the other pod at a distance as the staff aren’t supposed to move between pods. Now they might come up with a different way of doing it for schools but I don’t know if it’ll be as straight forward as saying that all kids under 6 can go back to school as they don’t have to socially distance.

The space available in the school overall / the ability to separate them from other kids at breaks etc would need to be factored in too as pods have to socially distance from other pods / kids.

Edited to add too that it wouldn’t be unusual for kids to turn 6 during junior infants (my son will be 5.5 starting JI so will turn 6 half way through the year) so that will also need to be factored in. They can’t have different rules for different kids in the same class, based on age, particularly in infants.

Millem · 10-06-2020 8:52am

Cakerbaker wrote: »

I’m not sure how if the pods would work in schools. The pods in crèche (for the older kids anyway) are 12 kids per pod and 2 staff members. To translate that to a junior infant class with 24 kids would mean you’d need 4 staff members per room. And a Perspex screen down the middle of the room to split pods. The teacher would be allocated to one of the 2 pods so would only be able to interact with the other pod at a distance as the staff aren’t supposed to move between pods. Now they might come up with a different way of doing it for schools but I don’t know if it’ll be as straight forward as saying that all kids under 6 can go back to school as they don’t have to socially distance.

The space available in the school overall / the ability to separate them from other kids at breaks etc would need to be factored in too as pods have to socially distance from other pods / kids.

Edited to add too that it wouldn’t be unusual for kids to turn 6 during junior infants (my son will be 5.5 starting JI so will turn 6 half way through the year) so that will also need to be factored in. They can’t have different rules for different kids in the same class, based on age, particularly in infants.

Yes my son will turn 7 in Senior Infants as will a lot of his class!
There was/is a webinar on for primary school teachers of JI and SI re the pods etc. I haven’t heard anything yet. So I assumed the guidelines were the same for JI and SI. Our Montesorri is going to be business as usual in September thankfully

shesty · 10-06-2020 10:11am

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

Millem · 10-06-2020 10:20am

shesty wrote: »

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

My son’s Montesorri only has 6 kids so happy days! My older boy has 25 in his class

Gosh I am with you I am very keen to get them back

Will see if the school based July provision takes place.........if it doesn’t then that doesn’t bode well for September

I haven’t heard anything and normally do the home based one but this year would much prefer to work the school based one.

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 11:05am

shesty wrote: »

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

In a practical sense, what does that actually change about school life? Just not going out for break altogether as a school. Not having kids ask to go to the toilet outside of certain designated times. Doesn’t really change much, so at that point why bother? Also what about the classes that have more than 25? The average being 30 in primary.

cant26 · 10-06-2020 11:11am

My sons Afterschool is opening for the summer on June 29th. It’s not attached to his primary school but is attached to another local primary school. Have his name down for June.
Also got correspondence from my other sons naoinra that is attached to our primary school. She said she will be in touch as soon as possible but it’s looking promising.

pc7 · 10-06-2020 11:14am

In a heartbeat if I can find one, but think they are too young. We were at the zoo the other day and one of mine was going up to kids saying hello as they wanted to make friends

shesty · 10-06-2020 2:30pm

kandr10 wrote: »

In a practical sense, what does that actually change about school life? Just not going out for break altogether as a school. Not having kids ask to go to the toilet outside of certain designated times. Doesn’t really change much, so at that point why bother? Also what about the classes that have more than 25? The average being 30 in primary.

Yep, basically.Little or no change.Probably more handwashing,maybe staggered lunches, drop offs and pick ups, but I cannot see how they will manage much else.They are promising school as normal for everyone come Sept.I just feel we will be listening to kite-flying all summer then come late, late August, it will just be "off you go", from the Dept.(via the media).

They have to look like they are trying I suppose.....

Edit to say, that is just my personal opinion.....just based on how things seemed to going.

markpb · 10-06-2020 2:56pm

touts wrote: »

But yesterday they announced summer camps for post primary only

I haven't seen this in the media anywhere. Can someone share a link?

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 4:12pm

markpb wrote: »

I haven't seen this in the media anywhere. Can someone share a link?

This was a summary in the journal the other day. They point out interestingly that it’s only because phase 2 coincides with secondary schools being finished but primary are still in school until the end of June. I wonder would that mean they will open it up for younger children in phase 3?
Link won’t work - it was under this headline 2 days ago though: The next phase: Here's what's allowed from today as Phase Two of the 'accelerated' roadmap kicks in

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 4:16pm

shesty wrote: »

Yep, basically.Little or no change.Probably more handwashing,maybe staggered lunches, drop offs and pick ups, but I cannot see how they will manage much else.They are promising school as normal for everyone come Sept.I just feel we will be listening to kite-flying all summer then come late, late August, it will just be "off you go", from the Dept.(via the media).

They have to look like they are trying I suppose.....

Edit to say, that is just my personal opinion.....just based on how things seemed to going.

I hadn’t seen that they’re promising school as normal from September. I thought social distancing is being thrown around until the autumn? That said, I suspect you’re right - it’ll be an ‘off you go’ Approach. Seems there was a bit of that with phase 2 reopenings and even for phase 3 they’ve been dragging their heels as far as issuing guidelines to restaurants and cafes etc. Must make it very difficult for them to plan.

markpb · 10-06-2020 5:11pm

kandr10 wrote: »

This was a summary in the journal the other day.

Outdoor summer camps are also now allowed to operate for secondary school children – once there are no more than 15 people involved.

“Importantly, primary school-age children are still attending primary school until the end of Phase 2 and therefore it would not be appropriate for them to attend summer camps,” NPHET noted in their advice to government.

Am I the only one confused by this? How are children attending primary school until the end of phase 2?

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 5:31pm

markpb wrote: »

Am I the only one confused by this? How are children attending primary school until the end of phase 2?

I guess they’re going by official dates with attending being in inverted commas. Phase 2 would be due to end on June 28th and school ends for primary on the 30th (give or take a day or two depending on how schools arranged their holidays through the year).

shesty · 10-06-2020 6:01pm

kandr10 wrote: »

I hadn’t seen that they’re promising school as normal from September. I thought social distancing is being thrown around until the autumn? That said, I suspect you’re right - it’ll be an ‘off you go’ Approach. Seems there was a bit of that with phase 2 reopenings and even for phase 3 they’ve been dragging their heels as far as issuing guidelines to restaurants and cafes etc. Must make it very difficult for them to plan.

My phrasing is bad there.But recent statements released by Leo have basically said (as I understood them anyway), that they will probably have some staggered schooling for a few weeks but the aim is to get them all back to school as normal as soon as possible.

Just found the link, it is here.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/taoiseach-has-confirmed-schools-will-reopen-at-the-end-of-august-1.4265863?mode=amp

Will you send your child to summer camp?

Comments