Summer camps took a hit from COVID-19. Here’s where to play and learn in Manatee

Local schools begin their summer break in less than two weeks, and after spending more than a month at home with online learning, students and their parents are ready for something new.

Manatee County families often look to summer camps between June and August, but COVID-19 forced some programs into a state of uncertainty.

Out of 10 camps that responded to the Bradenton Herald, two were canceled, two were undecided and six planned to open under new guidelines. Most of the camps lowered their enrollment to maintain social distancing, and at least two raised their prices.

All of the programs could adjust their dates and activities, depending on how the pandemic and the public guidelines change, so families should contact the programs before registering.

Manatee County

As of Friday afternoon, Manatee County was drafting a plan to safely open its summer programs, according to an email from Nick Azzara, the county spokesman.

The plan, he said, will undergo a review by the county administrator’s Reopening Evaluation Team, which will then provide suggestions before the plan is finalized. The county hopes to announce its plan for camps and registration in the coming weeks.

“Summer camps are very high on the county’s list to evaluate for opening this summer to help parents get back to work and give local children options to get outdoors,” Azzara said.

ArtCenter Manatee

The county programs were in limbo with other local summer camps.

ArtCenter Manatee — which houses a shop, art gallery and classrooms in Bradenton — was enrolling students with cautious optimism. Its summer programs include video storytelling, canvas painting, mosaic making and clay sculpting.

Carla Nierman, the executive director, said she would issue refunds if needed. With respect for public safety and Florida’s reopening plan, Nierman said she would study local and state guidelines before deciding to continue with summer camp.

She said more information was available at artcentermanatee.org. Interested residents can also email acm@artcentermanatee.org or call 941-746-2862.

Manatee YMCA

The Manatee YMCA is largely cutting its programs this summer, canceling all specialty camps to limit group sizes and maintain social distancing, spokeswoman Courtney Carroll said in an email

“We’re not sure when we will be able to run youth sports, aquatics, or any regular programs yet, so all of them have been canceled/postponed until further notice,” she wrote.

Manatee YMCA planned to continue its Relief Care Camp, she continued, pointing to the organization’s website. With locations in Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton, the all-day program supports essential workers and their school-age children.

The program includes a daily breakfast and lunch, each provided by the School District of Manatee County, along with crafts, sports, swimming and educational activities. The YMCA said it would cancel field trips, limit enrollment, enforce social distancing and encourage hand washing.

The weekly fee was $150 for members and $225 for non-members as of Friday, though the price may drop if federal guidelines change and enrollment increases, or if donations and grants become available, according to the website.

More information is available at manateeymca.org/programs/relief-care-camp.

The Bishop Museum

Rolling out similar guidelines, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature decided to continue with its Summer Science Camp.

The summer program is for children in second to fifth grade, at a cost of $250 per week for the general public, or $200 per week for members of the Discovery Society (at the Innovator Level). To apply for a camp scholarship, visit bishopscience.org/camp-scholarships.

Each week is themed, and every camp has games, crafts and experiments:

• Week of June 22 – Building for Motion.
• Week of June 29 – Sharks!
• Week of July 6 – Camp CSI.
• Week of July 13 – It’s Electric!

This year’s program will limit enrollment to 10 campers, and the museum will set up a drive-thru process so adults can stay in their car during drop off and pick up, said Remi Gonzalez, the museum’s director of communications.

“Our staff will wear masks,” she continued. “Camp parents are also welcome to send their campers with a mask if they would like to.”

For more information, visit bishopscience.org/summer-science-camp, email smccarthy@bishopscience.org or call 941-746-4131, extension 113.

More chances to learn and play

Martial arts, dance classes and art projects are still planned throughout the summer.

Campers learn to be healthy, confident and focused at the Traditional TaeKwon-Do Center of Bradenton, said Chris Jalil, the owner and instructor. Jalil has remained open, designating a pick-up and drop-off location at the entrance.

All students are required to wash their hands before the first class, he said, and sick campers are encouraged to stay home. Jalil also canceled his usual field trips.

“I have two parents who are nurses and one doctor,” he said. “They’re single parents or they don’t have family close, and they have to go to work, so I stayed open for them.”

Jalil said his summer camp would begin on June 1 and run through early August. To learn more, visit bradentontaekwondo.com or call 813-966-2124.

After much reflection, Dance University decided it would continue its own summer program in Bradenton, said Michele Mercier, the owner.

“We have hesitated to put out information regarding the recital because the immediate future is so uncertain at the present time,” she said in a recent message to families.

In an email to the Bradenton Herald, she said Dance University would limit enrollment and designate a space for each student. She said families could also attend classes virtually if they were uncomfortable with an in-person camp.

For more information, visit danceufl.com, email contact@danceufl.com or call 941-374-9589.

“Dancers will experience many dance styles each week,” she said in the message to families. “Summer camp is an awesome experience for dancers of any age or skill level. One week of camp can take your dancer to the next level!”

South Florida Gymnastics will continue its summer camp in Bradenton, after redesigning the gym to create more distance between students, according to an email from Shawndra Sublett, the program director.

She said employees would undergo a COVID-19 screening and have their temperature checked before every shift, and that all staff members would don a face mask.

The gym also planned to continue its virtual classes and sanitize its equipment between classes.

“As a business who has been in Bradenton for 20 years, this closure has devastated us financially,” Sublett wrote. “We will not give up.”

For more information, visit sfgymcheer.com, call 941-758-5775 or email info@sfgymcheer.com.

Joann Kavanaugh and her husband, Brian, recently purchased Arts A Blaze Studio in Lakewood Ranch. They decided to continue with summer camp, limiting enrollment to six children per class and encouraging families to bring masks if they felt uncomfortable.

Kavanaugh said hand washing and social distancing would also be a focus throughout the camp.

The camp — which may include loom weaving, paper crafting, painting and glass fusing — is $38 per day or $170 per week. Three-hour sessions are scheduled every weekday, starting June 1, for children ages 6 and older.

Information and registration is available at artsablazestudio.com/summer-camp. Interested families can also email info@artsablazestudio.com.

“We have a 6 year old and we know he’ll be involved in some of our camp, but we want him to do other things, too,” she said. “It’s really hard right now to find something we feel safe with and something that’s even open.”

This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.