Vernon Summer Camp Was About Splashing And Smiling For 2021

VERNON, CT — Sumer camp ended in Vernon this week with a lot of smiles at Newhoca Park and with them came a consensus between administrators, counselors and campers that is sure beat 2020.

Camo was shut down last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When pressed for a word to sum it up, Vernon Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Amy Watt thought for a moment and then came up with an appropriate adjective.

"Uplifting" was the word she came up with.

"It's uplifting," Watt said. "It just feels good to see the smiles, seeing kids having fun."

Yeah there were those new groupings everyone has become all too familiar with called cohorts. Yes, masks were worn inside for activities like arts and crafts. But it was the consensus of the campers that it was something, it was socializing and it was all day.

"It's been really, really fun," said one of the campers, an 8-year-old named Grace. Last year, we were at home. We felt left out and sad. It was good to come here and play with friends."

Newhoca featured its usual activities like playground games, a bounce house, the craft house and swimming in Bolton Lake. Vernon Summer Camp Coordinator Karen Montminy said the eight-week session (there is an informal final week, next week) was a success.

A camp also took place at Center 375.

"We had two camps this year and we normally have five," Montminy said. "We limited the numbers and we didn't know we could have a camp until late. We had a limited staff, but the staff was great. We worked outside the box and everything went well."