Raimondo: Summer Camps OK, No Youth Sports For Now

PROVIDENCE, RI — Summer camps will be offered in some capacity this year, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Thursday. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, however, organized youth sports will have to be tabled for now, she said.

The governor said she hopes to allow summer camps to open starting June 29, with guidelines in place for sanitizing and safe distancing. This date, like all other projections, is a goal and could be adjusted if there is a spike in cases, the governor cautioned.

"It's not going to be just like last year," Raimondo said. "There are going to be new cleaning regimens... It's going to be fun, but different."

Children will likely be kept in groups of 10, with the same "pods" meeting every day.

Raimondo said she is working with town Parks and Recreation departments to make sure they have the resources they need, such as additional staffing and cleaning supplies. Rhode Island will use some of its COVID-19 emergency relief funds for this purpose, Raimondo said.

The governor said offering summer camps and activities has been an important focus for kids, who have been missing out on enrichment and socialization since schools closed in March.

"The truth of it is that our kids are missing out," Raimondo said.

While camps will be held, organized summer sports leagues will be impossible for now, Raimondo said. The CDC recommended the cancellation of all youth sports, and the Rhode Island Department of Health will not go against their guidance, she said. The state is working on a way to make some sports activities, such as camps, possible, though teams of kids playing against each other in a rotating schedule is impossible for now, she said.

Your Year 2020

To honor high school seniors that won't be able to have a traditional graduation, Rhode Island PBS is hosting a statewide, televised ceremony on June 15 called "Your Year 2020," featuring some "really fun guests," the governor said. Students can submit videos to be featured in the broadcast via PBS's website until May 22.

"We're trying as hard as we can to make it as memorable as it can be," Raimondo said.

Libraries

Rhode Island library buildings will remain closed during phase one of reopening, Raimondo said. Limited browsing is expected to begin during phase two. Officials are working to find safe ways to allow other vital library services, such as computer usage.

In the meantime, just over half of the state's libraries are offering call-ahead, curbside services, Raimondo said. Rhode Islanders can reach out to their local library and order books, DVDs and other media for pickup.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.