Summer Camps Will Happen With Some Changes

Source: City of Santa Barbara

With schools closed and new public health orders issued regularly, many local parents have been wondering whether or not the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department would be able to offer summer camps this year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The answer to this is “yes, with modifications,” the Department announced today.

In anticipation of Santa Barbara County entering Phase 3, and approval in the form of a Health Officer Order, summer camp will start later this year, with sessions currently scheduled to begin on June 22.

A full list of camps, which is subject to change, will be found sbparksandrec.org, and all current registrants will be notified promptly if any adjustments are made. It includes local favorites Nature Camp, Skate Camp, Santa Barbara Junior Lifeguards, and a host of other popular options. Camp capacity will be smaller this year, and each session will break out into small, socially-distanced groups.

Camp locations will be moved in some cases, to limit the need for transportation. For instance, Nature Camp—usually held at Skofield Park, a location which requires transportation from a central drop-off point—will be held at Chase Palm Park and recreation buildings within the park. The Department is finalizing a summer camp operations plan which will provide parents with all of the information regarding participant safety and compliance with local health orders during the phased re-opening resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

These modifications were developed by the Department’s recreation staff to keep campers and their families as safe as possible, and the plans comply with direction from Santa Barbara County Public Health.

To register for summer camp, please visit sbparksandrec.org and view the list of camps, then log in or create an account as usual. Summer camp listings on the website will be updated by Friday, June 5.

Campers registered in sessions scheduled to start before June 22 will receive a full refund, and staff will work with parents to find alternative camp options. Families signed up for camp sessions may also request refunds if they feel uncomfortable with sending their children to summer camp this year. To request a refund, please send an email to ParksAndRec@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or call (805) 564-5495. Refunds will be issued no-questions-asked, and the usual $25 administrative fee for summer camp cancellations will be waived.

The Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to a fun, if different, summer this year, and would like to thank all summer camp families for being very patient as these plans were developed.