With guidelines in place, village prepares for seasonal fun

Celebrating 29 years, the Village of Bellport is launching the 2021 Kids Camp, awaiting guidelines from New York State.

According to mayor Ray Fell, the camp was able to run last year through the pandemic based off guidelines and through limited enrollment.

“We’re going to base the camp on last year’s guidelines,” Fell said, hoping to be able to open up to larger enrollment as guidelines ease up.

The number of children permitted into the camp will be capped at near 50 percent usual capacity. Everyone else will be waitlisted and permitted access to the camp if and when guidelines permit.

Last year, director of the program, Bob Crowley, said it was a huge undertaking revamping the camp to operate at a lesser capacity while also implementing cleaning protocols and mandates.

Pre-COVID camp numbers, he said, reach about 260 to 270. Last year operated with about 150. All groups, as of now, will be maintained to a maximum of 20.

“We are looking to do the same things we were always doing,” he said, referencing soccer, kickball, visiting Ho-Hum Beach and the library, as well as utilizing the village’s bowling alley and Community Center for arts and crafts. “All these great non-technology games to get kids outside and getting some fresh air.”

The camp has options for campers, both residents and non-residents, who completed kindergarten up through seventh grade. There are also options for counselors in training for children who completed eighth grade and are younger than 16 years old as of June 1. Rates for residents are $295 and $350 for non-residents. Everyone receives a free T-shirt.

“The village has been so great allowing this to happen, especially last year when it could have very easily been canceled,” Crowley added. “They had a lot of faith in me and the staff. We had something that was not only safe, but fun.”

Registration opened April 26 and May 3 for non-residents. Current medical records for your child, including immunization history, must be submitted along with the registration form to secure your spot at camp. The camp runs through July. Bellport Village Hall is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 29 Bellport Lane, Bellport.