By: Anthony Zepperi
July 17, 2020
The Windsor Journal
Are you a grandparent or family member raising grand- children? Would your kids enjoy a free week of camp while you enjoy a week of respite and relaxation? Then, Windsor’s Summer Fun Camps are perfect. And the camp is offered free of charge for one week thanks to a grant from the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Jasmine Hill, social services director, said that the idea of a week of relaxation for grandparents came about due to concerns with opioids.
“The idea of respite came from the increases we were seeing in grandparents and other relatives raising second families,” Hill said. “Research has shown that since the opioid crisis, more and more extended family members were having to raise children due to parents inability to do so.”
According to Hill, the camp collaborated with the Recreation Department in response to this research.
“Offering caretakers an opportunity for a short respite at no charge was an innovative idea and a great opportunity to collaborate with the Recreation Department,” Hill said.
Hill said that grandparents are finding it difficult to have financial stability.
“Caretakers find the finances to be difficult in that they were not planning for additional expenses after retirement and have limited and fixed incomes,” Hill said.
Campers also receive a free lunch and breakfast provided by the BOE every day. Children between the ages of 5 to 13 are eligible and grand-parents must be over 55 years old and have legal guardianship.
More on the summer camps
One week of the camp is free for granparents and caretakers, but Windsor has a great deal for everyone else too.
The summer camp costs only $145 per week for other participants and the town offers a lot of financial help — from scholarships covering 50 percent of the cost for those who qualify (but they are limited in number) to installment plans.
Shannon Blenis, recreation supervisor, said that the camp, is filled with fun activities for kids to participate in.
“The camp day is full of arts and crafts, games, sports, activities, creative movement activities, swimming, water play, reading, STEM activities, and special events,” Blenis said.
Blenis said that the camp is adhering to the guidelines put in place by the state to fight the novel coronavirus.
“There were many safety modifications due to Covid-19,” Blenis said. “The Summer Fun Camps are adhering to all State guidelines required and imple- menting more precautions that are not required.”
Blenis said that there has been a positive response by kids who have attended the camps in the past.
“Last Summer we surveyed all campers and asked if they had fun at Summer Fun Camp and received a 99 percent yes rating on the survey,” Blenis noted.
Blenis said that the numbers this year are vastly different due
to COVID-19.
“This summer is very different even though our numbers are a third of what they nor- mally are due to state guide- lines,” Blenis said. “There are many modifications that we need to follow because at the end of the day, these kids have not seen other kids, teachers, mentors, and friends since March and they are so happy to get back to normal.”
To adhere to state guidelines, Blenis said that the games involve social distancing.
“Campers are engaging in socially distant games, activities, swimming, special events, even a visit from the Yardgoats mas- cots,” Blenis said. “We are still doing our very best to give campers the best summer ever!”
The camp is in three locations which are the L.P Wilson Center, Clover Street Elementary School and on 330 Windsor Ave.
There is limited space available so apply as soon as possible if interested. Applications will be processed until camp is full. To apply, call Deb Sheldon at (860)-285‑1839.