Summer camps across Long Island opened up Monday, but a usually exciting day felt very different for kids and parents alike.

State Health Department guidelines mean staff members are wearing masks, there will be daily health screenings, equipment is constantly being sanitized and campers are being limited to small groups that don't mix with others.

"The whole key is a certain amount of distancing, that's why those cohort groups don't do things together, and the most important thing - keep your hands clean," says Crestwood Country Day Camp's Mark Transport.

Another big change is that most camps are opting to have parents drop off and pick up their kids, instead of using buses. Brianna Javlonowski dropped off her little brother and feels confident in his safety.

"I think it is awesome that he gets to have a camp experience, considering the circumstances around the virus," she says.

At Crestwood, if any campers or staff members are confirmed with the virus, the groups will be isolated and contact tracing will begin.

News 12 has learned this summer, some parents are choosing smaller pop-up camps instead. The American Camping Association argues that larger traditional camps have more experience with keeping kids healthy and require medical staff to be on property.

"A camp that is simply popping up and running quickly or setting up a program quickly hasn't gone through any of the rigorous guidelines and standards that our camps are dealing with," says Susie Lupert, of the American Camping Association.

 

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