Beverly YMCA Camp Aims For 'Semblance Of Normalcy' This Summer

BEVERLY, MA — The Greater Beverly YMCA is advocating for children to reconnect and enjoy the outdoors this summer after the challenges of a coronavirus-dominated school year.

The YMCA will kick off its 2021 Summer Camp season on Monday at Sterling Woods with what it intends to be a safe and positive experience where most COVID protocols from last summer are still in place.

"With our trained staff and all the best practices we had in place from running emergency childcare last year in the midst of the pandemic, we were able to run camp in 2020 safely and give kids and families a much needed outdoor, healthy, fun, and comforting camp experience despite all the outside challenges we all faced," said Merri-Lynn Lathrop, Director of Operations for Camp and Aquatics at the YMCA of the North Shore. "We are so proud of our team who really stepped up to ensure children had the opportunity to enjoy camp and we are so looking forward to doing that again this summer."

The YMCA will provide its programs at the 35-acre Essex Street campus filled with a high ropes course, zip line, pond for paddle boating, gaga pit, archery range, cabins and an outdoor stage.

The Beverly camp is set to host hundreds of local children over the course of its 10-week season.

"It has been a challenging year for so many children and families as they navigated remote learning, time away from friends and social gatherings," the YMCA said. "The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) notes that published reports suggest that COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on children's mental health.

"It is time to return to some semblance of normalcy, to get outdoors, feel connected, and to be active and engaged safely at summer camp."

Camp staff members are trained to support the social, emotional and physical health of campers.

Go here to learn more on the YMCA of the North Shore summer camps.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)