What the heck are our kids going to do this summer with no camps and no pools?

[Anonymous]

I think one of the biggest challenges with opening the pools this summer is staffing it with lifeguards. First, it'll be a shorter season. A lot of companies that provide lifeguards for hire rely on bringing young people here from Europe on temporary work visas for the summer. A major part of their labor pool is unlikely to travel, especially to the U.S. where things look like a hot mess right now. And they may not want to come if it's only going to be a month or two of work.

If they solve the staffing issue, they still have to figure out social distancing challenges but it is doable. They could close the locker/shower areas. People would just go from toweling off to car and shower/change at home. They could also convert more of the pool to lap lanes to help space people out. Lifeguards on break might be able to help regulate the social distancing some. Lifeguards on duty can't perform this function because they have to watch out for swimmer safety. Lifeguards will have to use a CPR breathing barrier if/when giving mouth-to-mouth.

Thinking positively... fingers crossed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a big fenced back yard. We have an inflatable pool, small, but big enough for my two STB 9 YOs. We also have a long water slide. I can set those up so that if they want to be outside with water, they can play with the pool, the slide and have water gun battles (we have some of those water tubes that shoot water). We have bikes and scooters. Since we can't take skating lessons now, I'm thinking about getting them roller blades to keep up. We have tennis rackets and our neighborhood has private courts that have not been closed down. There aren't that many people who use them, so hopefully we can find a time when there aren't others using the courts.

They can do things in the yard and driveway while we're working. Biking away from the house and tennis will have to be evenings and weekends when we're not working. And they have the Nintendo Switch and shows they like on Amazon Prime and books and some home crafts they like. We'll be fine. It will be hard, and I may be doing a bit more with them during the day, but fortunately, my employer allows me to flex my time so that as long as I get 80 hours in over 2 weeks, I'm okay. I may be working more evenings and weekends, but I'll find a way to make it work.

What kind of water slide do you have? I just bought an inflatable pool because I'm afraid there will be a run on them if more pools start announcing they won't be opening. We have a little plastic slide but I'm wondering if I should get a larger inflatable one.

What kind of inflatable pool did you get? We haven’t had good luck with getting ones in the past that aren’t junk unfortunately. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the biggest challenges with opening the pools this summer is staffing it with lifeguards. First, it'll be a shorter season. A lot of companies that provide lifeguards for hire rely on bringing young people here from Europe on temporary work visas for the summer. A major part of their labor pool is unlikely to travel, especially to the U.S. where things look like a hot mess right now. And they may not want to come if it's only going to be a month or two of work.

If they solve the staffing issue, they still have to figure out social distancing challenges but it is doable. They could close the locker/shower areas. People would just go from toweling off to car and shower/change at home. They could also convert more of the pool to lap lanes to help space people out. Lifeguards on break might be able to help regulate the social distancing some. Lifeguards on duty can't perform this function because they have to watch out for swimmer safety. Lifeguards will have to use a CPR breathing barrier if/when giving mouth-to-mouth.

Thinking positively... fingers crossed...

+ limiting the number of people allowed in the pool at one time.
+ paying closer attention to chlorine levels throughout the day.
+ wiping down bathroom surfaces, door handles, etc. often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News on county summer camps in Loudoun County should be coming by 15 May.

https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/160172/41620-Letter-to-Camp-Parents

They do not sound optimistic.

I read just the opposite into that. Camps will happen!

I read this letter as that they're looking into "virtual" camps...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News on county summer camps in Loudoun County should be coming by 15 May.

https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/160172/41620-Letter-to-Camp-Parents

They do not sound optimistic.

I read just the opposite into that. Camps will happen!

I read this letter as that they're looking into "virtual" camps...

Uggh... there's a whole other thread on virtual camps under the Camps forum. Sounds like a hot mess...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News on county summer camps in Loudoun County should be coming by 15 May.

https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/160172/41620-Letter-to-Camp-Parents

They do not sound optimistic.

I read just the opposite into that. Camps will happen!

“The current situation makes this very challenging, and there is a real possibility that summer camps and activities may be impacted.”

[Anonymous]

None of the lifeguard certification classes are running - no one is getting certified/recertified. Even if the pools could open, staffing is going to be a huge issue. Not to mention how many pools staff themselves with Eastern Europeans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the lifeguard certification classes are running - no one is getting certified/recertified. Even if the pools could open, staffing is going to be a huge issue. Not to mention how many pools staff themselves with Eastern Europeans.

Why do pools need Eastern Europeans? Are American HS and college students too lazy to do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the lifeguard certification classes are running - no one is getting certified/recertified. Even if the pools could open, staffing is going to be a huge issue. Not to mention how many pools staff themselves with Eastern Europeans.

Why do pools need Eastern Europeans? Are American HS and college students too lazy to do it?

https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/27spq4/serious_why_do_so_many_communities_hire_foreign/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in late elementary school and middle school. Sleep-away camps are starting to be cancelled this week. Girls scouts just cancelled the entire camp summer. My daughter's Vermont sleep-away camp just canceled the summer. Pools are also announcing that they won't open.
My kid are old enough to stay at home when I work but what the heck are they going to do home alone for 14 weeks? What about families with young kids? I suppose it will be a terrific time to be a college babysitter.

The humani

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

DP. Why would they need to hire a lifeguard?! That’s fine to do for a pool party, but I assume this would just be for their just their own family....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

DP. Why would they need to hire a lifeguard?! That’s fine to do for a pool party, but I assume this would just be for their just their own family....

Perhaps PP mistook the comment and thought she was being invited over to party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

DP. Why would they need to hire a lifeguard?! That’s fine to do for a pool party, but I assume this would just be for their just their own family....

Perhaps PP mistook the comment and thought she was being invited over to party.

She is leaving her kids alone during the day with a nanny for a life guard? Also, no HOA will allow an above ground pool as they are tacky and ugly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of buying an above ground pool for the backyard.

Are you going to hire a full time life guard? We have an inground pool and when my husband or I are not at home, it is covered and locked. When we have a party, we hire two Red Cross lifeguards.

DP. Why would they need to hire a lifeguard?! That’s fine to do for a pool party, but I assume this would just be for their just their own family....

Perhaps PP mistook the comment and thought she was being invited over to party.

She is leaving her kids alone during the day with a nanny for a life guard? Also, no HOA will allow an above ground pool as they are tacky and ugly.

How is that different from a parent watching the kids at their backyard pool?