Governor Cuomo,

As a parent of an overnight camper, I am pleading with you to allow overnight camps to open. My children have been home and isolated for so many months. They need camp desperately!

We appreciate all that you have been doing to keep the citizens of New York State safe. Under your guidance there were no Covid-related deaths in NYC as of June 3rd, and the infection rates across the state keep dropping.

We need to return to work soon. We cannot have our children home without  structure. Sunshine, fresh air and friendships cannot be replaced by Zoom programming and screen time. Our children NEED the structure of camp. There they learn teamwork, resiliency and connect with nature. Camp provides opportunities for socialization and bolsters emotional health.

Camp directors along with top infectious disease doctors have put protocols in place to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in camp. Our children will be tested before camp and then quarantined in camp - where they will not infect their grandparents.
The safe and logical thing to do is to green light the opening of summer overnight camps right away. We will certainly show our appreciation to you!

Please let overnight camps open without delay!