Extremely hot weather across the Hudson Valley adds an extra challenge for day camps who are trying to keep kids and staff both safe from the heat and coronavirus.

In the past, camp officials tell News 12 that when it got this hot, you could take the campers indoors for the air conditioning but even something that simple is off the table as the threat of coronavirus has forced county camps completely outdoors.

 

Nature camps, like Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers, are relying on nature itself.

Unlike traditional day camps, these nature camps have more trees for natural shade, and minimal concrete surfaces. Instead, the grass keeps the temperature down.

All campers are encouraged to bring water bottles with water stations frequently available to refill. They have also installed water misters because there are no pools.

Organizers also keep an extra eye on staff and how they're responding to being out in the hot weather with masks on all day, making sure they're staying hydrated and safe as well.

The Parks Department constantly watches the forecast and is ready to close early for the day if it gets too hot. "Everybody needs physical exercise and they also have to take care of their mental health and that's what our parks are here for. So we're absolutely thrilled and happy to be able to do this you know, within our guidelines. Safety is number one, always has been, always will be, only in a different world now. But we will always do what's right and safe but we want to be able to provide as much as we can for the public," says Peter Tartaglia, First Deputy Commissioner Westchester Park.