Cary, Chapel Hill cancel summer camps, July 4 celebrations

Cary and Chapel Hill on Friday announced that they were canceling summer camps and July 4 celebrations.

Posted 7:28 p.m. May 29, 2020 — Updated 7:59 p.m. May 29, 2020

Sarah LIndenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Cary and Chapel Hill on Friday announced that they were canceling summer camps and July 4 celebrations.

Cary's parks, recreation and cultural resources summer camps are canceled through August. The town is providing full refunds of all deposits.

All of the town's parks events also have been canceled through July 5. That includes its annual Independence Day celebrations and fireworks displays at Bond Park, Koka Booth Amphitheatre and WakeMed Soccer Park.

"This is about safety, about being able to meet every parent’s expectations that their child will be healthy at the end of the day,” said Cary Town Manager Sean R. Stegall in a press release about the decision to cancel camps. ”While we offer wonderful camps, we simply don’t have the expertise to be able to confidently guarantee that on a large scale during a pandemic.”

In Chapel Hill, the town's parks and recreation summer day camps at the Community Center, Hargraves and Teen Center are canceled, along with Library Summer Blast performances, July 4 fireworks and community celebration, Movies Under the Stars and more.

"The Town recognizes that these modifications will have a significant impact on both individuals and families in our community, as well as the overall health and vitality of our town, as summer programs and events contribute to well-being and community vitality. However, the Town is committed to prioritizing the safety of staff and residents as it considers what programs and services to re-activate," a press release said. "We recognize it is essential we take a thoughtful and methodical approach to reinstating operations that protects public health and safety. Several Town departments are working collaboratively with partners for considering alternative programming this summer. Some programs may be able to continue with modifications. We anticipate being able to share more information about these options soon."

Local camp providers are struggling with how to provide services to families this summer during the pandemic and meet the safety recommendations and requirements of state and federal officials to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

Marbles announced this week that it was holding summer camps, but limiting attendance. Some providers, including Raleigh, the Museum of Life and Science and the NC Museum of Art, have canceled camps through at least most of June. And, like Cary, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and NC Museum of History have canceled all camps for the summer.

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