The ‘spirit’ of Malverne’s Camp Lourdes is alive and well

Last year, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, only 60 percent of summer day camps were held in person, according to the American Camp Association. This year, following the release late last month of updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for summer camps, local day camps are poised for a return to in-person activities.

With the summer season under way, the leadership of Camp Lourdes, in Malverne, hopes to continue its tradition of faith and fun for children of all ages. “The spirit of Camp Lourdes is very community-based,” said Linda Baldacchino, the camp’s coordinator, “and the children truly live out their faith by living in this community, where they have a lot of fun.”

Since 1999, the camp, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, celebrates faith among children of all ages through arts and crafts, music and dance. Many campers go on to join OLL’s Youth Ministry, which takes part in numerous philanthropic events throughout the year.

“A lot of times, kids feel as if their faith is boring, and it’s very much the opposite,” Baldacchino said. “We have fun, and I love the spirit of Camp Lourdes.”

Many parents of campers note the impact the camp has had on their children. Liz Arnott, whose three children are involved with the camp, described it as a special place. She visited other camps with her kids, Arnott said, but none of them compared to Camp Lourdes.

“They came home the first day and said it was awesome,” Arnott recounted. “They love the Bible songs, and we listen to them all year long.”

Arnott also credits the camp’s volunteers and counselors — all of whom are high school students — for providing a fun and safe environment. “The campers look forward to every day at Camp Lourdes, and they look up to their counselors so much,” Baldacchino said. “In this role they learn how to be responsible while creating great bonds with the kids.”

She added that the camp’s musical performances are one of the highlights of the summer. “Counselors and parents download our songs and make them their ringtones,” she said. “They’re shocked when they pick up their children and they’re still singing songs they heard at camp.”

Last year, the camp started in August instead of July. Baldacchino said she was confident that as things return to normal, Camp Lourdes would continue to thrive for years to come.

“We are continuing to make incredible progress against Covid, and lifting restrictions based on the science and numbers, but we are not yet at the finish line,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release in May. “To help ensure maximum protections for staff and children at child care and camp programs, we are issuing this guidance so the facilities can implement basic but critical measures that will allow them to operate safely.”

The CDC’s May 28 update for summer camps recommended vaccination for all employees and campers who are eligible, and noted that fully vaccinated camp environments would be allowed to return to in-person activities at full capacity, without masking or social distancing.

The CDC also stressed that “camp programs should be supportive of campers or staff who choose to wear a mask,” and that outdoor and socially distanced activities are preferable at camps where not everyone is vaccinated.