Following a year with no summer recreation program at all due to Covid-19, the Town of Gardiner is taking steps toward reviving the day camp for 2021 on a limited scale. At the March 2 Town Board meeting, supervisor Marybeth Majestic said that she had spoken with the camp director from 2019, Brian Edelstein, who had indicated that he was “willing to come back.”
Majestic suggested that summer rec be limited to Gardiner residents only, and that activities for participants be planned to take place five days a week at George Majestic Park, instead of going to the Ulster County Pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on field trips on Fridays, as in previous years. “Kids just want to be kids,” the supervisor said.
Board members responded enthusiastically to the supervisor’s proposal and agreed that she should pursue her conversation with Edelstein. Councilman David Dukler recommended that Majestic “seek CDC guidance on people getting together” and determine vaccine requirements for camp staff. Majestic noted that the town would not be able to hire as many counselors as in the past, given a smaller camper population.