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Archives for 2020

15 Virtual Escape Rooms and Games Your Family Will Love

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If you’re looking for a new twist to family game night—or want to give your kids something fun to do with their friends during Zoom, Google Hangout, or FaceTime social calls—try a virtual escape room game! These first-person perspective games quickly gained popularity in New York a few years ago and a few room escape games quickly made the transition online when things shut down due to the coronavirus quarantine. Some of these escape-the-room games are livestream events using Zoom that you have to sign up for in advance, while others were created on independent websites or on Google Forms and Slides that you can play at your leisure. Bonus: While they’re another screen-time activity, the brainteasers are educational because you have to solve clues, answer riddles, and more to escape the room! These are the 15 best online escape room games you can play from the comfort of your home.

Virtual Escape Rooms

Brain Chase

Ages: kindergarten to 12th grades
Players: 1
Cost: $19.99 monthly membership
Each week, kids will unlock different virtual rooms they’ll need to escape. They’ll choose different electives—reading, writing, language, engineering, math, cooking, yoga, typing, art, book club, and bonus—to complete academic challenges in order to advance through the puzzle and escape.

The Escape Game: Remote Adventures

Ages: 13 and older
Players: 3-7
Cost: $25 per player
Remote Adventures, which has two virtual escape room options (Ruins: Forbidden Treasure and Gold Rush) is played live with other players via Zoom with a 60-minute time limit. As a group, you’ll direct a Game Guide, who is wearing a live camera feed, to find clues and items to progress through the game.

The Escape Game: TEG Unlocked Vol. 1 & 2

Ages: 12 and older
Players: 1-4
Cost: $10 each or $17 for both
In TEG Unlocked: The Heist, which has two volumes (Chasing Hahn and The Silk Road), you have to solve a series of clues to thwart an infamous art thief. You can play TEG Unlocked alone or with a group of up to 4 players—though to play with others, you’ll need to host it via your personal Zoom or Google hangout to share your screen, as you log in on the website to access a digital dossier—and there is no time limit.

Escape Room NJ

Ages: 10 and older
Players: 4-6 devices
Cost: $25 per device
In Zoom Escape Room – S.W.A.T., you’re the only ones who can stop a bomb from detonating, but you only have 60 minutes! To disarm the bomb, you’ll have to solve a series of puzzles, riddles, and mental challenges.

The Grimm Escape: Puzzle Break Long Island

Ages: 10 and older (parental supervision is required for children younger than 10)
Players: 3-12
Cost: $25 per player
Picture this: A witch has placed a curse on a virtual, enchanted forest and you have 60 minutes to escape by finding clues, solving the puzzles, and casting the correct spell! That’s the mission for The Grimm Escape Virtual Edition with Puzzle Break Long Island. Using Zoom, you can set up a private game with friends and family across the country, or even as a team-building exercise for colleagues, classroom, or other groups. And if you get stuck, an in-game host can offer hints—but use them sparingly because you have a limited number!

Mystery Escape Room Online

Ages: 10 and older
Players: 4-8
Cost: Nancy Drew: $85; The Superhero Escape Adventure: $75
Mystery Escape Room offers two game options: Nancy Drew and The Superhero Escape Adventure. In the Nancy Drew adventure, you were supposed to meet Nancy at the Forsyth Mansion, but she’s a no-show.You’ll have to work together as a team to find letters and piece together the clues to discover the reason behind Nancy’s absence. In the superhero adventure, Dr. Psionic, the evil villian, has a plot to control everyone’s minds and take over the world. Your team needs to solve the clues that lead to his lair and foil his evil plans.

Paruzal

Ages: 13 and older
Players: 2-8
Cost: $15 per player
You can choose from 4 virtual escape rooms to play live online, including opening a pizza place on time, sneaking backstage at a Bruce Springsteen concert, escaping a shipwreck, and getting a boat back to shore before the storm hits.

The Puzzle Parlor

Ages: 14 and older
Players: 2-8
Cost: $20 and up
While it’s physical location is closed, you can stream two games at home: The Heist or Alien Conspiracy. At the time of your game, a Puzzle Parlor employee will livestream a video feed of the virtual escape room and act as your personal avatar throughout the adventure. In the Heist, your mission is to unlock a bank vault, and in Alien Conspiracy, the mission is to enter a remote home to save evidence that aliens do exist before it’s destroyed.

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Free, Virtual Escape Room-Inspired Games

Bank Heist

Ages: 10 and older
Players: 1-4
Cost: Free
Created by the owners of Expedition Escape, an escape room in Philadelphia, this escape is simple, yet surprisingly satisfying to solve. You’re a member of the most successful crime syndicate in America, and today you’re attempting a heist at Valley Isle Bank. Solve the puzzles to crack the safe—but you only have 20 minutes.

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room

Ages: 8 and older
Players: Unlimited
Cost: Free
Created by Sydney Krawiec, a youth services librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA, this Harry Potter-themed digital escape room is hosted on Google Forms. You’re a first-year at Hogwarts, have been sorted into your dream house, and enjoyed dinner. You head to your common room, when the house prefect announces a team-building activity that’s all the rage with muggles: solving puzzles to escape a locked room without using magic.

Minecraft Escape Room

Ages: 8 and older
Players: 1-4
Cost: Free
Created by Laura Escamilla, a youth services librarian at the Regency Park Library in New Port Richey, FL, this Minecraft-themed virtual escape room is a perfect brain teaser for your Minecraft enthusiast! Bonus: It’s hosted on Google Forms, so it can be accessed at any time and there is no time limit.

Shrek Themed Escape Room

Ages: All
Players: 1-4
Cost: Free
This simple, yet satisfying escape game throws it back to the popular animated movie from 2001. In the game, you’re a magical creature, and as such, have been banished to live in an ogre hut. But Lord Farquaad accidentally leaves clues behind to unlock the hut so you can gain your freedom.

Oscar’s Stolen Oscar

Ages: 8 and older
Players: 1-4
Cost: Free
Something fishy is going on at the National Aquarium! Oscar, the fish from Shark Tale, is missing his Academy Award and needs your help to find it! By answering a series of trivia questions about various aquatic life, you’ll proceed through the puzzle to solve the caper. The game is hosted on Google Forms, so it can be accessed at any time and there is no time limit.

Unlock Disney World

Ages: 8 and older
Players: Unlimited
Cost: Free
Created by Elizabeth Wilson, this escape Disney World game is perfect for Disney-lovers of all ages! Hosted on Google Slides, the premise of the game is, you fell asleep in Country Bear Jamboree and were locked in the amusement park. In order to get out, you have to (virtually) visit different attractions—including Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain—and answer trivia questions, solve puzzles, and more to unlock six locks and gain your freedom.

Welcome to the Snow Ball

Ages: 13 and older
Players: 1-4
Cost: Free
In this Stranger Things-themed virtual escape room, hosted on Google Form, you and your friends are trapped in the gym during the dance, and in order to escape, you have to solve the riddles, answer trivia questions, and more.

Katelin Walling is the Editorial Director for NYMetroParents. She can often be found reading, knitting, or whipping up a vegan treat—all with a cup of coffee nearby.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Free Childcare for 100,000 NYC Students

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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that NYC will provide free childcare for 100,000 students on the days they are not learning in classrooms to help families manage the hybrid online and in-person schooling in the fall, according to AMNY. The city will utilize community centers, libraries, cultural organizations, and “whatever we can find in communities,” de Blasio said, to accommodate students while following New York State health guidelines.

Some daycare slots will be available by the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, according to Melanie Hartzog, director of the NYC office of management and budget, with more slots to be made available on a rolling basis. She also said that activities will include arts, recreation, tutoring, and field trips “where possible.” Personal protective equipment like face coverings and hand sanitizer will be provided by the city and only 15 students will be allowed to be in a classroom at any given time.

According to a Department of Education survey of approximately 400,000 NYC parents, 75 percent of families want schools to reopen in September and are willing to send their children to classes in person. However, with regard for the risks sending kids back to school in person can pose and in accordance to CDC recommendations, de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced the options of two “blended learning” models for schools earlier this month.

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“So many parents though have said that they can’t make it work if they don’t get more childcare,” de Blasio told AMNY reporters. “We’ve been trying to find every way to create new childcare and to build it from scratch, honestly.”

A complete program for the daycare sites has not been created yet. Once it is released, we will update this article with the details. Staten Island Parent continues to be your go-to source for the reopening of New York schools. Subscribe to our newsletter (below), and like us on Facebook for daily updates regarding reopening.

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How to Borrow Library Books in Staten Island During Covid-19

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This summer of social distancing is the perfect time to create (and finish) a summer reading list—whether it’s for you or for your child. Luckily, some New York public libraries have recently opened for curbside pickup so you can safely borrow as many books as your heart desires.

Safely Visiting the Library During COVID-19
While curbside and grab-and-go are the safest ways to borrow books right now, you may be missing the smell of old books and itching to get between the stacks. When libraries begin offering limited indoor access will be required to follow safety guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Library Association regarding the handling of materials.

Furniture will be rearranged to maintain social distancing, with floor decals and signs sending traffic in one direction. They will use EPA-certified cleaning products and offer hand sanitizer, including wipes for the computers to be used after each visitor. Returned books will be quarantined off-site before reentering circulation. Staff members will be provided gloves and masks and will clean surfaces like door and toilet handles every two hours. All branches will limit capacity and activity. There won’t be any gatherings or community events, and only 50 people will be allowed inside at a time.

Harvey Karp, M.D, pediatrician and author of Happiest Baby on the Block, urges people to limit the touching of shared surfaces while visiting a library and to follow all of the recommended COVID-19 safety precautions we have been thus far (wearing a face covering, staying home if you’re sick, refraining from touching your face, using hand sanitizer, etc.).

How Curbside Pickup at the Library Works
Prior to your visit, you can place a hold on books online or via phone. You will need to log into your online library account. Step-by-step instructions on using the NYPL Grab & Go service are available here.  Llibrary staff will have the books set out on a shelf, ready to go with your name on them so all you’ll have to do when you arrive is pick them up.

If you’re concerned that germs are hitching a ride home on the books you borrow, Harvey Karp, M.D, pediatrician and author of Happiest Baby on the Block urges you to bag up your library haul and leave it in the car, garage, or entryway for a couple of days. “From what we understand of Coronavirus, even though surface transmission isn’t typical, the virus may be able to live on surfaces for up to two to three days,” says Dr. Karp.

Below are the locations in Staten Island where you can borrow books curbside. We will update this page as more branches open up.

Richmondtown Library
200 Clarke Avenue
Staten Island, NY, 10306
718-668-0413

Todt Hill–Westerleigh Library
2550 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY, 10314
718-494-1642

Currently, hours at the grab-and-go locations are:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 11 AM–6 PM
Wednesday: 12–7 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11 AM–5 PM
Sunday: Closed

Find information on libraries outside Staten Island here. Access the library’s digital content and resources here.

Everything You Need to Know about Camping in New York

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You may not make it on that tropical summer vacation this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the family on an unforgettable trip a short drive away. There are plenty of New York State parks and New York campgrounds under 100 miles from NYC with beautiful, scenic amenities for the whole family to enjoy for a weekend (or longer!). So, pack the tent, some hand sanitizer, and of course the bug spray and spend a night (or two) under the stars at one of these New York campgrounds. Here’s where you can go camping in New York and how to stay protected from coronavirus while you’re there.

Keeping Your Family Safe from Coronavirus While Camping

The New York State Parks Department has implemented an enhanced COVID-19 cleaning protocol at its cabins, cottages, and yurts at the conclusion of each reservation. In addition:

• Face masks must be worn when outside of your campsite area and all patrons have to practice social distancing.

• Only registered campers will be allowed in the campground area and no day visitors will be permitted.

• In order to practice social distancing, you may need to move to an alternate site in certain areas/loops.

• Cabin, cottage, and yurt stays are being limited to 5-day maximum stays in order to sufficiently clean between reservations.

• You have to bring your own linens, cookware, and silverware.

• In order to assist with enhanced cleaning of the accommodations, check-in time is at 5pm and check-out time is at 10am

• There may be limited shower and/or restroom facilities and they may be closed periodically to allow for enhanced cleaning.

• Campers should pre-register to save time at check-in.

• State Park Police and operations staff will be patrolling campgrounds to ensure compliance with social distancing and crowd control measures.

• You will be screened upon check-in. If you have had any risk factors such as contact with someone with COVID-19 or a recent fever or other symptoms, you will not be permitted to camp and will receive a full refund.

Tips for First-Time Campers

Camping Amenities. Campgrounds offer sites for tents and campers. Their family-friendly environments often include activities such as fishing, swimming, hiking and nature programs. Family campgrounds provide restrooms, showers and potable water. Some have stores and rent fishing poles, paddle boats, canoes and other equipment. Look for one that offers all the amenities your family wants.

Eating in the Wild. Most campgrounds provide grills, fire rings and picnic tables. A basic cooking set can consist of a bag of charcoal, a few pots and pans, and a spatula. Start with simple fare like sandwiches, hamburgers and pre-packaged meals. With each camping trip, try different recipes and add the necessary cookware.

Dressing for the Occasion. As your family gains experience, you can invest in specialized clothing; for most family trips, the expense isn’t necessary. A selection of T-shirts, jeans, sweat pants, jackets and sweatshirts worn in layers allows for quick adjustments to the weather. Because clothes will get dirty, new or white clothing is not recommended.

Protecting Your Feet. Good boots are one of the first investments families will make as they expand their outdoor activities. Look for solid ankle support and tread designed for the types of surfaces you’ll find in the wilderness. Purchase boots in outdoor stores where staff is trained to fit them properly. Buy socks and liners made of wool or other materials that will cushion feet and absorb moisture.

The Right Equipment. Before investing, try to borrow tents, sleeping bags, lanterns or stoves to determine what suits your family. Take time to research what different stores and manufacturers offer. To save money, check yard sales or camping groups for used equipment. Remember, tents and sleeping bags are rated for specific conditions. Since most families camp in warm weather, you don’t need to pay extra for gear designed for freezing and sub-freezing weather.

Campgrounds in Rockland County

Bear Mountain State Park
Bear Mountain
Phone: 845-786-2701

Hours: Open year round, dawn to dusk.
Amenities: Biking, boat rentals, campsites, cabins, and lodging, fishing, food (accessible), giftshop, hiking, ice skating, nature center, playgrounds, playing fields, snowshoeing/x country skiing, swimming pool, visitor center
What to know: Attractions that are CLOSED: Perkins Memorial Drive, Trailside Museum & Zoo, Merry-Go-Round, Gift Shop, Bear Mountain Inn Restaurant & Cafe, Bear Mountain Inn Spa. Roads that are CLOSED: Tiorati Brook Road, Arden Valley Road, Perkins Memorial Drive, Exit 19 off the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Tiorati/Welch and Island Pond boat launches are open and can be accessed from Tiorati Circle ONLY. TW and IP orange stickers MUST BE DISPLAYED on your vehicle for entry. Due to recent black bear sightings, camping in the vicinity of the Fingerboard and Bald Rocks shelters in Harriman State Park has been temporarily suspended. Seven Lakes Drive is still open. Dogs must be kept on leash shorter than six feet and are not permitted indoors. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: $10 per vehicle, pool and other amenities additional. Check the website for more specific pricing.

Beaver Pond Campgrounds- Harriman State Park
Stony Point
Phone: 845-947-2792

Hours: Camping season through Oct 12.
Amenities: Boat launches, campsites, cabins, and lodging, fishing, hiking, showers
What to know: There are no electrical hook-ups for trailers. Alcohol and pets are not permitted. Social distancing will be enforced and face masks should be worn if patrons are unable to distance. Some bathroom stalls and showers will be closed, but try to have only one person using the bathroom at a time. Check-in time is now 2pm and checkout time is 10am. No groups of more than 10, and no visitors. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: Camping is $15-$22 per night, with a $5 surcharge per night for non residents. Access pass charge is $4 per night.

Harriman State Park
Ramapo
Phone: 845-947-2444

Hours: Open 7 days a week from dawn until dusk. Pioneer camping season until Oct. 12.
Amenities: Biking, Boat Launches, Campsites, Cabins and Lodging, fishing, food (accessible), gift shop, grills, hiking, ice fishing, ice skating, playing fields, showers, snowshoeing/x-country skiing, swimming beach (at Tiorati and Welch beaches), visitor center.
What to know: Anthony Wayne State Park is currently being used as a COVID-19 testing facility, and is closed to the public for hiking, recreational activities, and park access. Tiorati Brook Road, Arden Valley Road, Perkins Memorial Drive, Exit 19 off the Palisades Interstate Parkway are also closed until further notice. Tiorati/Welch and Island Pond boat launches are open and can be accessed from Tiorati Circle ONLY. TW and IP orange stickers MUST BE DISPLAYED on your vehicle for entry.Due to recent black bear sightings, camping in the vicinity of the Fingerboard and Bald Rocks shelters in Harriman State Park has been temporarily suspended. Seven Lakes Drive is still open, but all trail shelters are closed at this time. You can still pitch your tent within 300 ft of the shelters as per the regular guidelines. Alcohol and pets are not permitted. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: At Lake Tiorati, $6/car parking fee 8am-4pm, weekdays, 7am-5pm, weekends, and holidays. Tiorati Plateau: $15/site/night. Cedar Pond: $37.50/site/night. At Lake Welch, $10/car parking fee (cash only) applied during the swimming season from 8am-4pm weekdays, 7am-5pm weekends/holidays. Visit the website for more specifics with pricing.

Sebago Cabin Camp- Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park
Phone: 845-429-2039

Hours: 2020 camp schedule not yet listed
Amenities: Biking, boat rentals, campsites, cabins, and lodging, fishing, grills, hiking, playgrounds, showers, snowshoeing/x-country skiing, tennis
What to know: Due to recent black bear sightings, camping in the vicinity of the Fingerboard and Bald Rocks shelters in Harriman State Park has been temporarily suspended. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: Cabin Rental: $266 – $456/week, Full Service Cottage Rental: $667 – $736/week. Visit the website for more specific pricing information.

Campgrounds in Orange County
Black Bear Campground
Florida (New York)
Phone: 845-651-7717

Hours: Campsites open all year on a very limited basis, call for details.
Amenities: Back-in and pull-thru sites, paved roads, free WiFi and cable, family-friendly store with RV parts, 24-hour bathrooms and showers, 24-Hour laundromat, heated swimming pool, family picnic areas, children’s playground, campfire events, heated and air conditioned pavilion/game room, library, arts and crafts, pool table, ping pong, disc golf course, mini golf, basketball, shuffleboard, volleyball, horseshoes, special events, nature trails, fire rings, picnic tables, and fishing pond.
What to know: Travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motor homes that are totally self contained are allowed. Every other site is used to maintain social distancing. Tent sites are not permitted. Reservations are preferred, and can be made through credit card (contactless). Swimming pools, bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, pavilions, stores and all activities are closed until further notice.
Cost: Back-in sites $80day ($72 with 10% discount) or $480/week. Pull-thru sites $100/day ($90 with 10% discount) or $600/week. Visit the website for more specifics with pricing.

Deerpark/New York City NW KOA
Cuddebackville
Phone: 800-562-3649

Hours: Camping season through Oct. 31.
Amenities: Arcade, basketball court, bike rentals, cable TV, climbing rock wall, discovery bistro, dog park, firewood, fishing, giant jumping pillow, horseshoe pits, kamp store, pool, propane, recreational hall, RV storage, snack bar, tour shuttle, volleyball court, wifi, 50 max amp
What to know: Due to COVID-19, the Deerpark KOA is open for self-contained RVs and Deluxe Cabins, Tiny Homes, and yurts. Tent camping and rustic camping camps are not available at this time. Reservations must be made online. Operating at reduced capacity, so availability is limited. No reservations can be made over the phone at this time. No more than 6 people per site (one household of immediate family). Day visitors are not allowed to visit properties. ALL recreational activities (pool, waterslides, planned activities, etc.) are closed. All bathhouses are closed. The on-site kitchen will be serving pizza and fried foods for delivery or take out. Check the website for updated information.
Cost: Visit website for pricing information.

Campgrounds in New Jersey

Allaire State Park
Farmingdale, NJ
Phone: 732-938-2371

Hours: Campground open year round.Tent and trailer family campsites available for reservation until Sept. 7.
Amenities: Historic Allaire Village, Pine Creek Railroad, Nature Interpretive Center, trails, camping, fishing, limited deer hunting, picnicking, food concession, canoeing/kayaking, bird watching, x-country skiing.
What to know: Cabins, group cabins, shelters, lean-tos, group lean-tos, wilderness campsites, group campsites, primitive campsites, and primitive group campsites remain closed until further notice. Alcohol is prohibited and pets are prohibited in overnight facilities. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: Tents: 20$/night for residents, $25/night non-residents; Shelter: $48/night for residents, $60/night non-residents

Cheesequake State Park
Matawan, NJ
Phone: 732-566-2161

Hours: Tent and trailer family campsites are available to reserve until Sept 7, 2020.
Amenities: Fishing, picnicking, boating, canoeing, nature center, trails, biking, hiking
What to know: Cabins, group cabins, shelters, lean-tos, group lean-tos, wilderness campsites, group campsites, primitive campsites, and primitive group campsites remain closed until further notice. Alcohol is prohibited, and pets are prohibited in overnight facilities. There is an 11-foot height restriction for vehicles entering the campsite. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: $20/night for NJ residents, $25/night for non-residents.

Liberty Harbor RV Park
Jersey City, NJ
Phone: 201-516-7500

Hours: all year round
Amenities: WiFi, dump station, full restrooms with hot showers, restaurant and bar on the premise, 50 sites (water and electric), laundry room, restaurants, stores, and pubs within walking distance
What to know: Pets are welcome on leashes. No open fires are permitted, only barbecue grills. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: $120/night, when you stay for 6 consecutive nights you get the 7th free (excluding holidays/holiday weekends). Tent reservations are $75/night for four guests and one vehicle parking space. Visit the website for more specific pricing information and deals.

Campgrounds in Suffolk County

Cliff and Ed’s Campground
Cutchogue
Phone: 631-298-4091

Hours: Camping season through Oct 25.
Amenities: Cable/satellite tv, laundromat, showers, fishing, swimming (pond, lake, river), wifi, restrooms, trash pickup at site. Boat launch, boat rentals, hiking trails, and fishing nearby.
What to know: Reservation only.
Cost: Call for more information regarding costs.

Eastern Long Island Kampground
Greenport
Phone: 631-477-0022

Hours: Camping season through Oct. 31.
Amenities: Office and camp store, swimming pool, laundry facilities, playground, 3 bathroom and shower facilities, free WiFi, cable TV service, fire barrels for each site, daily garbage pickup, archery, rec center
What to know: Camp store is currently closed, but certain items will still be available through the check-in window. Restrooms will be open with limited shower facilities. The rec center, playground, and pool are closed until further notice. Staff will be cleaning and disinfecting the site more frequently. There is a maximum of 6 people allowed per site. No day camp passes are available, and no visitors will be allowed at your site. Patrons must have a working bathroom in their RV, since public restrooms will be limited capacity.
Cost: Camper rentals are $100/night, $380/weekend. Visit the website for additional rates and more specific pricing info.

Heckscher State Park
East Islip
Phone: 631-581-2100

Hours: Cottages open through Nov 1. Campsites open through Sept. 6.
Amenities: Biking, boat launches, campsites, cabins, and lodging, canoeing/kayaking, disc golf, fishing, grills, hiking, pavilions and shelter rentals, playgrounds, playing fields, showers, snowshoeing/x-country skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing/ windsurfing, swimming beach
What to know: Due to COVID-19, visitors or non-registered guests are not permitted at cottages or in campgrounds. Extended stays are not permitted. Dishware, cookware, and silverware will not be provided in the rental cottages. Many parks have reduced parking to 50 percent and local roads may have closures in effect. Make a camping reservation here at least one day ahead of arrival and up to 24 months in advance. Pavilion reservations must be made 14 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 11 months in advance. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: $18-$22 per night. Price varies. Check the website.

Wildwood State Park
Wading River
Phone: 631-929-4314

Hours: Swimming season through Sept 7., 10am-6pm daily. Camping grounds open through Oct 31.
Amenities: Biking, camper assistance program, campsites, cabins & lodging (3 of the 10 are accessible), fishing, food, hiking, hunting, playgrounds, showers, snowshoeing/x-country skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming beach (accessible)
What to know: Beach Comfort Station open: Monday–Friday, from 8am-4:15pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8am-sunset. Camp area comfort stations open for camp patrons. No pets are permitted. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: Camping is $18-$34/night, with an additional $5/night for non-NYS residents. Visit the website for more specific pricing information.

Campgrounds in Dutchess County

Interlake RV Park & Sales
Rhinebeck
Phone: 845-266-5387

Hours: Camping season through the end of October.
Amenities: Gated park, 20 acre lake, fishing pond, heated swimming pool, kiddie pool, fishing and boating, game room and rec hall, playground, horseshoes, volleyball, snack bar, giant movie screen, camp store, laundromat, restrooms, free showers, cable TV hookups, dumping station, dump service, free WiFi
What to know: Pool will be open at 50 percent capacity. While you do not have to be masked in the water, you most social distance from other groups and stay with your own party. Avoid the poolside chaise chairs with tape on them. Guests will be limited to seasonal campers only, and guests will not be permitted to go to the pool if it is nearing capacity. Staff must be notified via email one day before each guest arrives with the guest’s name, phone number, and address. Regarding guests, you can have no more than two adults and children (from 10am-8pm).
Cost: RV rates vary, visit the website for specific pricing information.

Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campground
Beacon
Phone: 845-831-6767

Hours: Camping season runs through Oct 31.
Amenities: Platform sites include Picnic Table, grill for fire, garbage can, playing cards, ABC fire extinguisher, gas stove, pots and pans, dish pan and soap, sponge, propane lantern, chairs, water jug, paper plates and paper towels, cooking supplies, matches, fly swatter, paper and pen. Primitive sites include a picnic table, firepit with grill, and garbage can. There is fishing, hiking, boating, and touring offered in the local area.
What to know: Reservations are required for households per site, and due to COVID-19 no guests will be permitted. Patrons cannot make reservations for groups at this time. Staff will be sanitizing and disinfecting public spaces frequently. There should be a maximum of 2 people at a time in the bath house sink area, maintaining a 6 foot distance. Outdoor games are not available at this time, and campers are encouraged to bring their own. Campers are also required to bring their own utensils for eating and cups (no glass).
Cost: Rates depend on which site you choose, and are available on the website.

Mills Norrie State Park
Staatsburg
Phone: 845-889-4646

Hours: Park is open year round, sunrise to sunset. Camping season through Oct. 18.
Amenities: Biking, boat launches, campsites, cabins, and lodging, dockage, fishing, golf, grills, hiking, marina, pavilions and shelter rentals, showers, snowshoeing/x-country skiing.
What to know: The Marina is open from 7:30am-8pm daily. Patrons may launch for day use only, but not accepting transients at this time. Be sure to call ahead to ensure the amenities you’re looking for are still available.
Cost: Campsite is $15-$19 per night. Cabins are $94.50/night or $378/weekly. Visit the website for more specifics. You can make a reservation here.

Sylvan Lake Beach Park
Hopewell Junction
Phone: 845-221-9889

Hours: RV camping season until the end of October. Tent camping not yet open, but will be open until Columbus day weekend.
Amenities: Beach, fishing, swimming areas, boating, playground, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, basketball hoops, open fields, large campsites
What to know: Tent camping is not open yet, and will potentially be opening at the end of July. When the tent camping opens, it will be limited to one site per household (no groups).
Cost: Tent campgrounds: dry sites are $35/night, water and electric sites are $40/night. RV sites: costs are dependent on amps, visit websites for more specifics with pricing.

Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, and More to Reopen July 24

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The Wildlife Conservation Society zoos and aquariums in NYC—which includes the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium—are all finally reopening to the public on July 24. The parks have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus and our options for viewing “live animals” have been limited to live streaming zoos and aquariums. The parks will reopen to members on July 20 and to the public on July 24 with special arrangements and considerations to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. Here’s what you need to know about the reopening of WCS zoos and aquariums.

How will WCS zoos and the aquarium keep me safe?
Masks are required inside all of the parks, and sanitizing stations have been implemented to promote proper hand hygiene. Unfortunately, the parks do not offer refunds or date changes of new tickets purchased, even if the park is closed because of the weather.

The parks are also enforcing a contactless entry system, by which entrants will scan phone barcodes upon entering the park. Also, the park is enforcing mandatory social distancing guidelines in asking that families stay at least six feet away from other parties and avoid gathering with others at any point in the parks. At this time, there is no re-entry into the park for any visitors. Age supervision is also required and all entrants ages 17 and under are required to enter the park with an adult. Stroller rentals are available.

Through September 7, all guests have to reserve a specific, date-based ticket to keep the number of visitors down to 1/3 of each center’s maximum occupancy. You can purchase tickets online at each park’s website. On Wednesdays, advanced park tickets are free. You can reserve a ticket at 10am the day before (Tuesdays) for that Wednesday’s reservation. If you have an ticket from pre-pandemic times, you can exchange or apply that ticket to a new timed ticket reservation online.

Here’s Jim Breheny, general director of WCS Zoos and Aquariums, going into a bit more detail about how The Bronx Zoo will keep you and your family safe when you visit. Keep in mind, all of the WCS Parks will use these safety methods.

Will concessions be open at WCS zoos and the aquarium?
The food and gift shops at the zoos will be operating at limited services for now. Several services, including the Children’s Zoo, Nature Trek, and Bug Carousel at the Bronx Zoo, are closed for the time being. The zoo recommends that you use the park’s mobile site to see what will be available to the public on that specific day.

For those on the front lines, WCS is offering a special deal as a thank you. Healthcare workers are offered free admission to the parks through Labor Day by using the promo code HERO2020 and bringing their healthcare ID.

Staten Island Parents Say Chores Build Life Skills At All Ages

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Being on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t mean parents have to bear all the household responsibilities from 9 to 5 and beyond.
Juggling a lot more work and responsibilities during the stay at home order is a perfect time for parents to encourage young children and teens to take on household chores.

“Our kids know that we are a team and everyone has responsibilities,” Melissa Illuzzi of Princess Bay said of Sophia, 11, Isabella, 10, (pictured above) and Angelo, 4. “They are all very independent for their age.”

She feels blessed that her children began doing chores at a young age.
The girls cook about five mini meals each week with supervision from her and her husband; as well as clean their rooms, take out the trash, and do laundry, while their brother sets the table and has started making his bed.

Staten Island parents, like Mrs. Illuzzi, agreed that chores are a stepping stone to teaching kids teamwork, independence, and responsibility — and that it’s never too early to start. With all the extra shopping, cooking, cleaning, organizing, yard work, and other household jobs, the quarantine period is a good time for parents to enlist their kids’ help around the house — especially if they’ve never done chores before.

“I feel it’s important because it teaches them life skills,” Christine Sengel Stanley of Rossville said. “It also makes them become more independent, and it does help me out — especially when all our activities were going on” before quarantine, she explained.

Her three kids — Dylan, 15, Donovan, 11, and Victoria, 10 — unload the dishwasher, take care of the recycling, and just recently started putting away their clean laundry, according to Mrs. Stanley. Her kids have easily been able to keep up with their chores during the stay at home order, she said. “Most of their chores they do at night, so it doesn’t interfere with their remote learning,” Mrs. Stanley said.

Other parents, like Katherine Van Dyk, say incentives, like allowance, encourage kids to treat housework as their “job” and rely on getting a “salary” for their hard work.

“There is no battle because if they don’t work they don’t get paid,” the Graniteville mom explained of her 12-year-old daughter Katelynn and 14-year-old daughter Angelina under her pre-corona chore policy. Allowance has been put on hold while Ms. Van Dyk was out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now they do chores and don’t get paid because I am not working,” she said in April. “Under the circumstances they understand what’s going on in the world,” she continued. “When we get back to normal we will resume.”
Under typical circumstances, however, she posts “jobs” with a compensation amount for each chore. For instance, they receive a dollar each time they do the dishes — for a weekly total of $7 if they do the dishes once a day for seven days.

Other chores she posts include cooking, pet care, laundry, mopping, sweeping and cleaning their rooms, with appropriate payment amounts. She’s among other parents who believe chores teach kids how to be self sufficient.

Her kids are pros in the kitchen as they have been cooking since they were as young as seven – and they share the weekly cooking duties, each responsible for cooking a meal and the other doing the dishes.

“Angelina cooks on Wednesday and that’s the day we eat cereal or starve!” she said.

In fact, she said they could cook an entire Thanksgiving meal all by themselves. “It has been implemented since they were young, so to them it’s just part of their routine,” Ms. Van Dyk said.
For her, childhood memories — like going to her grandparents’ house every Sunday with all her cousins — play as much a role in raising her own children as teaching independence. “If any of us were there during the time my grandfather was making the sauce you can bet your last dollar we were cooking it with him, no matter how young we were,” she recalled.

The early lessons she has enforced so far have paid off. “When I am sick they are completely capable of taking care of things and have,” she said, adding that they showed an early interest in what she was doing around the house.

“Then when they started to get older they wanted to be out more and do less around the house,” she said. She explained that if they wanted money they had to earn it — and that kept them interested. At Christmastime, Angelina saved $180 and Katelynn saved $200, which helped them purchase gifts for family members, she said.

Ms. Van Dyk tries to instill the traditions she shared growing up with her kids whenever possible. “It was an amazing time when I grew up,” she said. “I hope my kids will have the same memories.”

Meanwhile, other Staten Island parents say they have opted to start a chore routine with their children — even though they are still just toddlers.

Little Anna Sophia Steidell likes to help her mom sweep and mop with her own toy set — but on her own terms when she wants to, according to mom Kristen Steidell.

“Chores are definitely tough for a two and a half year old,” the Dongan Hills mom said. “We try to implement once you play with some toys, you can’t take out more until the first set of toys are cleaned up,” she added. “Some days it works, some days it’s a battle. Some days she’s in full on cleaning mode, which makes her feel she’s helping and has a responsibility,” Mrs. Steidell said.

At three and a half, Donovan Schumacher helps his mom Nicole set the table, cleans his room, helps his dad with the garbage, and helps feed the cats.

The Annadale mom began teaching Donovan small chores at a year old. “He does not do these things everyday, but it’s a start,” his mom said. “I think it’s good for them to have some sort of responsibility.”

“It’s the routine I believe is what works,” Mrs. Schumacher said. “I know for us, my husband included, routine keeps us on track.”

It’s game time when it comes to chores for Lucas Bouderau of Westerleigh.
The two and a half year old loves to shadow his mom Sara Bouderau around the house and enjoys making a game out of chores. She said they toss dirty laundry down the stairs from the hamper, then pick it up and race it to the laundry room.

“When I mop, he mops. He loves to vacuum. He tells me when I’ve missed a spot,” and sometimes tells her the house is dirty, she joked. “He’s more of a neat freak than I am,” she continued. “I guess because he sees me cleaning all the time, he thinks it’s just something else we do.”

As a toddler, though, he also loves to make messes, and getting him to pick up his own toys is never an easy task, Mrs. Bouderau said. “I know he’s very young, but I feel like if we start teaching him to keep things clean now, it’s less of a ‘chore’ later on,” she said.

Shaina Sarah of Great Kills agrees. She is teaching her 14-month-old daughter Savannah Joy how to tidy up during the day — with the hopes that the activity will become the norm as she grows up. Putting her “jammies” in the hamper, wiping up any messes, putting her toys away are all a precursor to building more responsibilities later on, according to her mom.

“It definitely takes longer to get things done, but I hope this is an investment and as she grows, I won’t have to spend as much time teaching her how to tidy up after herself,” Ms. Sarah said.

Staten Island-based writer Christine Albano remembers when her toddlers had lots of time to clean up their toys, but now at 22, 18, and 16, they help her with errands in between making Tik Tok videos, social media posts, and Zoom meetings.

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