Stomach virus disrupts pricey summer camps in Pennsylvania and Catskills
A gastrointestinal outbreak has spread through several high-cost sleepaway camps in the Poconos and Catskills, overwhelming health centers and prompting some families to bring children home.
Parents who paid roughly $19,000 per child for a seven-week summer experience are confronting a sudden stomach bug that began at Tyler Hill camp in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, following a mid-July visiting day. The camp, which hosts about 500 campers, saw its health center exceed capacity as vomiting incidents surged. Nearby Timber Lake Camp in the Catskills reported fifteen cases among campers and staff, suspecting the virus spread during a basketball inter-camp event.
Camp officials have launched round-the-clock disinfection efforts, deployed backpack sprayers, and installed dedicated vomit stations equipped with protective gear. They are also providing one-ounce lemon shots at breakfast and elderberry gummy supplements, though participation is optional. Some families have chosen to retrieve their children for a few days, but most expect the affected campers to return for the remainder of the season.
Why it matters
The outbreak highlights health-risk challenges at expensive summer camps and the impact on families paying high tuition.
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