BENNINGTON — While area residents have expressed outrage and concern following the kick-off of a summer camp at now-closed Southern Vermont College, state officials and camp leaders say the camp is operating within state guidelines.
VTDigger received a number of messages Monday and Tuesday alleging the presence of a “massive” summer camp held at the campus of Southern Vermont College. The college closed last summer after losing its accreditation because of financial concerns. A private group has leased the facilities.
Vermont’s state of emergency currently allows summer camps to operate within certain parameters, including that the camp is operated at 75 percent capacity, that groups greater than 25 people are given space to socially distance, and that campers either quarantine at camp or at home prior to traveling to Vermont.
Some residents assumed that the camp bussed in 900 campers, based on the number of charter buses that filed into the campus on Sunday.
Moshe Perlstein, camp organizer, director of Zichron Chaim and the property’s current leasee, said the camp hosts fewer than 400 children, all of whom were tested for Covid-19 prior to traveling to Vermont. Campers mainly traveled from New Jersey and New York.
Perlstein said using more buses allowed campers to socially distance on board. Residents estimated the number of buses at around 15.
“All that I continue to say is that we are a 1000 percent diligent,” Perlstein said, “and serious about respecting the quality of life of Vermonters, and respecting the quality of life of the people who live near the college campus.”
Email correspondences between Michael Schirling, commissioner at the Vermont Department of Public Safety, and Paul Dansereau, code enforcement officer, building inspector and fire marshall for the Town of Bennington indicate that the state believes Perlstein’s camp is adhering to state guidelines.
“DPS has not been involved as there is no indication of non-compliance at this stage,” Schirling wrote to Dansereau.
Referring to Perlstien, Schirling later added: “He was eager to comply and understand if there was anything he should be doing differently. As an example, he was asked about cloth face coverings, and when I pointed out all staff need to wear them, and that his campers should wear them, he said it would be done before the end of the day.”
While the state assumes Perlstein is accurate in his claims of compliance, officials say they would not intervene unless they had reason to believe Perlstein had violated Covid-19 restrictions.
In a statement, Rob McDougall, co-chair of the Attorney General Office’s rapid response team, said that Perlstein is in direct communication with appropriate state officials.
“It is the Attorney General’s Office’s understanding that camp organizers are in direct communication with officials from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Department of Health regarding requirements of the Governor’s executive order,” he wrote. “As is the case with all summer camps operating in the state, our office expects that this camp will voluntarily comply with the requirements identified in ACCD’s guidance to Overnight Summer Camps and Limited Residential Summer College Programming.”
According to a summary of the camp’s timeline, provided by Dansereau, Southern Vermont College owners entered into an occupancy agreement with Perlstein on June 29, allowing the former college grounds to be used as a summer camp.
The following day, Dansereau asked Perlstein which buildings on the campus he intended to use. He said he would need the gymnasium, the dorms and the dining facility. Dansereau inspected the buildings July 1.
Through in-person conversations between Dansereau and Perlstein on July 1, Dansereau learned that a State of Vermont Restaurant Health Inspector had already inspected the dining hall, that the camp was aware of state guidelines for operating summer camps, and that youth attendees for the camp, ages 12 to 15, had quarantined before their arrival.
Facebook posts and comments that circulated about the camp questioned whether campers would be traveling throughout Bennington during their stay. According to Perlstein, campers will remain on campus for the entirety of the summer.
“We had trips to the mountains, bowling — all types of trips,” he said. “But they came here, and the next time they leave, it’s to go home. We have 371 acres. It’s enough room to walk the campus. They’re not going anywhere else.”
Perlstein said he had seen Facebook posts critical of the camp, including claims some of the children had not been vaccinated.
“If you don’t have your vaccination papers from the doctor, you’re not allowed into camp,” he said. “You have to be fully vaccinated.”
Criticism of Perlstein arose when a video of a man, which a blog alleges is Perlstein, drove a car toward a pedestrian, who identified herself as a concerned resident who lives near the campus and came by to see why so many buses had driven onto the property.
While the resident claims the car tried to run her over, Perlstein said the driver was not him, and that the driver was attempting to block the woman, who he said was trespassing, from entering the property further.
“We have to protect the lives and the privacy of our campers,” he said, adding that he called the Bennington Police Department, which dispatched an officer to the scene.
Bennington Police could not be reached Tuesday to confirm their involvement in the incident.
Perlstein emphasized that he hopes to make peace with any Bennington community members who feel at risk because of the camp’s presence.
“I’m ready to have a conversation,” he said. “Let’s get off Facebook, let’s get off social media, and let’s talk. And I will listen, and I will compromise, and I’ll give them what they want.”
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