COVID-19 Guidelines for Summer Camp

COVID-19 Guidelines for Summer Camp Operations

PRE-CAMP/ PRE-SCREENING

It will be highly recommended that for the two weeks leading up to a child’s arrival at camp the guardian complete a daily temperature log.

Do NOT send your child to camp if any of the following apply:

« Fever greater than 100°F

« Dry Cough/Shortness of Breath

« Pneumonia or flu in the last 14 days

« Air travel in the last 14 days

« Been on a cruise ship in the last 14 days

« Been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with or had potential exposure to COVID-19, including a person who is employed in the medical field, corrections, law enforcement, or another career which is likely to be exposed to COVID-19, in the last 14 days.

If your child has any of the above symptoms, exposures, or is currently running a fever greater than 100°F, they will not be admitted onto our campus.

Parents/Guardians are required to complete an exposure survey for each child attending camp. This survey will be collected on the first day of camp.

It is highly recommended that parents/guardians provide masks (one disposable per day or two fabric masks to be washed) for each child attending camp.

TRANSPORTATION: CAMPER PICK UP / PARENT DROP OFF

Guardians should be prepared to turn in exposure surveys for each child attending camp.
Each child will have their temperature checked before unloading luggage and checking-in.
It is highly recommended that campers wear masks while on the bus/vans.
Families must remain six feet apart from each other during pick up and drop off. Please remain in your vehicle as much as possible.
F.S.Y.R. staff will be wearing face masks and sanitizing hands before and after handling luggage/medications.
Temperatures are checked before boarding a F.S.Y.R. vehicle and/or upon arrival.

ARRIVAL AT CAMP

At the beginning of camp, we will hold small group trainings and demonstrations on behaviors and precautions campers should abide by to prevent the spread of COVID- 19, including:

−How and when to effectively wash and sanitize hands

−How to practice physical distancing in various settings (cafeteria, classrooms, cabins, etc.)

−Which symptoms to look out for and when to report them and to whom

−Coughing etiquette

−Other camp-specific policies or guidelines

DAY CAMP/ MOBILE CAMP GUIDANCE

Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures

Parents shall remain in their vehicles for the process. A staff member with face mask will check the camper in while maintaining social distancing. The camper will have their temperature taken at the car. Campers will be escorted to the cohort group for camp. When parents arrive to pick up their child(ren) they will contact the Site Director and the child will be escorted out to the vehicle.

DURING CAMP

Each morning, all campers and staff will have their temperatures recorded. Anyone with an elevated temperature will immediately be transported to the Medical Center and quarantined from the rest of the group.

Camp Group Cohorts

Each cabin group will be a “household” and interaction with any other cabin group will be socially distanced.

When indoors all campers are encouraged to wear face coverings and staff are required to wear face coverings.

Singing and chants will only be done outside in socially distanced groups.

After each activity one Group Leader will remain to clean the space and surfaces used during their group’s time at the activity/space. Activity Leaders and/or Senior Staff will ensure that two deep supervision remains in place during this time. Once per day, the space will be deep cleaned with the appropriate cleaning supplies and protection.

Campers and staff will not share towels, toiletries and/or any other personal care product with others. In the event a camper does not have an item they will be provided one and it is theirs to keep.

During transport, campers are encouraged to wear face coverings and staff are required to wear face coverings.

Meals

Meals will be served family style with one camp staff serving all campers at their table. Masks and gloves will be worn during table setting and food services. Table setters will wear masks and gloves when performing the end of meal table clearing. Following table clearing, all table setters will remove their gloves and immediately wash their hands. A maximum of three groups will be permitted in the Chuckwagon at a time to allow for maximum distancing per meal. Kitchen staff will wear masks and gloves while serving meals.

Arts & Crafts/Environmental Education

Each camper will have a separate kit for their arts and crafts project. All equipment used by an individual camper will be cleaned at the end of the event. Limit the number of individuals to the craft/Environmental Education area, incorporate increased spacing and physical distancing, and require staff to wear masks or face coverings.

Archery

Archery will be conducted in small groups. All equipment (e.g., bows and arrows, tennis rackets) will be cleaned and disinfected immediately after each cabin group. Cleaning and disinfection at the end of each day will also be conducted on all sports and range equipment.

Canoeing

Limit the amount of shared supplies and equipment per activity. Hand wash life jackets in hot soapy water. Allow to air dry and spray lifejackets with alcohol-based disinfectant spray. Commonly-touched surfaces of boats should be cleaned and disinfected after each use, following manufacturer instructions and the guidance in the Cleaning and Disinfecting section of this guide.

High Ropes

As Ropes course equipment is highly specialized the recommendations of the Alliance Collaborative for operations, cleaning, and distancing, will be followed to ensure the safety of the participants as well as the safety of the equipment.

Swimming

Each cabin group will be a “household” and interaction with any other cabin group will be socially distanced. Use of the swimming pool will only be by individual cabin groups. Only one cabin group will be at the pool/pool house at a time. Fifteen minutes will be allowed for the cleaning of the bath house before the next group arrives.

Large Group Activities

Large group activities will only take place out of doors in very large spaces. Each cabin group will be significantly distanced from other cabin groups. This may include group singing and chanting. Skit night and graduation will take place with only three cabins at a time to allow appropriate distance between cabin groups.

Recreational Equipment

Each cabin will have their own set of recreational equipment to use for team sports and group building. All recreational equipment will be cleaned at the end of each week. Campers and Staff will wash their hands for the recommended 20 seconds or more after each use.

Cabin Life

Cabins will only be utilized by the seven campers and two staff members assigned to that group. Sleeping will be in alternating fashion from bottom bunk to top bunk with head to toe configuration of all cabins. During the daytime when the cabins are empty, cabin windows are to be opened to allow for the transfer of fresh air in the cabin. All mattresses will be cleaned and disinfected and allowed to air dry at the end of each camp session. Bath houses will be cleaned between cabin groups with flat surfaces disinfected.

POST CAMP

To minimize transfer of coronavirus at camp, cleaning methods can be employed to reduce risk to campers and camp staff. Cleaning methods should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, such as Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs and CDC Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open. Recommended methods for typical cleaning procedures include two-stage cleaning and disinfecting. “Cleaning” entails washing with a detergent and water to remove soil, organic matter, and some microorganisms from a surface. Following a detergent and water wash, “disinfecting” entails use of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectant that must be applied in accordance with product manufacturer guidelines.

All surfaces will be cleaned at the end of each camp week. This is to include vehicles, supplies, furniture, linens, etc. to prepare for the next group of campers. CDC guidelines will be followed.

STAFF CLEANING GUIDELINES

Communal Spaces

Cleaning and disinfecting of communal spaces between groups. Disinfection after cleaning may not be feasible if scheduling of group activities does not allow for disinfectant to remain on treated surfaces for sufficient time to fully disinfect; scheduling of activities must allow time for the disinfection process.

Shared Items

Assigning items where possible to reduce the quantity of items shared. Also, cleaning and disinfecting of shared items between uses.

Frequently Touched Surfaces

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and common spaces multiple times daily.

Examples of frequently touched surfaces include tables, drinking fountains, door handles, hand railings, light switches, countertops, cabinet handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Any other surfaces frequently touched by campers or staff should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily or, preferably, several times per day. Cleaning of outdoor structures made of plastic or metal can be carried out according to typical camp cleaning practices. More frequent cleaning of high touch outdoor surfaces, such as grab bars or railings, is recommended. Outdoor wooden surfaces, such as play structures or benches, can be cleaned according to standard camp practices and more frequently if needed to remove obvious soiling.

Changing Areas/Locker Rooms

High touch surfaces within changing areas or locker rooms are cleaned more than once per day.

Toilets, Showers, Restrooms

High touch surfaces including toilets, showers, and restrooms are cleaned and disinfected more than once per day.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR CLEANING STAFF

Always refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of the product or products being used to obtain PPE requirements. SDS are to be kept in the clinic at each location.

Eye protection and gloves must be worn when preparing cleaning solutions, including dilute bleach solutions.
When finished, all cleaning staff must remove gloves first being careful not to contaminate the surrounding Gloves are to be removed by grasping from the inside and peeling inside out. Hands must be thoroughly washed for at least 20 seconds using soap and water. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water. Proper handwashing procedures are found on posters at every handwashing station.

CLEANING METHODS

Typical Cleaning for Non-Porous Surfaces

Cleaning staff should wear eye protection and disposable gloves.
Using a detergent cleaning solution, spray 6 to 8 inches from the non-porous surface and wipe with clean paper towels (or according to manufacturer’s instructions) to remove visible contamination, if present.
Make sure the surface is dry before applying disinfectant.
Review the instructions provided by the disinfectant manufacturer to note the concentration, application method, and necessary contact time. This will vary by product and type of cleaning activity.
Allow the disinfectant to remain on the surface for the instructed time and wipe with paper towels.
After a cleaning task is complete, remove the gown, followed by the gloves and dispose, as discussed in the “PPE for Cleaning Staff” section above. Carefully wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water as described in the PPE section. Hand sanitizer may be used if water is not available and no visible dirt is observed on hands.
Reusable aprons or work clothing may be used, if laundered or washed after use.

Typical Cleaning for Porous Surfaces

CDC recommends removing or limiting use of soft and porous materials, such as area rugs and couches, as they are more difficult to clean and disinfect. At this time few products for use on porous surfaces are EPA approved. Products identified contain the active ingredients quaternary ammonium and hydrogen peroxide, both of which should be used carefully by trained staff. In addition, some products’ manufacturer’s instructions note that they are not approved for use in California.

Eye protection and gloves should be worn during cleaning activities.
First remove visible contamination, if present, and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on porous surfaces.
Launder items, if applicable, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and then dry items completely.
Otherwise, use disinfectant products suitable for porous surfaces. NOTE: If some porous surfaces are not suitable for cleaning with disinfectants, then clean them as much as possible and attach a sign to them saying they are not to be used or touched for three days.

PREVENTION: Making It Less Likely that Communicable Disease Occurs at Camp

Implement practices that minimize potential for communicable disease once camp is in session:

Appropriate hand-washing and/or hand sanitizing. This assumes adequate wash basins and/or sanitizing pumps are at key locations.
Cough/sneeze “into your sleeve.” Covering coughs/sneezes with one’s hands is no longer desired behavior; bury coughs/sneezes in one’s elbow.
Keep peoples’ hands away from their faces.
Make it a camp rule that personal supplies – hairbrushes, pillows, caps, contact lens solutions, and make-up – belong to the owner and should not be shared with others.
Make it regular practice that one drinks only from one’s personal drinking cup; no sharing, even “to be nice. ”
Increase the social distance between people, especially in dining rooms.
Sleep head-to-toe rather than nose-to-nose – in bunks, tents & so forth. Go for the greatest distance between sleeping heads.
For resident camps: maintain at least 30” between beds and sleep head-to-toe (top bunk has the person’s head at one end, the bottom bunk has the person’s head at the other end).
Utilize universal precautions – for and by everyone.
Direct Health Center staff to isolate people with questionable symptoms until communicable illness can be ruled out.
Instruct staff to direct campers complaining of gastro-intestinal upset to the Health Center for assessment. Don’t wait for kids to throw up!
Make certain that food service staff know and implement safe food handling practices.
When food service personnel have questionable symptoms, especially those associated with the gastro-intestinal track, keep them away from food preparation until appropriately improved.

STAFF POLICIES

For the health and safety of all persons involved in camp staff must adhere to the following guidelines:

When out in the general public; staff are required to wear face masks. This includes camper pick up trips, fuel runs, and visits to stores.
When off duty staff are to maintain social distancing from the general public and avoid large group gatherings.

The information in this document was sourced from: https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/coronavirus/camp-business/camp- operations-guide-summer-2020

Field Guide for Camps on Implementation of CDC Guidance Prepared for: American Camp Association, Inc. and Y-USA, Inc.

Prepared by: Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. 180 Wells Avenue, Suite 200,

Newton, MA 02459-3328800-825-5343

May 18, 2020