COVID-19 OPERATIONS GUIDE & PROTOCOLS

INTRODUCTION

We are eagerly awaiting the reopening of Arizona Camp Sunrise and Sidekicks in-person, overnight camps.  

The information surrounding COVID-19 is constantly changing and evolving.  As we make plans to hold in person camp events, we know that we will need to continually monitor the CDC guidelines and revise our plans to reflect current information.

Camp is an inherently risky adventure that provides amazing friendships and growth experiences for our campers and staff.  It is important to remember that we need to assess our own level of comfort regarding the virus and acknowledge that the range of feelings about COVID-19 is broad.  While we do our best at camp to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible, we are not superheroes when it comes to COVID-19.  There is still uncertainty and risk surrounding the virus.  We will continue to do our best to adapt as the pandemic evolves. We will try to make decisions with the health and safety in mind for all campers and staff and do what we need to for the greater good of all involved.

Our camp will continue to work closely with Camp Whispering Hope to ensure that we mutually follow each other’s COVID-19 protocols.

Our “Roadmap to 2023 COVID-19 Operations Guide” uses the Guidance for Operating Youth Camps  from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Field Guide for Camps from American Camp Association (ACA), and Guidance for Families and Pediatricians on Camp Attendance During the COVID-19 Pandemic from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  We have also gathered information from other summer camps, our camp medical team, pediatricians, and infectious disease experts.

Assessing program readiness and availability will be done prior to the event by a committee consisting of, but not limited to:  Camp Director, Medical Directors, Assistant Camp Directors, Program Director, Camp Volunteers, and Executive Director.

Refer to the General Resources section for CDC, ACA, and AZ Dept of Health Services for checklists and additional guidance.

The designated COVID-19 Ambassador and/or team will be determined and designated prior to the in-person camp event. 


ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

ELIGIBILITY

  • If your child is off active treatment, or still on active treatment but in the maintenance phase only, then all children aged 8 – 16 years old in your family are eligible to participate in the Arizona Camp Sunrise and Sidekicks’ Summer Programs. At this point, we are only offering spaces to children and siblings of children on maintenance or off therapy entirely. 

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CAMPERS AND STAFF

  • At this time, vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, are required for those who are medically eligible.  All required doses need to be administered and completed by June 1, 2023. If any participant cannot be vaccinated, they will need to provide a signed doctor’s note detailing the reasons why and this will be reviewed by the medical team on a case-by-case basis. This is currently under review and may or may not be the case for summer 2023.

  • A physical and mandatory doctor’s signature on our camp’s health form will be required for each participant.

  • All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test, performed within 72 hours prior to departure for camp. No earlier than June 23, 2023 for Sidekicks campers and July 2nd, 2023 for Sunrise campers.

  • All forms must be completed by June 4th, 2023.

A HEALTHY CAMP BEGINS BEFORE CAMP

In addition to our current medical procedures, campers and staff will be asked to follow CDC recommended behaviors prior to arrival at camp.  This includes good handwashing, wearing face coverings while around others, daily monitoring of health, and avoiding close contact with people who are displaying signs of the virus, the flu, and/or colds.  

Campers and staff will be asked to self-monitor and conduct the following pre-screening activities prior to the arrival at camp:

  • Self-screen for the presence of COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath

  • Diarrhea

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • Muscle aches

  • Nausea

  • Loss of taste and/or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Vomiting

  • Anyone who exhibits any of the symptoms listed above will be asked to stay at home.

  • If anyone has been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, please inform our camp prior to arrival.

VACCINATIONS

At this time, vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, are required for those who are medically eligible and plan to attend camp.  All required doses need to be administered three weeks prior to camp: June 1, 2023. If any participant cannot be vaccinated, they will need to provide a signed doctor’s note detailing the reasons why and this will be reviewed by the medical team on a case-by-case basis (this is under review and may or may not be the case for summer 2023).

Families can input the dates of their children’s vaccinations in their dashboards on CampSite.

PRE-CAMP TESTING

Campers and staff will be required to complete at least one molecular PCR-type COVID-19 test no older than 3 DAYS prior to the arrival at camp and submit the written results to camp.  The test must be negative for anyone to attend.  As the time for camp gets closer, the procedures to submit COVID-19 test results will be communicated to families and staff. Additionally, a rapid antigen test will be performed on arrival prior to parents leaving the site. Any campers with a positive test at that time will be sent home with parents.


PRE-ARRIVAL SCREENING FORM

Campers, with assistance from parents, and staff members, will be asked to complete a COVID-19 Pre-Screening form the day of arrival at camp.  This form will be required of everyone attending our camp programs.  The content and location of the form will be completed and disseminated to all prior to camp.  This form will be on everyone’s CampSite dashboard.

HEALTH SCREENING

We will continue to have a health screening for all campers at the bus pickup sites or at camp if they are being dropped off by family members/guardians. Family members will be asked to stay in their car and wait until the health screening is completed before leaving. Staff will assist campers with their luggage.

In addition to our usual screening, temperatures will be taken using an infrared forehead thermometer.  Under the guidance of the CDC, any person with an actual temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher should not be allowed to board the bus to camp and will not be allowed to be at camp.  If a camper is dropped off at camp and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, we will ask you to please take your camper home.

All staff will have their health screenings immediately upon arrival at camp.  All staff who will be accompanying campers on the buses will be screened at the bus pickup site prior to boarding the bus.


CAMPER AND STAFF FORMS

As in pre-COVID years, all camper and staff forms must be completed prior to camp.  Forms will be checked for completion by camp staff and medical staff will review them.  All forms must be completed by June 4th, 2023.

TRANSPORTATION

For the summer 2023 program, transportation will be provided. Drop off location TBD.

WHAT WILL CAMP LOOK LIKE?

Our safety plans for camp rely on many non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as hand-washing, social distancing, masks, and our camp “bubble”.  Each of these NPIs adds another layer of protection.  None of these layers can be done perfectly, which is why having multiple layers is important.

We want to have as “normal” a camping experience as possible while maintaining safety.  We realize that some of these NPIs were not part of our pre-COVID camping lives, but many have become acceptable during these COVID times. 

CAPACITY

The capacity of our programs will be driven by CDC and ACA guidelines and we will take into consideration camper to staff ratios, transportation issues, cabin capacities, meals, programs, etc.   

Cabin capacities will be limited to two counselors and up to eight campers per cabin, depending on cabin capacity.  Each cabin group will be considered a pod.

MASKS – WHERE & WHEN

Please plan on packing and bringing at least three masks.  We will have disposable masks available.

Please plan on wearing a mask during the following times:

  • On arrival day, whether at the bus pick-up site or being dropped off at camp

  • We ask that people dropping off campers, campers, and staff all wear masks at check-in

  • In indoor areas with multiple cabin groups

  • Whenever you’re mixing with campers from another cabin

  • Staff, when you’re teaching campers from different cabins

  • As directed by Camp Nurses/Drs. and/or staff

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Campers will be spaced out in their cabins so that they are not placing their heads next to each other while sleeping.

Campers will only be allowed to enter their own cabins and campers will only be allowed on their own beds.

Further distancing guidelines will be updated prior to camp.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

We will have enhanced cleaning and disinfecting around the camp facility.  High touch surfaces will be cleaned frequently.

Program equipment will be cleaned frequently.

Enhanced bathroom cleaning measures will be in place.

Cleaning supplies will be located in every cabin and building on campus for frequent cleaning.

AT CAMP TESTING

In addition to the PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival at camp and rapid test on arrival to camp, we will be testing every participant on or around the 72 hour mark after camp begins. Positivity protocols will be enacted with positive persons leaving the camp property to go home and their respective group members quarantined as per protocol. Testing prior to departures at the end of each camp session may or may not be indicated and will remain under review.

HAND WASHING AND SANITIZING STATIONS

Hand sanitizer will be available at each cabin, in the dining hall, and around program areas.

Campers and staff will be instructed in proper hand washing techniques and will be required to wash their hands regularly throughout the day.

Hand washing/sanitizing will happen:  before and after each activity, before and after eating, after sneezing, coughing, or nose blowing, after using the restroom and after using shared equipment.

DINING HALL

Mealtimes at Arizona Camp Sunrise and Sidekicks are an important part of the culture of our camps.  Meals typically offer a time for our Campily to get to know others outside of their cabin groups and to foster camp-wide friendships.  Meals will have to “look” and “feel” different this year, but this is simply one aspect of camp where protocols must be followed to keep everyone safe and healthy.  Mealtimes will be staggered to avoid large occupancy.

During meals, we will be reducing the group size and utilizing outdoor dining spaces.  We will all eat meals outside under the dining ramada at Whispering Hope!

Campers and staff will be required to wash their hands with soap and water prior to entering the dining hall and washing or sanitizing their hands after eating.

Specific meal procedures are being developed in conjunction with staff from Camp Whispering Hope – including entry and flow, physical distancing, meal distribution, serving, seating, and cleanup.

We are working on some new ideas for announcements.

ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS

We are currently planning programs with intention and safety in mind.  

We will limit the number of activities that are held inside, including meals. Activities will be held outdoors whenever possible. If indoor activities are required (e.g. inclement weather), every effort will be made for those activities to be held in a pod’s unit. If either of these scenarios is not possible, masks must be worn by campers and staff.

Large group activities where the entire population of camp is gathered in one place and intermingled will look different. Traditional large group activities will be modified so that each pod can participate at the same time while socially distanced. For example, a campfire will have designated spots for each pod to sit which will be more than six feet away from any other pod. In addition, pods will focus on smaller activities within their own groups that they choose or design.

We will limit the sharing of program equipment as much as possible.  Everyone will wash their hands before and after handling equipment.

We will sanitize materials and equipment between use, as much as possible.

We will alter the daily schedule to increase distancing between groups and prevent crowding.

VISITORS

Due to COVID-19, no outside visitors during active camp sessions will be allowed at this time.