The following procedures will be followed to the extent possible:
Camper Groups - Campers will be organized into stable groups of 12 or fewer people (campers and staff combined). “Stable” means that the same 12 or fewer people are in the same group each day. Children will not change from one group to another. We will have multiple groups at Camp so that each group will be in a separate room and not mix with other groups. The Camp staff will also be assigned to only one group of children.
Space and Activities - Rooms and spaces will be arranged to put six feet between children’s activity stations, tables, and chairs. We have designed camp activities for your camper that will teach new skills needed such as hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying six feet apart. We will ensure that we have ample space in restrooms and will also monitor the total number of children using the restrooms at any given time in order to allow for social distancing. We have eliminated all large group and whole group camp gatherings and will stagger activities so that no two groups will be in the same area at the same time. Activities that utilize shared equipment or that include physical contact will only be played within the same stable group of children, and equipment and furniture will be sanitized between groups.
Personal Hygiene - Campers and staff will wash hands with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer before and after eating, drinking, touching eyes/nose/mouth, toileting or diapering, and physical contact with each other. Campers and staff will work to cover coughs with a sleeve or tissue. We will encourage other ways to greet and celebrate each other such as bows or elbow bumps and we will encourage handwashing or hand sanitizer after touch to make it part of the fun experience.
Face Coverings - Staff will wear a face covering over their nose and mouth as much as possible. The CDC does not require children under 12 to wear face coverings, but we plan to work with campers on becoming more comfortable wearing face coverings. We ask that all families send a face covering with their child to camp each day. Face coverings should be washed frequently.
Health Screening – Every day, we will be screening campers and staff upon arrival (campers at the car) for fever. If a staff member or camper shows a fever of 100°F or above, they will not be permitted to enter camp and should seek medical care immediately if symptoms, such as a high fever or difficulty breathing, become more severe. Campers or staff who are sick with other illnesses that meet the usual exclusion criteria should also stay home. It is safe to return to Camp when respiratory symptoms have improved, there is no fever for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines, and at least ten days have passed since illness onset.
Facilitated Drop Off and Pick Up – Drop-off and pick-up of your camper will be facilitated to and from your car by camp staff. The staff will greet you and escort the campers in and out. All family members will remain in their car in order to limit the amount of close contact between campers, staff, and families during high-traffic times. Any communication or items that require a family’s signature will be brought to you in your car. Electronic devices and other tools utilized for check-in/out will be sanitized frequently.
Facility Cleaning - The Camp facility will be routinely cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected and include surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. This may also include cleaning objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, sink handles, countertops, desks, chairs, and playground structures.
Communications Plan – This information regarding steps being taken by the camp to prevent any exposure will be shared with staff and the families. We will also share resources to help families understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and when it is necessary to keep children home. Please refer to the following fact sheets and resources to better understand COVID-19 and the steps you can take to protect yourselves. If you are unable to access these links and would like a hard copy, please inform camp staff and they will provide you with a printed copy of these resources.
Response to a COVID Case - In the event of a confirmed, positive COVID-19 case in the Camp, we will contact the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD). If we cannot reach anyone from ACPHD in a timely manner, we may need to consider dismissal of campers and most staff until ACPHD can work with us to determine appropriate next steps, including cleaning and disinfection of the facility, and whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to investigate and stop or slow further spread of COVID-19. ACPHD recommendations for the scope and duration of dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis using the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the specific cases in the community. In the event that there is a need to communicate any information to families, we will prepare a letter, balancing transparency and confidentiality when releasing details about the case.
