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Mondamin – Green Cove Covid Plan 2022 (April 15th)
Last summer, we were thrilled to be able to open camp, and we had a healthy and successful summer. As we look forward to summer 2022, we will build on the knowledge and experiences of last summer. Like last year, our medical panel will continue to guide us based on the latest science, CDC guidance, and industry standards to adjust plans accordingly. Significant improvements – or setbacks – with covid cases could result in corresponding relaxation or tightening of our procedures.
If you had a camper with us in 2021, you will see below that our current updated Covid plan takes in to account the overall improvement in circumstances such as vaccination rates and milder variants.
You will notice it in the reduced amount of masking which may occur and in how we will continue to watch conditions that could warrant further reduction or going mask-optional entirely.
You will also notice that we are considering returning to our indoor dining hall and/or assembly rooms.
With all of these “less strict” choices – a possible return to the indoor dining hall and/or assembly room, or going mask-optional, etc. – comes the recognition that these choices increase the likelihood of exposure to Covid for all campers and staff.
We are also aware that while in 2021, the goal of a “Covid free summer” was reasonable, the current more contagious & vaccine-resistant variants make that outcome less likely. The chances of exposure are simply higher.
Like last year, your adherence to our pre-camp regimen will be one of the biggest keys to success.
Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated: There will be no difference in the day-to-day life of a camper based on their vaccination status. Parents of campers who are not “Up to Date” according to the current CDC guidelines, meaning they have not received all recommended doses in the primary series and one booster when eligible, should take special note of the “Close Contacts” section below as it is the one area in which there is a major difference.
Who should not come to camp?
Covid Plan as of April, ‘22
This plan maintains the key elements of our program – such as campers choosing their activities, mixing with campers of different ages, moving along skill progressions, and tripping with same-skill level campers etc.
Location Based Masking:
We will mitigate spread of Covid through location-based masking; meaning masks only in certain indoor areas such the Nature Lab, Green Cove crafts, and Rifle Range.
It is possible that we may be able to eliminate masking by summer even in these areas with the recognition that it would increase the likelihood of exposure to Covid for all campers and staff.
Details, details, details…
Pre-camp preparation:
A healthy camp starts at home!
Starting 10 days prior to your camper’s arrival we will be asking you to partner with us in limiting Covid at camp. Together our community can come together before camp through daily health logs and by exceeding current CDC guidance to reduce exposure. This will include limiting unnecessary travel and we will ask that you and your child refrain from any gatherings that could increase covid exposure (i.e., do not attend indoor activities such as parties, get-togethers with friends or family, end of year programs, indoor sports, or other outings). It is essential that campers coming from school, educational opportunities, or outdoor sports practices, adhere to public health guidance. We will ask you to monitor symptoms and exposure for 10 days prior to arriving at camp and fill out the form that will be available.
Testing Routine:
Campers will need to arrive at camp with a negative PCR test taken within 3 days before camp. Details on this, as with the pre-camp Health Log, will follow.
We are likely to administer a rapid test on Opening Day.
During the 2, 3 and 5-week sessions, we will be doing a PCR test on everyone 5 days into the session.
Traveling to camp: If you are traveling by car, we ask you to not make any unnecessary stops and to wear masks/distance if you need to get out of your car for gas/food/bathroom stops.
If you are traveling by plane, flyers must follow CDC mask and distancing protocols in the airports and while on the plane. Even if flying mask requirements are dropped by summer, we will still ask that all campers flying wear their mask as currently required.
International Travelers: Current US rules require those flying from other countries to be fully vaccinated, to take a PCR the day before departure, and to mask during travel. Even if the US drops any of these rules by summer, we will still ask that campers comply with all three rules.
Opening Day: We are planning to have staggered drop off times, drive through “stations’’ for all of the necessary Opening Day activities, and staff ready to deliver your camper’s luggage to their cabin for you. Parents will need to plan to stay in their cars the entire time except for a brief hug goodbye. Please keep other children in the car. No restrooms will be available at camp.
At Camp:
Meals: We are prepared to eat meals as we did last year, using the festival style tents outside.
As conditions warrant, we hope to return to our indoor dining hall, with the recognition that as a matter of science it increases the likelihood of exposure to Covid for all campers and staff.
Morning Assembly: We held these outside in 2021 and may do so again this summer. We hope that conditions by summer will allow to our regular indoor assembly rooms with the same recognition as applies to indoor dining.
Trip Protocols: When going out of camp, we plan to avoid trips to areas that are often the most crowded, not interact with other groups in the woods, and increase staff-controlled food handling. Additionally, we will use open air tarps, unless a camper has a solo tent or happens to be on a trip with a “family group” member and wants to share a tent.
Hygiene Practices: As we did last year, we will step up frequent hand washing and access to hand sanitizer as well as intensifying the cleaning and disinfection practices around camp, including cabin bathrooms, high touch areas, and shared equipment.
Face Coverings: We will ask you to send 10 multi-layered washable face coverings (not buffs) with your camper’s full name on them. Please make sure the face coverings are well fitting and stay in place during physical activity.
It is possible that we may be able to go mask-optional with the recognition that it increases the likelihood of exposure to Covid for all campers and staff.
Possible or Positive Cases: If a camper has symptoms, they will be evaluated by our medical team and tested with a rapid test or PCR test that we will have at the ready. If a camper is positive, they will be isolated in the care of our infirmary staff until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian.
Parents must be prepared to pick up any Covid-positive camper within 24-48 hours.
We are working with our medical team to create a threshold to determine when (depending on the length of the session) a camper might be able to return to the camp population.
“Close Contacts”: Those campers in a Covid-positive camper’s cabin and their adjoining cabin will be considered their close contacts.
Following CDC guidelines, Campers who are “Up to Date” with their Covid vaccine, (meaning two doses of primary series plus one booster if eligible) will be able to continue their normal camp routine while monitored for symptoms. Campers who are not “Up to Date” or unvaccinated will do limited activities, separate meals, etc. in quarantine apart from the camp population until our medical staff has cleared them based on best practice at that time. If the CDC changes their guidelines we will change with them.
Visiting Days: We will not be able to have any visiting this summer.
“Co-eds”: We hope to be able to have co-eds only if it is safe to do so.
Cabins: Campers will not be allowed to enter other cabins. Hanging out with friends from other cabins will take place in our endless open spaces, as it often does anyway.
Staff: Staff who are not fully vaccinated by the time camp starts will not be allowed to leave camp during their time off.
Fully vaccinated staff will be permitted to leave camp during their time off under much stricter circumstances than in a normal year.
As always, please feel free to email or call us with any question or concerns.
For more information on vaccine boosters and what Quarantine will look like, click here.