Updated as of Jan. 27th, 2021
While many remarkable strides have been made in the past 12 months since we were all introduced to COVID-19, at this time it is unlikely that the Summer of 2021 will involved full heard/community immunity. The families who join us for Summer 2021 are those who feel strongly that the benefits of their children being outdoors in a camp situation outweigh the potential health risks associated with COVID-19. We continue to review the camp guidelines published by the MA Department of Public Health and have conferred with the Sharon Health Department. In addition, we are closely connected to the American Camp Association's national task force responsible for guidelines for safe summer camp operation. In concert with these guidelines, and with our experience in 2020 we are confident there is a way forward to create a fun and responsible summer camp environment for everyone involved. Will all of our efforts eliminate all health risk? No. That being, with a well-planned and organized set of mitigation strategies, staff training and awareness, close collaboration with our Sharon Health Department, and partnership with our camp families, we can lower the risk of spread of COVID-19.
All parents or guardians, and all staff must complete a health attestation for each child every day prior to arriving at camp. The Health Attestation form asks the parent/guardian to confirm that the child has not exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 nor been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual. Campers and counselors will be organized into “group cohorts” that will remain together all day, every day. Groups will not come within 6 feet of contact with each other, except in uncommon situations when social distancing cannot be maintained (e.g., rainy days, or some emergency situations). For these situations when safety is paramount, campers and counselors will carry masks with them at all times and they will be instructed to wear them when within less than six feet of others. In addition, Campers and counselors will be advised to keep six feet of distance from their camp group members as much as possible, but kids are kids, and we are assuming that there will be times where this does not happen. Campers WILL be asked to wear masks unless they are 6 feet away from others, eating or drinking, or swimming. Families will need to supply at least 2 clean cloth masks or face coverings for their child to allow for replacing the covering as needed. Masks should be cleaned daily, CLEARLY LABELED, and masks should be clearly marked to distinguish which side of the covering should be worn facing outwards. Campers and Staff will be instructed in proper hand washing techniques and will be required to wash their hands regularly throughout the day. Everwood will also be using liquid hand sanitizer during times that hand washing isn’t available or easily accessible. More specifically, hand-washing/sanitizing will occur: We will also be encouraging and teaching other healthy habits including covering coughs and sneezes, not sharing drinks or food, and proper use of hand sanitizer. If handwashing is not available, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent ethanol or at least 70 percent isopropanol may be utilized as appropriate to the ages of children and only with written parent permission to use.
The following new symptoms, if observed in a child or staff member are cause for immediate isolation and exclusion from Camp The following symptoms, if observed in combination with symptoms above, are cause for immediate isolation and exclusion from camp: If an individual is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual, they must quarantine until they are released by a public health authority (either the Local Board of Health or the Community Tracing Collaborative). In general, a close contact will need to quarantine for: If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they may return to care or work when they have been released from isolation by a public health authority (either the Local Board of Health or the Community Tracing Collaborative). Return will typically be 10 days after symptom onset if the symptoms are improving AND the individual has been fever-free without fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours, or 10 days from test date if the individual is asymptomatic. If an individual is symptomatic, they should be tested for COVID-19 using a PCR test. If a symptomatic individual does not get tested, they may return after 10 days in self-isolation AND their symptoms are improving AND they have been fever-free without fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours. If a symptomatic individual tests negative for COVID-19, they may return to care or work when symptoms begin to improve AND they have been fever-free without fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours. Bathrooms and common high-touch areas/surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals throughout the camp day, and all buildings will be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day. Specialists will disinfect all shared equipment between each group that visits their activity, and group counselors will disinfect all equipment assigned to their group after each use. For 2021, Campers must come to camp with their own dedicated personal floatation device/life jacket that is provided by families. Life jackets must be U.S. Coast Guard Approved – USCG Approved Type III Device appropriate for your child’s weight and clearly labeled with your child’s name. We are watching the area of testing protocols closely and believe we may be able to have some testing capabilities at camp this summer. Please check back here for new developments in this area. While we are encouraged by the roll-out of vaccines, at this time we are unsure if all of our camp staff will be able to be vaccinated in time to have immunity prior to the summer. Information we’ve been given suggests children will not be getting the vaccine until the end of 2021 or early 2022. As such, it can not be expected that we have heard/community immunity leading into the summer and that the precautions listed above will still be necessary.
