As 2022 progresses, we expect that the restrictions and guidelines for safe behavior and social distancing will be updated by the State. The guidelines outlined below are from 2021, and we plan to keep them in place until we hear differently from public health officials.
If things change over the course of the summer, we will update our guidelines accordingly. Unless otherwise notified, this notification covers all regulations for the current session your child/children is/are attending.
Jo-Anne Crawford will be responsible for responding to any COVID-19 concerns. Please contact her via email or phone (978 853 7873) if you have any questions.
On the first day of each camp session, we will review our COVID protocols with campers and counselors. We will educate campers about COVID symptoms, encourage them to report any symptoms, and require that they stay home if they are sick. We will also ensure that each camper knows how to obtain a replacement mask if needed.
Visitors and parents will not be allowed to accompany campers during the day.
Daily Dos and Don’ts:
• All campers and staff are required to bring a mask with them to camp every day.
• Parents are responsible for dropping their children off with a mask and hand sanitizer in their backpack.
• We will have extra disposable masks and hand sanitizer available for any camper who loses or misplaces either one during camp hours.
• We will also have extra hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes available for cleaning before and after lunch, snack, and bathroom breaks.
• Unvaccinated campers will be required to maintain 3 feet of distance between each other.
• As always, we will be asking parents to sign everyone in upon arrival at camp. This year, you will also be certifying that no one in your household has experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 24 hours, that your camper(s) is not required to be in COVID-19 isolation or quarantine, and that they have not been given any fever reducing medication. These forms will be maintained on file for the duration of each session.
• Any COVID vaccination records must be submitted with camper health records.
• All shared equipment will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
• In the event one of our campers tests positive for COVID-19, we will notify the Mass Department of Public Health Sanitation Program, the Gloucester Board of Health, and all parents of campers enrolled in the session as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours.
Transportation and Bus Guidelines:
• In order to stay as safe as possible, campers will be required to wear masks on the bus, and we will have assigned seating for each session.
• Bus windows will be open at least two inches at all times.
• Counselors will be assigned to ensure that all campers adhere to these health and safety guidelines.
• We will have extra disposable masks available on the bus for any camper who cannot find their mask.
• As usual, we will be transporting our campers on one of the Gloucester School system’s buses. We will clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces after each bus ride and will require that the interior of each vehicle is cleaned and thoroughly disinfected at least once in every 24 period.
• Exceptions to masks: Campers with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks may wear face shields as an option. These campers must maintain 3 feet of distance between themselves and others.
Cohorts:
• Unvaccinated campers will be assigned to the same cohort for the duration of the program session. Cohorts will not be combined at any time, and staff will not float between cohorts unless needed to provide supervision of specialized activities or to provide breaks for other staff.
• Two or more cohorts of campers and counselors may gather in the same area. If indoors, campers will be required to wear masks and each cohort will keep 3 feet between them.
• We will ensure that campers/staff belongings are stowed and carried in a manner that prevents groups from congregating in the same area.
• We will stagger use of bathrooms, require campers to wash their hands, and disinfect in between uses.
• Each cohort will be limited to groups of under 25 not including staff. We will require campers to wear masks and practice safe social distancing (3 feet) indoors. Outdoors, we will not require campers to wear masks but we will ask children not to congregate too closely in the same area.
Isolation and Quarantine
In the event that any camper or counselor exhibits signs and symptoms of COVID, we will isolate the child from the rest of the group and notify their emergency contact for immediate pick up. The camper will not be allowed to return to camp until we receive a negative test result.
Please note that we will be unable to refund camp tuition in the event of a positive COVID event that requires suspension of any ongoing session.