JULY 11th- DELAYED PHYSICAL OPENING OF RESIDENT CAMP
In evaluating the status of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and other surrounding areas, Summit has determined that the best decision in regards to resident camp operations for 2020 is to alter our session start dates as well as composition. We will provide a delayed start for the CENTER, MINI CAMP and A1 session campers. However, there will also be an earlier start for the A2 and A3 campers.
We have made this determination based on the following factors:
The primary motivation is to have all large groups start on the same days. This creates a closed community in which change of sessions does not bring in campers who have been in other areas or programs while others depart the programs.
The secondary motivation is to open the programs for campers 30-45 days AFTER when our state (PA) and the surrounding states are in the re-opening phases (May 22nd we enter the Yellow Phase, for example).
The final motivation is to allow our camper families as much flexibility in time spent at the program as we can provide under the current circumstances.
STAFF ARRIVALS OVERVIEW
Under the delayed start model, the staff arrival dates will now be as follows:
MONDAY JUNE 15th: Directorship, Medical, and Opening Staff as specified in direct contact
MONDAY JUNE 22nd: ALL American Staff (Including US Senior staff not in the opening phase)
WEDNESDAY JULY 1st: ALL International Staff (Including International Senior staff)
STAFF DEPARTURES OVERVIEW
Staff will depart at the end of the contract as needed; however, cannot return to camp after a significant departure.
End of season contracts remain the same date- August 31st and September 1st according to your contract.
TIME TO REVIEW and ARRIVALS PROCEDURE.
In order to prepare for the season ahead we need to have an idea of how many staff are both still interested and able to follow the requirements to make it to camp. With that in mind we are asking the following:
All American staff: A contract with new dates will be created in Camp In Touch for you to review. You will be asked for a confirmation of the new contract by May 30th. American staff may arrive to camp in their own personal vehicle, direct airport pick up, or by drop off. All American incoming flights must be to NEWARK, NEW JERSEY for pick up.
All International staff: A contract with the new start date will be created in Camp In Touch. All our staffing agencies will be notified of this change of start at the time of this letter. International staff will have to provide the following details in order to confirm arrival/maintain staff contract: Date of Embassy appointment if you do not yet have a VISA; Flight details to New York. International Staff have until Monday, June 15th to provide these details. International staff will be collected directly at the airport of arrival and taken to camp. Arrivals should be made to LGA (LaGuardia) airport, JFK (KENNEDY) or EWR (Newark) airport on July 1st.
STAFF TIME OFF DURING CAMP:
Staff will continue to have time off, days off and evenings off during camp. However they will have to modified to maintain an isolated community. We will have a set plan for spaces of time off, and increased amenities on camp, that address the needs of staff time off.
OVERALL COMMUNITY and STAFF FLEXIBILITY
Know that our overall community size will not be as large as it would have been in prior years. We may not be able to operate or hold all our program areas or even have a need for all the programming we generally run. Indeed, we will operate much more like a much smaller program would under their normal circumstances.
Our first responsibilities in 2020 are to keep our kids safe and supervised. This means for program staff, the roles of counselors are first to be filled; then all full time specialists. This means you may spend all or part of your day supervising a bunk, even if you were initially hired to be a full time specialist. It is impossible as of today to say what coverage has been achieved, since all staff will have to be re-contracted. Yet if your main goal was to spend a summer at camp with the kids, know that this will of course be exactly what you are coming to do.
Support staff who obtain VISAS and come to camp cannot work directly with campers. However, you may be asked to do a variety of tasks within your area.
We will ALL have to spend time cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining camp during the summer.
CAMP SESSIONS OVERVIEW
In order to create a CLOSED community following the initial start date, sessions will depart in order from a unified start rather than “back to back” as usual.
ALL Sessions start: the weekend of July 11-12th.
Sessions END:
19th July (1 week) (MINI CAMP only campers end)
26th July (2 week) (A3 only campers end)
2nd Aug (3 week) (A1 or A2 only campers end)
9th Aug (4 week) (A1 plus MINI camp campers end)
16th Aug (5 week) (A2 plus A3 campers end)
23rd Aug (6 week) (A1 plus A2 campers end)
30th Aug (7 week). (THE CENTER, Mini Camp & A1 plus A2 campers end).
After campers arrivals:
In the next few pages you will see some of the differences in how the facility, program, and overall systems will work this season when campers arrive.
Know that the information below is not a complete overview of updates, and we are going to provide a lot of guidance as we move into the summer.
Please do note the following IMPORTANT DATES:
Resident camp must be active in the green zone no later than WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17th in order to prevent a further postponement / cancellation of programs.
RESIDENT CAMP ARRIVALS OF CAMPERS.
–All campers will arrive within an hour specifically arranged for their bunk to check in with medical staff and counseling staff.
Example:
“ST01-St02 campers may arrive from 11-12 NOON for check in”
Campers aged 15+ years (bunked in the Center, Upper Camp, or Travel On-site program) will arrive at designed hours on Saturday, July 11th
Campers below 15 years of age (bunked under 15’s bunks) will arrive at designated hours on Sunday July 12th.
Parents may briefly exit the vehicle to hug and say good bye while camper is briefly evaluated by camp medical staff (temperature, etc.). Siblings, if traveling with family, should remain in the vehicle. Parent(s) will have a verbal interview confirming details prior to camp season with a Director/Senior staff/Medical team member.
Note that this will be a relatively similar process to prior years’ drop off procedures, however is including 1- increased medical screening 2- VERY specific windows for drop off time. Parents will need to stay in touch regarding their bunk’s exact drop off time.
CAMPER’s TRANSPORTATION TO CAMP.
Parents must be able to provide door-door transportation to camp. We are not able to do Airport pick ups or bussing.
CAMPER’s DEPARTURES.
-In keeping with maintaining a closed community following arrivals, we will not be able to host any parent visiting days this summer. We hope to do live tour events with our campers in the days before the end of the sessions so that parents can see their camper’s group “in action!”.
-Departures will be handled by staff transferring campers directly to parents’ cars; including medications and luggage.
-Departure times will be sent for an exact window (which will be staggered by units much as drop off has been handled).
Preparation for opening: Staffs’ responsibilities
-Forms for arrival should be completely no later than June 15th.
-Staff must sign the coronavirus specific responsibilities and release by insurance company no later than June 15th.
CORONAVIRUS SPECIFIC MEDICAL PRIOR-TO-CAMP UPDATE.
Campers and Staff alike will have to be tested for coronavirus prior to camp and submit the results of a negative test. The test can take place no earlier than 86 hours (4 days) prior to arrival. Know that more specific details and recommendations about Coronavirus testing both prior to and on-site will be provided in follow up communications.
HEALTH CENTER and ISOLATION QUARTERS.
In addition to regular procedures and those outlined immediately above;
-PPE will be kept in the health center in increased supply.
-Daily temperature checks will be conducted with infrared (non-invasive) thermometers on all camp residents.
-Isolation quarters will be developed prior to the beginning of camp where any camper or staff feeling ill with symptoms known to be related to coronavirus and/or fever over 100.04 must remain and be treated. This is not contained within the actual health center, but rather a separate location on site. Camper (and assigned staff) must remain in the isolation setting until testing is completed, demonstrated to be negative, and then they also feel well enough to rejoin the community.
-Medications will continue to be passed by the nurse specifically assigned to the cabin at meal time or medication round using appropriate PPE (gloves and masks) and single use cups which will be familiar to campers from all prior seasons.
2020 BUNKING OVERVIEW
This is just an example of some of the many bunking considerations that have been made.
-Bunking will be designed to use bunks at a smaller capacity to be considered FULL. This means one camper per bunk bed with his/her belongings with a personal space for his/her belongings.
2020 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
These are just some examples of the many program considerations that have been made.
-Daily Program at the camp for 2020 is designed to maintain smaller groups avoiding physical contact activities (no contact sports, for example), and minimal ‘unit wide’ activities.
-“All Camp” activities will be held outside in good weather. All camp activities will not be held indoors. “All camp” activities will continue to include special events for Track and Field, Summit Stock, and Community Spirit day, which are all outdoor programs. Masks will be worn by staff and requested for campers when large groups are congregated even outdoors.
-Staff will be trained in increased disinfectant procedures for program equipment. Tables, chairs, and other supplies will be disinfected in the 15-20 minute transition times between groups.
-There will be no off-campus trips for the season of 2020. Special events on camp will replace these- and hope to also replace some special events that may have been ‘missed’ in Spring season based on parent feedback, such as a “prom” dance outdoors.
-Meals will include the following characteristics:
-Individually plated, staff buffet plated, and take-out meals will replace family style meals for the 2020 season.
-Table formation will be large squares rather than rectangle formation to increase distance between campers and fellow tables. Tables will continue to eat only with their specific bunk group as in prior years.
-Our once weekly regular outdoor meal of barbeque will be increased to additional outdoor picnic meals weekly, and also some take out lunch and breakfast meals will be added which have been done in prior seasons for special occasions. Again, picnic meals are eaten together with the campers’ specific bunk group on an assigned outdoor blanket.
-Hand washing stations will be added in addition to the already required hand sanitizing stations.
-Waitering as a ST/GST job program will be suspended for the 2020 season and will be replaced by other opportunities on camp.
CLEANING PROCEDURES.
In addition to regular procedures, variations in cleaning procedures will include but will not be limited to:
-Prior to camp season and mid-season a specialized company will visit the campus and will provide a hazard mitigation clean using a type of cleaning agent known to continue to kill viruses and germs on surfaces for extend periods of time up to 30 days.
-All Laundry of clothing will be done on site rather than off site. Laundry will continue to be done weekly to include one rotation of clothing and one separate rotation of bedding and linens. Disinfectant detergent will be utilized.
-Bunks will continue once daily cleaning with disinfectant. Companies that offer disinfectants particularly effective in the use of disease control are currently being evaluated as presented through the wayne co. camp association.
-Dining hall cleaning procedures will be increased – while we will continue a mild bleach table wash following each meal, all chairs will also be disinfected at the same time. ALL dishware will be disposable, single use.