Covid-19 Mitigation Strategies
The following information is based on the public health guidance for summer camps in 2022, and is subject to adjustments as guidance evolves. This information will be reviewed in consultation with our local public health department and updated if necessary in advance of the 2023 season.
Masks
Masks will not be required (with the exception of the MA Department of Public Health guidance regarding isolation and quarantine). The individual choice to wear a mask will be fully supported by the camp community. Please note, as in line with other healthcare facilities, visitors to the Nurse’s Office will be provided with, and required to wear, a mask.
Contact Tracing
As per MA Department of Public Health recommendations for camps, we will not be contact tracing. For more information pertaining to possible exposure, please refer to the current MA Department of Public Health guidance.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- Fever (of 100.4 or greater) or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue*
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache*
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose (not due to allergies)*
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Please note that any one of these symptoms (fatigue, headache or runny nose) ALONE is not an automatic reason to keep your child home. However, if your child has one of these symptoms in combination with at least one other symptom, they are considered “symptomatic,” and the following protocols are advised.
Symptomatic Participants
Participants who are symptomatic* will be asked to remain home until they receive a negative at-home antigen or PCR test or alternate diagnosis from their physician or healthcare provider. However, please note that even with a negative test, as always, we would ask you to keep your child home if they are actively ill/contagious (ie. experiencing a fever over 100 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, etc).
Likewise, participants who present with symptom(s)* at camp will be sent home. Participants experiencing a fever or other symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should remain at home until they receive either a negative antigen or PCR test or an alternate diagnosis from their physician. As above, campers that are actively ill/contagious will be sent home. Any ill/contagious camper should not return to camp until symptoms are improving and they’ve been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
In either scenario, testing at home is strongly recommended, as well as masking while symptomatic.
Notification about a Positive Case
If a camper or staff member tests positive for COVID, that individual’s group will be notified by email.
If your child tests positive
Individuals should follow the current MA Department of Public Health guidance regarding isolation and quarantine.
If your child is a confirmed close contact with someone who has tested positive
Individuals should follow the current MA Department of Public Health guidance regarding isolation and quarantine. According to the current guidance, “quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure.”
Sick/Quarantine Refund Policy
According to public health officials, COVID is a disease we will be dealing with for the foreseeable future. As such, absences due to COVID will be treated like absences from any other illness. As in pre-COVID years, refunds will not be given for any days missed for illness or quarantine.
Mitigation Strategies
Handwashing and Promoting Good Hygiene
Campers and staff will be instructed in proper hand washing techniques, and will be required to wash their hands regularly throughout the day.
- Good hygiene practices will be taught and enforced through counselor training and signage throughout camp.
- We will also be encouraging and teaching other healthy habits including covering coughs and sneezes, and proper use of hand sanitizer.
- Hand washing and/or hand sanitizing stations will be set up all around camp. Hand washing/sanitizing will occur:
- Before and after eating
- After sneezing, coughing, or nose-blowing
- After using the restroom
Holding Activities Outdoors
We are fortunate that almost all of our activities take place outdoors. Our few traditionally indoor activities - Cooking and Arts and Crafts - will be held outside or in open-air shelters to the greatest extent possible.
Cleaning and Disinfection of Equipment and Facilities
- The Infirmary will be disinfected between patients.
- Bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected daily by designated maintenance staff.
- High touch surfaces in the Office will be disinfected as needed by Office Staff.
- High touch activity equipment will be disinfected as needed by Activity Staff.
- Buses will be cleaned daily and disinfected as needed by the bus company.
Transportation
Windows on buses will be kept open at all times, unless it is unsafe to do so.
Overnights
Participants in the Eagle Section Overnights will be asked to perform an at-home antigen test on the morning of the Overnight. If the test result is positive, or if your child is actively ill/contagious, please keep your child home and call the camp nurse to let us know.
Relatedly, if your camper has been a confirmed close contact in the past 10 days, we ask that they do not sleep over, given the close proximity to other campers in the tent. They can stay through all of the evening activities, and return before breakfast in the morning. We appreciate your partnership in keeping our community healthy!
Glossary of Terms
Close Contact
Anyone who has been within 6 feet of you for more than 15 minutes while indoors for the 2 days before you got sick or the two days before your positive test was taken if you don’t have symptoms.
Day 0
To count days for quarantine and isolation, Day 0 is the date of exposure for close contacts, and for positive cases is the first day of symptoms OR the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
Isolation
Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask INDOORS through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so INDOORS through Day 10.
- If the individual has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a primarily outdoor camp, the likelihood is low, but not impossible. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Guidelines do not require camps to perform contact tracing, consistent with DESE regulations for schools. We suggest that you closely monitor your child for symptoms and refer to the MA Department of Public Health guidance for information related to possible exposure.
Please refer to the MA Department of Public Health guidance for information related to possible exposure.
One of the following symptoms ALONE is not an automatic red flag: runny nose/congestion, headache, or fatigue. We ask that you keep your camper home if they have one of these symptoms in conjunction with another symptom on the list, OR if they have one of the individually disqualifying symptoms listed above).
This depends upon what symptoms your child is experiencing. If your child has a fever (of 100.4 or greater), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, your child should be kept home regardless of the test result. If your child is experiencing any one of these symptoms (fatigue, headache, or runny nose) ALONE, this is not an automatic reason to keep your child home. However, if your child has one of these symptoms in combination with at least one other symptom, they should be kept home. Your child may return to camp if they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return if the latter two conditions are met. However, please note that even with a negative test, as always, we would ask you to keep your child home if they are actively ill/contagious (ie. experiencing a fever over 100 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, etc).