Parent FAQ - Health and Safety at Camp
As we look forward to Summer 2021, there is hope on the horizon. We expect camp will look different this year as we continue to prioritize camper safety. We also expect your camper is more ready than ever before to benefit from time outdoors with friends at camp. After nearly twelve months of planning and preparing, we can’t wait to welcome back campers this summer!
Below are some of our most-commonly asked questions related to health and safety for Summer 2021:
What will camp look like this year with added health/safety measures in place?
We are planning on a camp experience that is intentionally smaller, cleaner, and safer. We’ve reduced our capacity to 65%, which will allow for greater distancing and for adequate bed spacing in cabins. The camp experience will place a greater emphasis on small-group communities, with campers organized into cabin-based pods of up to 8 campers who experience camp adventures together.
Will my child need to wear a mask at camp?
Masks will be worn once campers arrive at camp on opening day. Masks will be required whenever campers are indoors or when social distancing isn’t possible, excluding eating, drinking, sleeping, swimming or teeth brushing. We ask that families send campers with1 mask for each day.
How is camp handling social distancing?
We have restructured programs to keep the smaller cabin cohorts together and remain socially distant from other cabin groups. All dining will happen outdoors and socially distanced from other cabin groups. In the case that weather doesn’t allow for this, meals will take place in their cabins.
Have you increased your cleaning/sanitizing procedures?
Restrooms are cleaned multiple times per day and high-touch surfaces are cleaned throughout the day. Program areas, equipment, and cabins are sanitized between group usage. Campers/staff will wash or sanitize hands between each activity session. Hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout camp to provide easy access throughout the day.
Is there any type of health screening of campers and staff?
Campers will undergo a pre-camp health screening upon arrival to camp, including a temperature check and symptoms-related questions. Campers and staff will have their temperatures checked prior to breakfast and dinner daily as well as daily symptom monitoring. At this time, we have not yet determined to what extent testing may support this screening.
What if I need to cancel my child’s stay at camp?
We strive to be as reasonable as possible, and all campers who were unable to attend in 2020 received the option of a full refund. If your cancellation is due to a physician-documented illness or injury, including COVID-19 symptoms or quarantine, all payments would be fully refunded. For other cancellations, payments above the deposit are refunded if there is at least one week notice.
What if I need to change my child’s session?
We’re always happy to transfer camper sessions as space allows, whether your schedule changes or your camper is unable to attend during their session due to a possible quarantine. There is no added cost to transferring sessions as long as this is done prior to the first day of their registered session.
What happens if my child gets sick while there?
We have a health officer on site at all times, along with several additional staff trained to assist, and all staff are CPR/First Aid certified. In the event that your child starts showing COVID-19 symptoms, we will accommodate them in our quarantine space for up to six hours. We ask that parents, or other adults included on the camper’s authorized pick-up form, are readily available to pick up their child on the same day that they show symptoms and within those six hours.
Please contact our team at 989-345-2630 or Timbers@SaginawYMCA.org to ask any additional questions.