COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

Camp Lindenmere has been working diligently over the past several months on a comprehensive plan that will guide us through the 2021 summer. We have partnered with PM Pediatrics, a prominent healthcare provider with clinics located throughout the US, in considering each aspect of our medical protocols.

We recognize that COVID-19 data is constantly evolving and acknowledge that it is possible that some of the procedures and information within this document may be modified during our camp season.

Pre-Camp Arrival:

Families and campers are required to limit social gatherings as much as possible beginning 14 days prior to the start of camp. Highest risk activities include indoor gatherings. Any activities outside of those that are necessary should be avoided during the two-week time period leading up to camp. Anyone who must attend school, school-sanctioned activities, work, etc., may do so provided that there are required masking and social distancing protocols in place. Outside of these unavoidable situations, contact will be restricted to immediate family members within your household. Crowds and the inside of restaurants must be avoided. Masks must be worn when outside your home except when eating. No travel will be permitted for two weeks prior to the start of camp.

If a camper has a known COVID exposure within 10 days prior to the start of camp, they must notify us. They must quarantine for 10 days and receive a negative COVID PCR test at least 5 days after the last known contact. Once 10 days of quarantine have been completed, and the COVID PCR is negative, they may come to camp.

All camper families must sign an attestation form demonstrating their agreement to the aforementioned.

Pre-Camp Testing

On June 24th (for campers attending first session or full season) and July 22nd (for campers attending second session), all campers are required to undergo a COVID PCR test. We have partnered with Covid Testing Today, a highly respected COVID testing company, for all of our testing needs. Covid Testing Today’s approach provides us certainty that all of our campers will receive results in time to enter camp on arrival day. The required test, three days prior to arriving at camp, will be self-administered at home. After registering with Covid Testing Today, a saliva testing kit will be sent directly to our camper’s homes. The sample must be collected on June 24th or July 22nd and dropped at a FEDEX drop box or location the same day using the pre-paid overnight shipping envelope provided by Covid Testing Today. Results will be provided to us on June 26th and July 24th.

In order for us to receive the results within the required time frame, the aforementioned schedule must be strictly adhered to. It is each family’s responsibility to comply with the testing and mailing schedule in order to ensure results within the necessary time frame.

Upon camp’s receival of a negative PCR test, campers will be permitted to proceed with camp arrival.

If any camper or sibling receives a positive PCR test, they must complete a ten-day quarantine requirement and meet all CDC criteria to discontinue quarantine prior to camp arrival. Anyone who tests positive also must provide a document of recovery from their physician clearing them from isolation and allowing for their return to activity. Repeat testing is not required.

Any camper who has had a recent COVID infection, within 90 days of the start of camp, will be exempt from testing. Those individuals with a recent infection who require exemption from testing protocols must provide written evidence of a positive test along with a document of recovery from their physician noting the onset and resolution of symptoms, clearing them from isolation and allowing for their return to activity.

Testing Upon Arrival:

PCR testing will be conducted at camp on arrival day and again 5 days later. Testing will be performed by professionals from Covid Testing Today. They will be sending coordinators to oversee the process, as well as nurses to administer the tests. All testing performed will include a nasal swab in the front of the nose rather than the deep nasal culture. Results will be available to us within 24 hours. They will be available to camp families in the event that their child tests positive.

In the event of a positive PCR, the camper will be situated comfortably in a COVID dedicated area and must be picked up within 24 hours. Any siblings will need to be picked up as well. If parents are outside of the area, they must designate someone to come in their place. The child can return to camp 11 days later after also being symptom free for 48 hours. Anyone who tests positive must provide a document of recovery from their physician clearing them from isolation and allowing for their return to activity. Repeat testing is not required.

Transportation:

Campers will not be arriving by buses. Personal transportation by car by an immediate family member is mandatory for all campers who are within driving distance. Carpooling will not be permitted. Those individuals who are flying must wear masks during the entire trip, sanitize surfaces and exercise frequent hand washing/sanitizing. Arrival times will be staggered to allow for adequate time to screen and test all arrivals as well as arrange cohorts in an organized fashion.

Ongoing Surveillance:

Each Division Leader will be equipped with an infrared thermometer. They will also be trained on symptom identification and daily temperature checks. During the initial period, temperatures will be taken daily and campers will be questioned each day regarding potential signs or symptoms of COVID. These include, but are not limited to, fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Any individual who is experiencing these symptoms will be brought to the Health Center immediately.

Any individuals or bunks of individuals who have had close contact with a COVID positive individual at any point during the camp season will be isolated. They will be able to participate in activities, however, separate from the remainder of the camp. Contact tracing will be based upon having spent 15 minutes or more within six feet of the infected individual during the 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms as well as direct contact, even if occurring outside, with unmasked people during contact sports.

Social Distancing and Masking:

Each bunk of campers and staff will be considered a cohort. During the first several days, campers will remain with their assigned cohort. The schedule will be structured so that campers will move with their cohort daily including when eating meals and snacks, and participating in all activities. If interaction outside of their cohort is necessary, proper social distancing will be maintained. Everyone will be required to wear masks inside any location other than their bunk and when outside in close proximity to other cohorts. Only members of that specific bunk will be permitted entry. Bunks will be cleaned and maintained by masked individuals when no campers/staff are present. Masks will be removed after the initial duration of camp barring any positive tests during the early phase.

Meal Plan During First Several Days of Camp:

Meals will take place in multiple shifts with added dining times to decrease crowding. In conjunction with outdoor dining, dining room tables will be spaced apart leaving distance to appropriately social distance between cohorts. Hand washing/sanitizing is required before and after every meal. Campers will return to their bunk prior to each meal so as not to use the bathroom facilities in the dining room. Family style service along with a few stations with food dispensed onto plates by kitchen staff will be utilized. Disposable cups, plates and utensils will also be utilized.

Maintaining a Controlled Campus:

Nobody may leave camp at any point without informing camp leadership. Individuals may leave and return to and from camp only if first approved and deemed absolutely necessary by a camp director. Exceptional circumstances that will be allowed for include, but are not limited to, retrieving prescription medications and seeking complex medical care beyond what is manageable in a camp setting. Re-entry to camp will be considered on a case to case basis and will be dependent on exposure assessment. Testing, quarantine or prohibited re-entry in high risk situations will all be considered. Re-entry decisions may also be impacted by vaccine status.

Camp will not be conducting any in person visiting days or rookie days during our camp season. Campers will not be engaging in trips off of camp and staff will not be permitted to leave the grounds on their own accord during their days and/or nights off. Fully vaccinated staff members may be given the opportunity, on occasion, to participate in camp sanctioned activities off the grounds. Staff members will be transported by bus, and any such activities will take place outdoors, supervised by Lindenmere leadership, at a location where interaction will be limited to our Lindenmere community. Outside entertainment vendors will be restricted. Deliveries will be conducted at a designated location away from the camp community and those delivering will be required to maintain a six-foot distance from camp personnel and be masked at all times. Those individuals receiving deliveries will be required to wear masks, maintain a six-foot distance and wash/sanitize hands before and after.

Vaccine Considerations:

We strongly encourage all campers and staff who qualify for the COVID-19 Vaccine to receive their vaccine prior to entry to camp. No camper or staff member will be permitted to leave and return for the purpose of obtaining a vaccine. As such, anyone planning on acquiring a vaccine must conclude the series prior to the start of camp or delay until after the camp season concludes. Vaccinated individuals are required to undergo the same pre-camp quarantine as those who are not vaccinated in an effort to decrease the chance of bringing infection into the camp environment. Prior to or during the camp season, if a vaccinated staff member or camper is exposed to a COVID positive person, they will be subject to the same quarantine guidelines as those who are not vaccinated.

Hygiene Best Practices:

Enhanced cleaning practices will be performed around camp. Shared surfaces, including but not limited to door knobs, handles, benches and sports equipment, will be sanitized frequently throughout the day. There is an abundance of hand sanitizing stations throughout camp at frequent meeting places such as the entrance to every bunk, the dining hall, the health center, courts and fields and all other building entrances. Water fountains will only be used to fill personal water bottles.

Health Center Modifications:

An outdoor tented area separate from the entrance to the Health Center will be set up for triaging sick individuals. There will be a separate area within the Health Center for staff to manage all other visits (bumps, bruises, conjunctivitis, swimmer’s ear, etc.). All staff will wear surgical masks at all times until everyone on site has been confirmed as negative and a controlled campus has been established. For sick patients, or known COVID patients, medical staff will wear an eye shield as well as an N95 mask. Strict hand-washing hygiene will be adhered to before and after each patient. Social distancing of six feet will be maintained whenever possible. Any individual who is sick and being ruled out for COVID will remain in an isolation area where they have their own room and bathroom. Their meals will be brought to them and any medical staff who are interacting with them will wear an eye shield and an N95 mask. Since we will be conducting COVID tests during our camp season, we have obtained the necessary CLIA Certificate of Waiver and we are considered a laboratory under CLIA.

Staff Considerations:

All staff will be subject to the same aforementioned protocols as our camper families. They are expected to follow the same procedures for the two-week period prior to arrival and sign an attestation form agreeing to do so. The same testing and cohort strategies will also apply.