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Covid-19 Update - May 2021

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May 14, 2021

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Dear Camp Westminster Families,

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  Summer Camp 2021 is fast approaching and many families are curious as to what camp might look like this summer from the standpoint of COVID-19 protocols. We are always fully committed to complying with our governing authorities and at this time, there are no State, Local, or Federal mandates with regard to COVID and either Day or Overnight Camping.  As you know conditions have been changing steadily over the last many months.  Vaccinations are on the rise and are available for all Georgians age 12 and over.  Both our camper and staff populations remain the least likely to contract COVID-19 or be affected by it in any adverse way. That said, we have developed a list of protocols for Summer 2021 meant to minimize the risk of COVID-19 and other illness among our Campers and Staff.

 

Pre-Camp Health Screening for Campers

Campers will not be permitted to camp if they are unable to meet the following conditions:

  • Self-screening for the presence of symptoms (fever of 100.4 °F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, vomiting, etc.) within the past two weeks. 

  • Determining if the individual has been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with, tested positive for, or quarantined as a result of COVID-19 within the past 2 weeks.

  • High risk campers, or campers with high-risk family members, are strongly encouraged to not attend camp this summer.

  •  Campers are required to keep a 14-day temperature log prior to the start of the camp session.

  • Campers are encouraged to quarantine and not participate in high-risk events 7 days prior to camp.

 

 

Health Screening during camp

  • Temperature check at breakfast and dinner every day on wrist.

  • Trained medical staff will be onsite at all times during the camp session.

  • Staff will be trained to identify COVID-19 symptoms.

  • If a camper is identified with COVID-19 symptoms, the RN will evaluate. If the RN believes the camper could have COVID-19, the camper will be isolated until parents can pick the camper up. The camper will not be able to return back to camp until the camper has a negative COVID-19 test result.

  • If a camper presents a temperature of 100.4 °F or greater, parents will be notified and required to pick the camper up.

 

Check-in/Check-out

  • Parents and other passengers are required to stay in the vehicle during check-in and check-out.

  • Everyone in the vehicle will be temperature checked upon arrival. Campers will not be permitted if anyone in the vehicle has a fever of 100.4 °F or greater.

  • Parents will be checking campers in and out digitally, with the screen disinfected between each use.

  • Campers will be required to wash or sanitize hands upon arrival.

  • Staff will be required to wear face masks during the check-in process.  

 

Activities

  • Activity supplies that are physically touched by the camper are regularly disinfected.

  • All activities will have hand sanitizer or a hand washing sink provided. Campers and staff will be required to sanitize or wash their hands at the start and end of each activity.

 

Dining

  •  All campers will be dining in cabin/family groups.

  •  All campers and staff are required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after each meal.

  • Campers/Staff will be required to wear masks when at line up, in line for food, and while walking through the dining hall.

 

Cleaning/Disinfecting

  • All restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day with EPA approved cleaning and disinfecting products.  

  • All high touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day with EPA approved cleaning and disinfecting products.

 

Staff

  • Staff are required to self-screen for the presence of symptoms (fever of 100.4 °F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, vomiting, etc.) within the past two weeks. If a staff member shows any of these symptoms, the staff member will be required to self-quarantine away from camp, if feasible, for two weeks. If the staff member is unable to leave camp property, he or she will be put in isolation for a minimum of two weeks. 

  • Staff are required to keep a body temperature log for two weeks prior to camp and will have daily temperature checks throughout the summer.  If any staff have a fever of 100.4 °F or greater he or she will be sent home and will need a negative COVID-19 test before they return.

  • If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19 they will need to quarantine for 14 days before they return back to camp.

  • Staff are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.

 

Social Distancing

  • Staff and campers are encouraged to maintain social distance and avoid close contact with other cabin/family groups. Close contact is defined by the CDC as interactions within 3 feet for more than 15 minutes

  • If staff are required to be in close contact with campers or staff of other cabin/family groups, they will be required to wear a cloth or surgical mask.

 

PPE

  • Campers are required to bring at least 3 face masks in order to assure they have a clean mask available throughout their camp week.

  • Campers will not be required to wear a mask when with their cabin/family group.

  • Campers will be required to wear a mask when they are unable to maintain social distance from other cabin/family groups.

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In addition to these items, we have taken the initiative of installing iWave® ionizing air purifiers in the HVAC systems of ALL our facilities.  We were not required to do this but remain committed to providing an exceptional experience for our guests. These air purifiers are highly effective* in killing and removing viruses, mold, bacteria, dust, allergens, and odors from the air of our indoor spaces. 

 

​Last summer we learned many things.  Among these is that with the right practices and cooperation between Camp Staff and Camper Families, it is entirely possible to run a clean camp with low risk of illness.  In fact, we experienced no sickness of any kind at camp last summer.  The cleaning and sanitizing we conducted in Summer ’20 was effective, not only for COVID-19 but, for any virus that we might otherwise face.  That was a win.  We also learned that, though it is very labor intensive, we are able to accomplish this type of cleaning protocol, when we work together, without cutting into the time we spend with campers – an even bigger win! 

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​We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of this current season of life together.  Rest assured that, when we run camp this summer, we will once again go above and beyond required protocols for the sake our Campers and their Families and we look forward to seeing you this summer.

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Respectfully,

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​Andy Rogers and the Camp Westminster family

 

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*Pathogen Test Results

 

These third-party tests were run using proprietary NPBITM technology.

 

SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19)
TIME IN CHAMBER:  30 Minutes
RATE OF REDUCTION:  99.4%
This test was run using the iWave-C Air Purifier P/N 4900-10 in a test designed to mimic ionization conditions like that of a commercial aircraft’s fuselage. Based on viral titrations, it was determined that at 10 minutes, 84.2% of the virus was inactivated. At 15 minutes, 92.6% of the virus was inactivated, and at 30 minutes, 99.4% of the virus was inactivated.

Human Coronavirus 229E
TIME IN CHAMBER:  60 Minutes
RATE OF REDUCTION:  90%
This test was run in a test chamber in a lab setting with the Nu-Calgon iWave-R Air Purifier P/N 4900-20. A petri dish containing a pathogen is placed underneath a laboratory hood, then monitored to assess the pathogen’s reactivity to Needle Point Bi-polar Ionization (NPBI) over time. This controlled environment allows for comparison across different types of pathogens.​

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