Infection Prevention Plan for Overnight Campers
Revised June 13 2021
Many of us refer to these as Covid Precautions or Plan. During 2020 & 2021 the Center for Disease Control, the California Department of Public Health and the Riverside County Health Department have been reviewing and updating procedures, policy and recommendations to contain the spread of viruses, especially Covid-19. Girl Scouts of San Gogronio has been working closely with experts in this to create the most up-to-date standards and practices for camp.
Due to the rapidly changing protocols, this section is where we will update to the latest information related to the requirements we will follow while your campers are at camp. This section will be updated prior to each session and will include information about current practices on wearing masks, quarantining (10-days prior to camp), camper screening (health check each day prior to camp), and testing. As well as, other protocols and practices camp will be following to keep our campers safe.
We will send current practicies directly to campers via the email of the person who registered the camper(s) two weeks before their scheduled date.
Abbreviations: CDC = Center for Disease Control, CDPH = California Department of Public Health, RCEH = Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, Cal-OSHA = California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Updated 6-13-21: This will Change; check back.
Cleaning and disinfecting: Cleaning and disinfecting is a way of life with Covid-19. We will be continuing with camper kapers as ususal (it is important to child development); however, this summer more then ever adult staff will be cleaning and disinfecting using approved EPA cleaning products including paying particular attention to major touch surfaces.
Education: Education is always part of camp; this year though, we will be paying particular attention to teaching girls about hand washing, respitaroy ettiquette, and other infrection prevention tools to use to keep themselves and those around them safe from all infections.
Sleeping/Cohorts: Girl Scouts has always used cohorts; we call them units. This summer will be no different. Camp will always be significantly reduced in size. Girls will have their sleeping group (cabin) and their cohort group (unit). All heads will be a minimum of 6' apart per CDC/CDPH/RCEH recommendations.
Masks: Mask policy is continuing to shift and change. However as a child care facility we have specifc rules we need to follow. In most situations campers and staff to wear masks while participating in activites or socializing except during eating and sleeping. Please plan to bring extra masks beyond one per day, although we do have some we will be giving away freely while supplies last.
Our culture will include mask breaks for campers and staff. We will be living by the mottos that as vaccinated adults and older girls we are role-models for the younger campers. We also want everyong to feel welcome and create an inclusive environment and therefore will wear masks to ensure everyone is comfortable.
Quarantine: This is not a requirement for any of our staff or campers. The CDC recommends that staff and campers quarantine for 10 days prior to camp (especially those not yet vaccinated); however, this is not in the current CDPH or County requirements.
Covid-19 Vaccination: We are encouraging everyone to have the Covid-19 vaccination prior to camp that is eligible; however, we are not requiring vaccinations for anyone. It is really a good idea to be vaccinated and there are some benefits of having proof of vaccination. Please do bring a copy of your vaccination card to camp with you; you do not need to bring the original.
It is still our policy to follow the public school system on the requirements for all other vaccinations including allowed exemptions. The Orange County Department of Education has an easy to follow grid.
Camper Screening: Our requirement is for campers and parents/guardians to monitor camper health (as parents/guardian do). The day prior to arriving at camp the family will log into their camp docs account and answer the pre-screen questions. This includes for our My Favorite Gal weekends by talking to your camper to confirm she is feeling well.
Testing: We are not requiring testing at this time. As the health department monitors the disease this may change; we are able to give an antigen test at camp. If tests become required we will send a notification to our registered campers.
Check-in/Check-out: This is an
area that will continue to change; do not be concerned there will be
signs or staff to direct you.
Location - For the first time ever we are encouraging parents to bring their campers directly to camp. We know that for many this might be a hardship due to driving the mountain road or timing. Buses will still pick-up in Redlands as usual; however, we will also have check-in at the camp parking lot. Bathrooms will be available as needed in both locations; however, check-in/out will hopefully be a quick affair. If you would like to see camp we encourage you to attend open house or one or more of our day programs.
Look/Feel - Regardless of the site check-in/out will be done at camper vehicles. Families will come in and park. Once you check-in a staff person will help your camper take their luggage to the truck to load and then either back to you or inside to other campers to wait for bus loading. Parents are welcome to stay until the buses leave or may depart at that point in time. We care about you and your camper and want this to be as stress-free as possible please let us know your needs if we are not accomodating them.
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Times:
- Check-In (First Day of Session)
- At Redlands 9:00 AM – 10 AM; Buses leave 10:15 AM
- At Camp 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Check-out (Last Day of
Session)
- At Camp 10:30-11:30: Campers not picked up by 11:30 will be re-assigned to the bus and will meet you in Redlands. Buses pull out at noon (or a bit before)
- At Redlands around 1:30 PM: Check-out begins once all girls are in the Program Center (please allow us to get girls inside first)
- Check-In (First Day of Session)
Food Service: The camp kitchen has always followed restaurant code; which means the same things you are seeing in our restaurants throughout the county is what you will see at camp with a few exceptions. As we have thought through the way we have always done it we have determined there are a few things that will happen differently this summer regardless of the health department plans:
- Open meal times: Girls will be able to travel down in small groups with an LIT or Staff and eat during the open windows. For instance breakfast will be available from 7:30-9 am. We have plans for ensuring everyone eats; however, after breakfast is over girls will be able to participate in the adventure zone activities.
- Eating style: In the past we have eaten modified family style or full family style where we have common dishes on the table and they get passed from person to person. Modified means some items are in the steam table in the back. For this summer we will be serving entirely buffet style with individual servings of cold items like salad and fruit. We may need to go the route of pre-plated meals; however, no fear girls will have plenty of opportunities for choice at seconds.
- Food Allergies and Preferences: Food allergies is always a concern for us. Please mark any food allergies and preferences on the Camp Docs forms when you complete them. Food allergy plates are created separately to ensure cross-contamination does not happen. We will also still accommodate girls who have food preferences and major dislikes; please communicate that on the forms as well. We want our campers to be well-fed and happy. On that note, snacks will always be available to girls between meals; however, we will fill the role of a guardian and encourage girls to eat full meals as opposed to snacks.
- Table Talk time: Not technically food related; however, by going the route of minimizing indoor table time this sadly will reduce the amount of time for engaged conversation with an adult for our girls. We will be building in times for what we used to call table talk discussion questions throughout the day.
- Camp gathering: Also not technically food related; however, as opposed to gathering before meals we will gather after meals to do flag, the Girl Scout promise, announcements and singing.
The list goes on; however, I think those are the primary areas of change/interest.
Showering/Restrooms: In an effort to minimize indoor time we
will have a sink area outside the restrooms in upper camp (the lower
camp ones already have this). This area is teeth brushing, hair
brushing, etc. Bathrooms will be used for using the facilities and
washing the hands. As for showering the time waiting inside will be
minimized for showers. Girls will be encouraged to bring shower gear
to lower camp so they can shower at their leisure in lower camp. We
will ensure your girls shower during their 5-11 days with us.
Activities: Due to the pandemic some of our activities will need to be changed; we are still working on the details of what those changes will look like. We have added some new activities and changed activiites in unexpected ways. Join us for a fun-filled summer of discovery in creating safe and fun ways to do the things we have come to love.
Health Care: Our health care staff are trained on how to manage the common childhood issues we see at camp from scraped knees to homesickness to major illness. As with past summers we do not plan to keep campers in the health center for any length of time. Staff or campers who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of a communicable disease will be sent home to get better. Please review our Notification of Parents Due to Health Related Concerns Policy for more information on when a child might be sent home and when a parent will be notified.
Outbreak: GSSGC will have a COVID-19 Prevention Program for campers and staff. Once it is finalized it will be posted here. It includes the communication plan if we discover someone on property has tested positive for the virus. In the case of a true outbreak we will work with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health for appropriate action including communication plan and contact tracing.
Weekend Camps: The above
processes are true for weekend campers; the difference is parents or
guardians will be supporting this plan.
Day Programs: Day program participates will not be interacting with our overnight campers and will therefore not have to follow all these procedures except as related to masks.
