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Watching the Sunset

COVID-19 Policies

OUR OBJECTIVES

  • Create a safe, healthy camp environment.

  • Ensure camp remains a faith-filled, deep, and meaningful experience.

  • Create space for campers to have fun and make friends.

​

Red Willow Ministries' policies are based on recommendations from the American Camping Association (ACA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The COVID-19 policy administrator for Red Willow Ministries will be the TBD.

STAFF

  • All staff will be encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccinations before arriving at camp, and all staff wishing to be vaccinated will be assisted in receiving a vaccination upon arriving at camp.

  • Staff assignment may be unavailable to unvaccinated staff.

  • In the 7 days before arrival, camp counselors should take their temperature daily and monitor their health for the signs of COVID-19.

  • Upon arrival on-site for the first time, the following will be documented:

    • Body temperature.

    • Signs of fever, sore throat, or respiratory issues in the last week.

    • Vomiting or diarrhea in the last week.

    • Any COVID-19 close contacts in the preceding 14 days.

  • Staff temperature will be documented every morning by the Healthcare Leader or Program Director.​

  • All staff will be considered part of a single "pod".

  • Interaction with other pods will be done via physical distancing or wearing masks.

CAMPERS

  • Seven days before their arrival, campers should begin to take their temperature daily and monitor their health for signs of COVID-19

  • Upon arrival on-site for the first time, the following will be documented:

    • Body temperatures.​

    • Signs of fever, sore throat, or respiratory issues in the last week.

    • Vomiting or diarrhea in the last week.

    • Any COVID-19 close contacts in the preceding 14 days.

  • Camper's temperature will be documented every morning by the Healthcare Leader or Program Director.​

  • Campers will be placed in "pods" with their cabinmates. These pods will be limited to a maximum of 10 campers and 1 counselor.

  • With a pod, campers do not need to wear face coverings and physical distancing is not strictly necessary. Good hygiene and cleaning practices will still be in effect.

  • Outside of their pod, campers must follow the general protocols.

  • Interactions with other cabins will be limited to physically distances activities or face coverings will be required.

GENERAL PROTOCOLS - FACE COVERINGS

  • Face coverings are required in all indoor locations on camp, except when the only people in that locations are part of a single pod.

  • In general, this means that groups will wear face coverings when around other pods in the following locations: The Retreat Center (including the Canteen and the Dining Hall), the Chapel, Common Restrooms, and the Craft Cabin.

  • Face coverings will be required for all campers and parents/guardians during check-in in the Chapel.

  • Face coverings are not required while showering or swimming.

  • Face coverings are not required for outdoor activities, except when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

  • Face covering policies remain the same irrespective of vaccination or other factors.

GENERAL PROTOCOLS - WORKSHIP AND MUSIC

  • All sung music will take place outdoors with the following exceptions:

    • Singing may occur in the Chapel, Dining Hall, cabins, or other indoor spaces ​within a single pod.

    • Singing may occur indoors with multiple pods only with face coverings AND physical distancing.

  • Worship will generally be held outdoors in designated locations with physical distancing between pods.​

  • All staff and campers may sing outdoors without face coverings as long as physical distancing is maintained between pods.

  • Red Willow worship and music leaders will prioritize music that is meaningful, interactive, and fun without requiring contact between campers.

MEAL TIMES

  • Each pod will be provided with hand sanitizers and paper products from the kitchen staff. Everybody is to sanitize their hands before eating.

  • Face coverings are required while walking through the line to receive food.

  • Generally, meals will be eaten outdoors unless inclement weather prevents this.

  • When meals must be eaten inside, all pods must remain together, and tables will be physically distanced at least 6 feet apart.

  • Meal servers will wear face coverings.

  • No person will enter the kitchen unless they are an authorized staff member approved by the Food Service Manager.

  • Designated staff will clean and disinfect all surfaces between meals.

RESTROOMS AND SHOWER FACILITIES

  • All individuals utilizing these facilities are to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer.

  • Pods should attempt to use the facilities one at a time. When this is not possible, face coverings and physical distancing is required (apart from when showering).

  • Instructions for handwashing will be placed at each hand washing station.

  • All campers, staff, and volunteers will have an orientation on washing hands upon arrival.

  • All restrooms and shower facilities will be cleaned and disinfected at least twice daily by designated staff.

ACTIVITIES

  • When pods come together for outside large group activities, they will be required to wear face coverings if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

  • In general, activities outdoors will be physically distanced as a rule, so face coverings will not generally be required outdoors.

  • There will be few planned indoor large group activities, but when these do occur, face coverings will be required whenever separate pods are together.

  • Special camps, such as Holy Hoops and Discovery Camp, will require more specific policies.

DAY CAMPS

  • For all dayall-day camps, Red Willow will yield its policies to stricter policies at the sites where we will be serving.

  • All camp counselors on day camp should stay in the same location. If this is with a host individual or family, that individual or family should take their temperature and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms in the seven days leading up to the counselors' arrival.

  • Face coverings are required for all campers for all indoor activities or when physical distancing cannot be maintained outdoors.

  • Churches should designate outdoor areas for games and signing, which will be priority spaces for programming to occur.

  • At day camp, each age group will be considered a "pod".

  • This will look different at each camp depending on the size, but pods should not exceed 20 students.

  • All indoor activities, such as games, crafts, and worship, will be run within the pod.

  • Outdoor activities may be run between pods but if physical distancing cannot be maintained, then face coverings are required.

  • All food - snacks and lunch - must either be eaten outdoors or with a minimum of 6 feet of physical distancing between pods.

  • In the event of a COVID-19 positive at a day camp, Red Willow will notify the sponsoring church immediately. The sponsoring church must also notify Red Willow immediately if they are made aware of a COVID-19 positive results from a day camp attendee in the two weeks following camp.

  • If possible, camp counselors are not to be sent on back-to-back day camps between different churches.

COVID-19 POSITIVE PROTOCOLS

  • Staff is required to stay home if feeling unwell.

    • All staff should stay home if they are showing signs of sickness: a fever, difficulty breathing, severe headaches, etc.​

    • All staff is required to stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are showing symptoms and awaiting test results.

    • All staff who enter COVID-19 isolation or quarantine policies will be paid and no sick leave will be used.

  • Staff with COVID-19 symptoms may return to work when symptoms have disappeared, and a COVID-19 test comes back negative.​

  • Staff who test positive for COVID-19 may return to work 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared and a COVID-19 tests comes back negative.

  • All staff and campers who have had a close contact with a COVID-19 positive case are required to stay home.

    • Exception: Staff and campers who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine due to a close contact.​

  • All campers who show a fever of 100.4 or higher while at camp or attending a Red Willow Day Camp will be isolated and sent home immediately.

  • Campers who are sent home with a fever or other symptoms should continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and parents/guardians are required to notify Red Willow in the event of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

  • QUARANTINE FOR CAMPERS: During quarantine due to suspected COVID-19 case, a COVID-19 close contact discovered while at camp, or a confirmed COVID-19 positive test results, campers will be isolated in the Health Center and contact will be confirmed to the healthcare leader and COVID-19 administrator until the camper can be returned to their parents/guardians.

  • QUARANTINE FOR STAFF: During quarantine due to suspected COVID-19 case, a COVID-19 close contact, or a confirmed COVID-19 positive test results, staff will be isolated in the lower level of the camp house and contact will be confirmed to the healthcare leader and COVID-19 administrator.

    • If arrangement can be made for​ staff to leave camp with supervision to quarantine off-site, that is preferable.

LIABILITY WAIVER

  • Parents/Guardians of all campers on camp and at day camp will be required to sign a waiver stating they understand Red Willow's COVID-19 policies and that they release liability from Red Willow for COVID-19 related incidents.

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