2021 CAMP SEBAGO PLAYBOOK - COVID 19 BEST PRACTICES

2021 CAMP
SEBAGO
PLAYBOOK
COVID 19 BEST PRACTICES

GUIDING PRINCIPLES                 3
BEFORE CAMP                        5
ARRIVAL AT CAMP                    6
CAMP PROGRAM                       7
DEPARTURE FROM CAMP                12
AFTER CAMP                         12
REFERENCES                         12
CAMP DATES & CONTACT INFORMATION   13

You’ve heard the phrase, “camp changes lives.” We’ve put it on t-shirts, stickers, and
banners; we’ve designed social media campaigns around the phrase, and toted our love for
the camp season. Statistics show that over 43,000 kids have come to know Jesus as Lord and
Saviorover the last six summers at our ten camps throughout the Eastern Territory! Camp truly is
the conduit that helps change and shape thousands of lives in The Salvation Army each year!
        In 2021, over a year into the pandemic and a world that has changed drastically, summer
camp is needed more than ever. Below you will find a basic COVID-19 framework that we have put
into place to help camp safely operate for summer 2021.

The information surrounding COVID-19 is constantly changing and evolving. This playbook
organizes COVID-19 best practices for summer camp all into one place as of June2021:
published guidelines from the CDC and American Camp Association, as well as discussionswith
pediatricians, emergency room doctors, epidemiologists, and infectious disease experts. This
playbook intends to provide information about how The Salvation Army is adapting policiesand
procedures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 in camp. As information changes and evolves, sotoo
will this playbook to reflect current information.

        There is no single or series of actions that can guarantee that a person will not get sick
with COVID-19. The best course of action is to think about your camp’s response as a block of
swisscheese. In every slice of swiss cheese, there are holes. Since there is no perfect singular
way to stop the spread of COVID-19, each prevention measure has its own strengths and
weaknesses (in other terms, its own set of strengths and swiss cheese holes). By layering
multiple prevention measures on top of each other—for example, hand sanitizing AND wearing
a mask AND socialdistancing AND limiting time indoors AND quarantining before going to camp
AND getting testedbefore going to camp—we create fewer loopholes (or a thicker block of swiss
cheese) for the virus to enter and spread throughout camp.
        Said another way, the more precautions and steps taken prior to and during camp to mitigate
the potential exposure to COVID-19, the less risk there will be for a major spread at camp. With
more precautions, camp will rely on more than just luck to keep COVID-19 out—our strategy
can be based on precautionary scientific measures, compounding one another to provide
significantprotections for our staff and campers.

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5

In order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 being brought into camp, all campers and staff will be
asked to take additional safety measures prior to their arrival.

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72 hours prior to departing for camp, all campers and staff must complete a COVID-19 test and
submit the results to designated camp leadership. Campers and staff must provide proof of a
negative COVID-19 test from this timeframe in order to attend camp.

Under current guidelines, the American Camp Association and the Maine CDC do NOT require that
campers or staff complete a diagnostic test in order to attend overnight camps. However, we
strongly feel testing in camp is something extremely important.

We are requiring that you seek out a diagnostic test at a walk-in clinic or from your primary care
physician 72 hours prior to your arrival. The most reliable test that is currently available is the
viral RNA swab test also known as the PCR test, as it has very few false positives. We will ask
you for proof of results from this test via hard copy on opening day which we will record into our
database. We ask that if a test you receive indicates a positive result that you contact your sending
unit immediately, and more details about next steps will be provided to your family.

After a test is conducted, the camper or staff should follow appropriate social distancing and
preventative measures to limit risk of exposure to Covid-19.

We ask that you complete a health screening form the morning of your camper’s day to arrive at
Camp. This will need to be printed and completed by parent/guardian before the Salvation Army
Officer transports your child/children to Camp. The form is an attached document in the
CampMinder database. Campers who will be traveling with a Salvation Army corps, the corps
Officers will be collecting these forms from the parents in addition to the proof of a negative covid
test. Campers who will be traveling by parent/guardian the forms will collected at Camp Sebago in
addition to proof of negative Covid test.

Any person with pre-existing conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart condition, kidney, liver disease,
etc.) should speak with their doctor regarding their level of risk for summer 2021

6

All campers and staff will be directed to a holding area at the front entrance of Camp Sebago upon their arrival.
A detailed health screening will be completed by our health center staff who will be in PPE. Campers and staff
will have a lice check by our lice team and they will receive their housing assignment/cabin location. Once staff
and campers are cleared, they will be taken to their lodging location/cabin by staff members from Camp
Sebago.

Campers who will be traveling with a Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont Salvation Army corps will be
transported via vans/busses.. Everyone riding the van/bus will receive a health screening and temperature
check prior to boarding. Parents/guardians will need to provide the Salvation Army personnel with the home
health sceening form and proof of a negative covid test. Proper social distancing measures will be taken at the
busing area and on the bus for the duration of the ride. At this time - all individuals riding the bus will be required
to wear a mask for the entire trip, unless they are sitting with a sibling.

Upon arrival at camp, they will be brought to camp to receive another detailed health and lice screening by
health center staff and lice professionals. Once campers have been cleared, they will be taken to meet their
cabinmates and counselors.

If campers are going to be dropped off via car, they will meet our staff at the designated area at the entrance
to the camp. You will be given a designated time to arrive at camp for drop off. Campers and family members
will be required to wear face coverings.
Campers will receive a detailed health screening by our health center staff, and will be taken down the hill after
they have been cleared to meet their friends and counselors. No parent or family member will be permitted into
camp this summer - this is unfortunate that we are unable to share our beautiful camp with you, but in order to
maintain protocol, you will have to be respectful of our rules and regulations set forth by the ACA and CDC.

FORMS
All camper documents and forms must be completed on campminder, ONE week prior to the
session they are registered to attend.
This includes the following: Links?
• Camper Covid Waiver
• Camper Medical Forms
• Camper Immunization Waiver
• SFSP Application Camper 2021
Medication for campers will be delivered safely and with minimal, glove-protected contact by nursing staff to avoid grouping in
the health center.

7

COVID-19 VACCINE
People who are fully vaccinated are at low risk of symptomatic or severe infection. A growing body of
evidence suggests that people who are fully vaccinated are less likely to have asymptomatic infection or
transmit COVID-19 to others.
CDC recommends that everyone 12 years and older get fully vaccinated against COVID
 See COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens for more information.

When possible (and weather permitting), camp activities will be held outdoors. When outdoor
programming is not possible, any and all ratios and capacities for indoor structures - including
cabins – will be followed.

                             CAMPER SUPERVISION RATIOS

CABIN          NUMBER OF CAMPERS                    NUMBER OF COUNSELORS

35             12                                   2

8A             12                                   2

8B             12                                   2

7              12                                   2

6A             16                                   2

6B             16                                   2

5              16                                   2

26A            12                                   2

26B            12                                   2

24             14                                   2

22A            14                                   2

22B            14                                   2

21A            12                                   2

21B            12                                   2

20             16                                   2

TOTALS         202                                  30

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The best and most effective way to decrease the risk of COVID-19 is by wearing a mask. An
effective mask should completely cover the nose and mouth, and fit snuggly against the sides of
your face without any gaps. Camp Sebago will provide masks for all campers and staff to wear each
day. Replacements will be made available at multiple locations around camp, as well as in the
counselor’s first aid packs.

The state of Maine has a mask mandate for youth overnight camps -with the exception of
swimming, sleeping, eating and showering. In congregate group settings, face masks will be
required, when the 6ft. social distancing rule can not be met.
Masks need NOT be required when:
• Campers and/or staff are located inside their own cabins/pods
• Campers and/or staff are outdoors and more than 6 feet apart from each other
• Campers and/or staff are seated at their table and eating
• Campers and/or staff are taking showers
• Campers and/or staff are taking part in waterfront activities (swimming, etc.)
•   Campers and/or staff are sleeping

As an additional safety measure, each cabin will create their own "pod” as part of their summer
camp experience. Each camper will stay within their designated pod where they will travel and
participate together in all activities and meals.

One counselor per cabin pod will always carry a backpack containing hand sanitizer, extraface
masks, and disinfectant spray to wipe down commonly used equipment.

Under no circumstances shall campers go into another cabin or join another pod. Additionally,
personal items, personal equipment, and clothing must not be shared with others.

Additionally, daily temperature checks should be taken before each morning for all staff/
campers. Any camper or staff member who is not feeling well should go to the Health Center
immediately, especially if they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

These protocols only work if everyone is on board and helping to enforce them. Our leadershipteam
will help ensure the protocols are followed, but we need everyone to step up and help make sure other
staff and campers are following protocols as well. These guidelines were designed with the safety of
our camp and community in mind!

Nobody should be offended—there may be times when someone accidentally forgets to wear a mask or
be distanced. If that occurs, and someone kindly reminds that person to wear a maskor stand further
away, remember it is for the health and safety of the camp community.

Nobody is allowed to be offended by being reminded to be concerned for the health and
wellbeing of the entire community.

9

There is no current evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to people through water in a pool or
lake. With this in mind, there will still be additional safety measures around these activities.
Specific guidelines will be enforced concerning:
• The number of campers and staff at the waterfront at one time will be significantly
   less.
• Cabins will be assigned specific times for the swimming and boating area.
•   Campers and staff will follow social distancing and proper hand hygiene practices prior to/
    following using any small crafts (canoes, paddle boats, etc.).
•   All shared use equipment (paddles, lifejackets) will be cleaned and disinfected before and
    after each use.
•   All life jackets will be regularly sprayed with disinfectant.
•   While at swim, all the normal waterfront rules will be enforced.

Worship is a key element to the camp program, both for campers and staff. Where possible, these
activities will be held outdoors, however, with proper distancing and mask wearing, this time can be
safely observed indoors if needed due to inclement weather.

Camp Sebago will significantly increase cleaning, hand washing and sanitization procedures
this summer. Every table in the Dining Hall and picnic tables will have a large pump of hand
sanitizer. Doorknobs, handles, and other commonly touched areas will be wiped with
antibacterial spray frequently. Bathrooms and shared spaces will be cleaned and sanitized
multiple times per day.

An important concept to remember is “sanitize in, sanitize out”. One counselor per cabin will
at all times carry a backpack that contains hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray tosanitize activity
equipment before AND after use, especially shared camp equipment like life jackets, canoe
paddles, bows and arrows, etc. Campers should also use the hand sanitizer to sanitize their
hands after using shared camp equipment.

Every building around camp where an activity is held, as well as high use outdoor equipment, will
have a spray bottle of disinfectant and/or a hand sanitizer pump. Every camp vehicle will also
have spray bottles of sanitizer.

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An outdoor dining area will be considered in order to best maintain distance if needed.
Eachpod/cabin will have their own assigned table. Tables will be sufficiently distanced so that
campers and staff can travel between tables and remain appropriately distanced. Camp Sebago
will be staggering meal start times and changing the dining room layout area. All campers/staff
should be aware prior to the start of camp what this plan willentail and how they will be informed
of inclement weather dining.

All communal camp gear—tents, PFDs, paddles, recreation equipment, etc.—will be sanitized
according to industry recommendations. A Lysol solution spray is effective at breaking down the
virus while preserving gear and will be used on all material surfaces.

To ensure we keep the camp “bubble” intact, personal visitors will not be permittedthis summer.
We will not be running any camp tours with prospective camp families, potential donors, or for any
other reason.

Visitors that are necessary for the functioning of camp, including outside service providers and
contractors, will be limited to staying outdoors and must be masked for the duration of their time
at camp. Their contact with anyone at camp will be limited to as few individuals as possible, who
also must be wearing a mask while in contact with the visitors. If it is necessary for contractors or
service providers to enter camp facilities or buildings, those areas will be cleared of campersand
staff for the duration of the service visit.

Since COVID-19 has the potential to add more anxiety than normal to being away from
home, parents should be encouraged to write to their camper through mail.

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If a camper or staff member (patient) presents any symptoms that could indicate a COVID
infection, they will be properly isolated away from the group until their COVID status can be
determined.

All staff, in addition to our health center staff will be trained to identify all known COVID
symptoms, which include: cough fever, shortness of breath, loss of smell/taste, muscle aches,
sore throat, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue.

A camper will be allowed to return to the camp pod after a determined negative COVID status and
no signs of worsening symptoms.
If a positive case is suspected, all members of the cabin and division will be monitored.
This will depend on what tests we use and if we are able to monitor camper in an
isolated area until test results come in

Sebago will have a dedicated building that will act as a satellite health center in the event that there
is a suspected or confirmed COVID case on camp.

If a case is confirmed, health center staff will be in contact with the patient’s family to coordinate
an immediate pick-up plan. Camp Sebago, unfortunately cannot safely treat positive cases
on site.

If our health center staff determines that a patient who tests positive needs further care is needed
to treat symptoms, Camp Sebago is located 24 miles from Maine Medical Center in Portland,
Maine.

A patient who has tested positive for COVID is required to stay quarantined for at least 10 days
(subject to change) from symptom onset and 72 hours of being symptom-free.

If a positive case is confirmed, Camp Sebago will notify state and local health officials in addition to
Salvation Army Human Resources then we will inform staff and families while maintaining
confidentiality as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We will not be
contacting the entire camp community at large as it breaks confidentiality laws.

We realize there are a lot of sacrifices being made this summer to keep camp safe. Camp is
needed more now than ever these days, and the reward of making an impact on these
campers’ lives and being a positive role model will make all the sacrifice worth it. We believe
that these protocols give every staff member and camper an increased sense of safety and
security that is not currently present in everyday life. We also believe that we can make a
difference in our campers’ lives,and ultimately point them to the one who is always there for
us: our Heavenly Father.

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Closing Day Procedures
          Designated pick-up time
              1. Please call ahead if running late.
              2. If late, be prepared to wait.
          Steps for each station
              1. Camp staff will guide you through each station, beginning at camp gate.
              2. Please do not proceed independent of staff direction.
                 a. Each step is designed to maintain Covid-19 and camper safety protocols.
                 b. This procedure is a work in progress and will be monitored/revised as
                    needed.

If a camper exhibits COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive within 14 days of returning home,
parents/guardians should contact camp immediately so that appropriate measures can be taken
to contact trace and inform other camp families as necessary.

    1. American Camp Association Field Guide
    2. Maine Guidelines for Camps
    3. CDC Guidance

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Camp Sebago
     360 Barker Rd.
  Standish, ME 04084

 Phone: 207-642-3771
 Fax: 207-642-3387

  campsebago.org