MNA Discovery Camp Plan to Prevent Covid
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to be a concern in our community and country. While fewer children have gotten sick with COVID-19 compared with adults during the pandemic, children can be infected and get sick, as well as spread the virus to others.
The MNA Discovery Summer Camp Program has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of infection, following guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for safely operating day camps. This approach relies on the consistent and layered use of multiple strategies that have been shown to protect children, families, and staff.
Preventative measures:
To operate Discovery Camp safely, MNA has implemented the following strategies to prevent COVID-19, which is mostly spread through the air by droplets released as people talk, sing, breathe, sneeze, or cough. Many of these preventative strategies require the active participation of campers, staff, and parent/guardians. Camp staff will teach and encourage preventive behaviors. Please help us by emphasizing and modelling these healthy behaviors at home.
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- Risk assessment – MNA watches the current risk in our community through the . As of May 18, 2021 Coconino County has reached a 48% vaccination rate and Covid cases have declined for 5 weeks.
- Monitoring – Parents or Guardians are asked to fill out and sign a COVID-19 specific risk/waiver form for their child before the first day of camp and then to monitor for symptoms at home. If a child shows any symptoms, that child must stay home and the parent will be reimbursed for the portion of camp missed. This is to encourage staying home when sick.
- Healthy check–in – Upon arrival, all kids will wash their hands and get a temperature check.
- Instruction on staying healthy – On Monday of each camp the educators will go over proper mask-wearing, handwashing, physical distancing, and covering coughs and sneezes with the kids.
- Handwashing stations are set up in key camp locations.
- Masks – Consistent and correct use of well-fitting face masks with proper filtration is required by all campers, staff, and visitors.
- Cohorts – Each camp group will remain with their dedicated teacher through the day and not mingle with other camp groups. This limits the possible exposure. Camp groups are limited to 15 children.
- Physical distancing – Campers will follow the current physical distancing recommendations for day camps, including at least 3 feet physical distance between campers in the same cohort, except when eating and drinking (at least 6 feet); at least 6 feet physical distance between campers and staff; and at least 6 feet between campers in different cohorts.
- Stay outdoors – Camp instructors are planning activities that maximize time outdoors. Large shade tents will be set up to expand the comfortable outdoor spaces for campers to learn, play, and eat lunch. Campers will eat meals and snacks outdoors while maintaining physical distance as much as possible.
- Enhance indoor ventilation – when inside the windows and doors will be left open for ventilation. Buildings will be used for water, accessing supplies and bathroom visits
- No busing – Field trips are limited to places campers can walk to, around MNA’s grounds and nearby trails.
- Vaccinated staff – All camp staff have been fully vaccinated. Vaccines not only protect our staff from contracting Covid 19, there is growing evidence that the vaccines are effective in preventing the disease transmission. Vaccines are not yet approved for use in children of all ages, although vaccine trials are currently underway. For this reason, the other preventative measures continue to be important.
NOTE: Repeated failure to follow these measures can be a cause for expelling someone from camp.
Read the CDC guidance for safely operating day camps at (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/summer-camps.html)
If someone gets sick or shows symptoms:
- Isolating sick children – If a child develops symptoms during camp they will be immediately isolated in a space away from other children and parents/guardian will be contacted to pick up the child.
- Symptom screening – Camp staff will contact the Program Manager if they observe any symptoms in a child (or parent). Parents are also expected to do regular home health screening of their child. If a child has to stay home because sick, camp will be prorated. This is to encourage staying home when sick.
- Contact tracing – As soon as it’s known that someone has Covid 19, everyone they have been in contact with will be notified.