- According to experts, Summer camp and COVID-19 can be safe for children. But there are several things parents should consider. Including them are safety protocols such as physical distancing, wearing masks, and camp disinfecting practices.
- Parents should know everything about summer camp and COVID-19
- Parents should not send their children to camp if they have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or headache.
What parents should know about summer camp and COVID-19?
Parents should ask themselves a few questions about Summer camp and COVID-19 this year.
According to experts, parents should learn about their child’s risk factors for COVID-19. They should also know how their child’s participation in a summer camp program affects the safety of other family members.
To make these decisions, parents will need to be aware of their children’s and other family members’ risk factors and vaccination statuses.
It is also beneficial to consider what risk factors might make sending your child to camp more difficult. These include underlying health conditions or having a family member with compromised immunity.
Is summer camp safe?
You’ll have to put camp into perspective. If you want to know if summer camp is safe, for example, compare it to what your child did during the school year.
In other words, consider whether summer camp is “safer than what?”
Think like you’re comparing it to going to school. According to Dr. Jen Brull, outdoor camps are certainly less worrisome from a COVID-19 point of view than sharing classroom space with 20-30 other kids.
Compared to staying at home in a single-family dwelling, camp is more dangerous. This is because it exposes children to people outside their family.
What policies and guidelines are in place to keep camps safe?
The complete CDC camp guidelines may lower the risk threshold for COVID-19 transmission among summer camps. Here’s a quick overview of what CDC officials are asking camp administrators to keep in mind:
A focus on outdoor activities. Because COVID-19 is primarily spread indoors due to its respiratory nature, outdoor activities may reduce risk significantly. All camp programs that keep activities solely outside in uncrowded areas are much safer overall.
Masks. Anyone over the age of two must wear masks outside and inside, except while swimming or eating. To prevent potential spread, camp workers should wear two masks.
Physical separation. According to CDC officials, camps should use a method known as “cohorts.” In this method, campers and workers are separated into pod-like groups that stay together as much as possible. This will help to reduce risk in larger groups. Even those in cohorts must keep at least three feet apart and others six feet apart.
Improved hand hygiene. Both staff and campers will need to keep their hands clean daily using hand sanitiser or other methods.
Frequent testing or monitoring. Some camps may require regular self-monitoring assessments. They may also need other methods such as temperature checks before the day begins. In any case, CDC officials ask that employees, especially those who did not got the vaccine, be tested regularly to prevent the effects of asymptomatic sickness.
The increased facility of cleaning and maintenance. Whether it’s a lunch hall, a game room, or a cabin bunk, camp officials will develop a strict cleaning schedule to keep surfaces sanitized and disinfected as often as possible. When possible, facilities will be organized to facilitate social distancing and better ventilation.
Other factors to consider for sleepaway campers. Sleepaway campers should quarantine for two weeks before arriving on campus to minimize risk. Those traveling from out of state by air, rail, or car need to follow the travel guidelines in their destination. According to the New York Times, more than five states have requested extra precautionary testing or quarantines.
Having a backup plan if anyone becomes ill. Because travel to and from camp can be shared, camp officials will develop a possible quarantine plan if exposure occurs.
There are additional guidelines that suggest additional initiatives or plans for those who have not got a vaccine yet.
Before enrolling your child in a summer camp this year, consider the following four factors:
Is your child at a higher risk of developing a serious illness? According to the CDC, children with diabetes, asthma, chronic lung disease, sickle cell disease, or immunosuppression are at an increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19. If your child falls into this group, you must consult with their pediatrician first.
Day camp versus sleepaway camp. Also, with quarantines and regular testing, there is a major risk associated with travelling and cohabiting with other kids at sleepaway camps. In theory, a day camp would provide a break from being at home while posing a lower risk.
Transportation to and from camp regularly. Over the summer, what is your child’s transportation? If you drop them off and pick them up in a private car, the risk of household transmission is much lower than if you use public or shared transportation.
Is your family vaccinated? Finally, and most importantly, consider the possibility of your child frequently returning to your home. Will children’s health in your home be affected if they contract COVID-19? Those who have not got the vaccine may benefit from not sending a child to camp to reduce the overall risk of infecting a household.
How to Find the Safest Summer Camp?
Camp administrators have a lot of work to ensure a healthy and enjoyable summer for everyone. It is up to you to ask the right questions when researching potential matches for your child.
You’ll need to be extremely careful around sleepaway camps and plan for mandatory quarantines, among other things. Parents should seek the following details from camp staff and the following criteria to decide whether or not a program adheres to CDC guidelines.
Be sure to ask the following questions:
How many kids will be attending camp this year? If the answer is more than 20, workers should use camp cohorts to limit possible infections.
Will you need masks and hand sanitiser? You should wear masks both inside and outside at all times. And there should be regular opportunities to practice hand hygiene.
Will the facilities be optimized for safety? If campers are forced indoors, organizers should tell you all about their plans to reduce crowding in indoor areas, as well as ventilation efforts.
Will staff need to get the vaccine? And, if not, how are you ensuring the traveling workers will not have a negative impact on my child’s health over the summer? Inquire about their COVID-19 testing strategy as a follow-up issue.
How will you treat a sick child or staff member? If a test results in a positive result or someone starts to show signs, a comprehensive contingency plan should be in place.
The Bottom Line
Camp is ready to go now because safety measures have been put in place. During the summer, children must begin to reestablish relations with their classmates, peers, and non-parental adults in a supportive environment while actively practising the prescribed COVID-19 prevention principles.
