We know our COVID-19 policies have been on the minds of many of our families, and we really appreciate your patience as our new executive director has gotten settled and we have looked at all the information and recommendations around us. As you read the policies we below, we hope that you’ll keep in mind that our main goal is to send home healthy kids, and to do that, we need to bring healthy kids into camp and find ways to keep them healthy at camp. After extensive time, thought, and conversation, we believe that the below policies will do that in the best way. Our decisions are based on recommendations from the American Camp Association and information from other camp leaders. We have also attached these policies as a PDF.
Check In/Check Out
Check In will begin transitioning back into the Dining Hall Check-in during our 2022-2023 Off Season Programs and moving forward into Summer 2023. Check Out will remain drive through style. During Check out families will pull under the airnasium and be greeted by staff who will help them check-out. Our staff will assist you with loading luggage. Our health checks will be completed inside the dining hall. More detailed information about the processes will be sent out closer to time, but for now, we wanted to let families know what they can expect.
Testing
We will continue to watch and monitor the CDC Guidelines for Testing. At this time, all campers and staff will continue with the requirement to submit negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of arrival of their respective session. This means that tests must be taken after Friday at 2:00 pm. Tests may be PCR, Antigen or a Home Test. Test results should be uploaded to your CampBrain account.
Temperature & Health Screenings
Prior to arriving at camp, please self-screen for the presence of symptoms (fever of 100.4° or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste smell, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, and/or vomiting, etc.) within two weeks of arrival. If your camper has had a fever or illness within this time-frame or they’re testing positive for communicable illnesses, please contact our office to evaluate the best options for everyone’s health and wellness. Please use the CDC’s Quarantine/Isolation Calculator if needed.
During camper check-in, all campers are temperature checked in addition to lice and athlete’s foot checked during check-in.
Sanitizing & Misting
All commonly touched areas and equipment are sanitized between group uses, and all indoor camp areas are misted with a pressurized sanitizer machine that destroys airborne virus and bacteria particles anytime a camper displays any signs of illness.
Positive Tests & Remaining at Camp
In the event of a positive test, YMCA Camp Immokalee will work through contact tracing to have our counselors and health staff monitor symptoms and determine each camper’s situation on an individual basis, rather than by an entire group. Families will be notified in the event of a positive test and will be given options to allow their camper to continue with the program, wait and monitor, or test immediately. If a camper in a cabin tests positive, we will recommend the remaining campers and staff within that cabin wear a mask around other cabins where large social distancing is not available. As most of our areas allow for social distancing, we expect this to be minimal. We expect this to happen minimally, and while we understand masking is not an ideal solution, we’re committed to helping our campers finish out their week at camp and this policy makes it possible.
If a camper tests positive and has to leave camp or if a camper chooses to leave camp after an exposure, please contact the office about a pro-rated refund.
Symptoms
If a camper presents two or more symptoms of COVID-19 (with a link to the CDC website on symptoms), they will be immediately isolated and caregivers will be contacted. In the event of this happening, caregivers are asked to pick up their camper as quickly as possible. If a camper tests negative after leaving camp, they can be readmitted during their session. If you plan to go on a vacation or trip during your camper’s time at camp, please have a designated pickup person on call to pick your camper up as quickly as possible. You can add people to your camper’s authorized pickup list through CampBrain.
Final Note
We know that COVID-19 policies can be controversial, and we realize that the above policies may not match what your school or other camps are doing. As we said earlier, our ultimate goal is to send home healthy campers, which means we have to bring healthy campers into camp and keep them healthy while they’re here. Overnight camp presents an environment very different from that of school or day camps, and with that comes additional risk. Our policies stem from the American Camp Association and industry experts. We hope you understand where we’re coming from and that we want the absolute best for all of our campers.
As a reminder, if you for any reason need to cancel your session, full refunds are available until May 15. After that time, deposits ($150 per session) are non-refundable.
Questions?
We’re here to help! Email us at cimmokalee@fcymca.org or give us a call at 352.473.4213.
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