Dear Parents, First and foremost, we hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. We have received questions from parents about if and how COVID-19 will affect Atwater Photo Camp. We know this pandemic has been stressful to many and recognize that socializing and interacting with peers can be a healthy way for children to cope with stress and connect with others, particularly after spending quite a bit of time at home. After careful thought and planning, we are excited to let you know that we plan to resume camp while following CDC considerations to protect campers, families and our community. The health and safety of our campers and staff remain our highest priority. Below, you will find a summary of actions we are taking to keep the risk of COVID-19 as low as possible. If you’d like to download this information, click here: APC COVID-19 Protocol First thing Monday morning is camper orientation to explain everything outlined here. Medical We are doing Daily Temperature checks and symptom assessment. We will have a form on hand for parents to review. Proximity We are keeping campers in small groups, less than 12; and with a Counselor:Camper ratio of 6:1, we’ll be breaking into smaller groups. We will be spacing people out 6 feet apart. Shared Items We are limiting the number of items shared or touched between campers and staff. If borrowing our cameras, campers will use it all week, keeping their belongings separated from others Lunch Campers will not be sharing food or beverages Individually labeled containers, cubbies & areas will be used. When food is provided, we will use disposable utensils and dishes, and pre-packaged boxes or bags. Hygiene We are intensifying cleaning/disinfection practices within our facilities and premises by: Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily, (e.g. tables, chairs, door handles) Cleaning and disinfecting shared objects (e.g. art supplies, books, materials, toys, games) We are promoting healthy hygiene practices by Teaching campers the importance of washing their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Monitoring campers to make sure they are washing their hands. Providing campers with hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, when they don’t have easy access to soap and water. Encouraging children to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or to use the inside of their elbow. Posting signs about these healthy habits around the camp facility. Hand sanitizer will always be available, but please ensure your child brings their own hand sanitizer, along with enough masks for the week. We are requesting that staff and campers always wear a cloth face covering in times when physical distancing is difficult. As a reminder, cloth face coverings should not be placed on children younger than 2 years of age or on anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance. ___________________________ If a child does get sick at camp, we have identified an area where they can rest, be watched and safely isolate from others. We will communicate with parents or caretakers directly and, if necessary, arrange for the child to be taken to a healthcare facility for care. We ask that you help us protect the health of campers this summer. Anyone who is sick or was sick with COVID-19 or recently in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days— including staff, campers, and families— should not come to camp. Be on the lookout for symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. Call your doctor if you think you or a family member is sick. If you have a specific question about this plan or COVID-19, please contact Alyson Aliano or Greg Cohen for more information. You can also find more information about COVID-19 at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus or on CDC’s website for youth and summer camps We look forward to seeing you. Thank you and stay healthy, Alyson and Greg
