2022 Summer Camp COVID-19 Policy
The health and safety of families and campers is our number one concern. Girl Scouts of Western Washington has updated our COVID-19 testing requirements for participation at resident camp in order to help ensure the safety of all. The following requirements, policies, and processes are currently for Camp Robbinswold and Camp River Ranch resident camp programs only.
Effective June 18–August 20, 2022, we are requiring all youth participants to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arriving at camp, regardless of vaccination status. If your camper is vaccinated, we ask that you also provide proof of vaccination in addition to proof of a negative test.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington camp staff will also regularly test for COVID-19 throughout the summer and will follow appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols along with seeking treatment if they have a positive test result.
While masks are not required per current CDC or local guidelines, at resident camp, campers will be required to wear masks when interacting with other “cohorts” (campers from different living units) if appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained. Masks are also required for anyone who has an exposure to a positive COVID -19 person prior to arriving at camp, even if the camper tested negative at check-in, or if CDC or local guidelines change. Camp staff ask that if a caregiver is made aware of a possible COVID -19 exposure prior to the camper’s arrival at camp (especially if the camper is currently at camp) to please contact the camp in order for staff to take appropriate precautions in accordance with applicable guidelines. Campers who test positive for COVID-19 at camp will be sent home and will not be able to return to camp without (1) satisfying applicable isolation guidelines and (2) a physician’s written clearance.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington camps are judgment-free zones. Bullying and shaming others for different values will NOT be tolerated, and that includes teasing or bullying about mask use. Campers will be welcome to wear their masks more than required by camp staff, even in their cohort if they desire with no judgment. Campers will be required to always keep a mask on their person. If a camper does not have a mask, one will be provided to them.
2022 Summer Camp COVID-19 Protocols
Masks are encouraged but not required while participating in camp activities, indoors and outdoors. While visiting the first aid space, masks are required. We will also require regular handwashing, hand sanitizing and cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces/equipment/touchpoints (door handles, etc.). It is our goal to reduce shared touch points whenever possible.
Check-In/Out:
- Masks are encouraged but not required for check-in. They will be required during your camper’s health check at check-in.
- Everyone will show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. If a test is positive, campers can provide notes to be collected by camp staff from a health care provider with the assurance that they are no longer contagious even if the test is still coming up positive.
Campfires and Swimming:
- Communal smores ok so long as proper protocols are followed, including gloves, sanitizing shared surfaces, etc.
- Group swimming is encouraged to distance (no masks while swimming).
Dining Hall/Meal Procedures:
- Staying in cohorts, 6 feet apart when possible.
- Head/foot: head of table has stack of plates, all serving and hopping to be done by camp staff.
- Seconds/thirds take old serving plate to dish window, get new plate from kitchen staff.
- Food waste: shopping around at other tables not allowed for 2022 (must go to kitchen window).
- All items that can be purchased in individual packets will be (no bulk this year), including but not limited to:
- Milk cartons
- Condiment packs
- No basket/bin: collect napkins at the end of the meal (NOTE: River Ranch will be using paper napkins).
- Leftover serving food can be composted; however, food touched by mouths or on plates for eating, etc. will be trashed.
- Cloth aprons: ok.
- Singing in procedures: Group by group to sit at assigned tables.
- All efforts will be made to minimize movement in dining area if indoors.
Health Center/Go Home Protocols:
- If a camper tests positive while at camp:
- COVID-19 positive campers should be picked up within 4 hours.
- Exception: nighttime for safety, then camper can spend the night and MUST depart first thing in the morning for pick up.
- Camper with symptoms will immediately go home for treatment.
- Staff will test other campers in unit; any positive campers will leave.
- If a camper is picked up by caregiver, gets tested in a CLINICAL setting, and/or gets a note from a health care provider that the camper is negative or not contagious they can return. ONLY negative tests in a clinical setting will be accepted for reentry.
- Isolate that entire cohort as much as possible for the rest of their time at camp:
- Outdoor seating or eating in units for meals.
- Not sharing ANY program spaces without masking and thorough disinfecting first—arts/crafts, boating, etc.
- Very separate in places like a campfire (should be separate anyway) and mask the entire time, including when performing.
If Camper Tests Positive Within a Week of Leaving Camp:
- Test the direct supervising staff.
- If negative:
- Staff will continue to test every 24 hours for three days.
- If positive:
- Follow protocols for a positive test (isolate, seek test/treatment from clinical setting/healthcare provider, etc.)
Covid- 19 Communication Protocols:
- Camper showing COVID-19 symptoms while at camp:
- Call parent/guardians of symptomatic camper that was tested during camp as or before testing was happening in order to let them know there is a possibility of pick up needed.
- Notify parent/guardian of symptomatic camper by phone of results and arrange pick up as needed (symptoms such as vomiting, fever, diarrhea go home no matter the COVID-19 test results).
- Notify bunkmates’ adults of the symptomatic camper who left by phone.
- Asymptomatic campers in the unit where a camper tested positive:
- Email sent to parent/guardians of asymptomatic campers in the positive testing camper’s group to share the following info:
- A positive case was found at camp.
- Everyone living in the unit has been tested, including staff.
- Advise that campers that tested positive off-site or during camp have been sent home, even if asymptomatic.
- Camp staff will isolate and monitor campers in unit, but they will be able to continue the program so long as they remain testing negative and asymptomatic.
- Campers will retest every 72 hours.
- If a camper tests positive, even if asymptomatic, the caregiver will be called for pick up.
- Due to the nature of the tests available at camp with the rates of false positives, campers who are asymptomatic can come back with negative clinical COVID-19 test result (will accept a clinical rapid test, NOT A HOME TEST for reentry to camp).
- If positive cases are found in two+ program units, then an email communication will be sent to the whole camp, reassure taking precautions, etc.
COVID-19 Testing for Staff:
- Regular testing for staff is required and will be conducted according to the length of time, distance, and activities participated in while off camp property.
- Camp Director and Camp Health Team may ask staff to test at any time.
Summer Camp COVID-19 Check-In Procedures for All Campers
All summer camp participants are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours prior, at check-in for camp. Proof of negative test results must be shown and collected at check-in (if not uploaded prior to arrival). Please note, we do NOT need to see the physical test if your camper is taking an at-home test. A photo taken of the negative test once negative results are showing will suffice. Similar to the information collected with health forms, COVID-19 vaccination and testing results are kept confidential.
Acceptable COVID-19 tests are FDA-authorized viral COVID-19 tests, including a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (such as a PCR/molecular test) or an antigen test that is preferably collected and performed in a healthcare setting or certified testing site. We will also accept negative at-home tests.
Acceptable Forms of Proof of a Negative COVID-19 Test and How to Submit
- A digital photo of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen at-home test.
- Your digital photo must include the camper’s name, type of test, and the test date. This information can be shown on a piece of paper with the necessary information written on it with the negative test in the same photo.
- Please capture your image within the expiration window of the test as some test results expire after a certain amount of time after taking the test.
- Please do not bring your physical at-home test to check in. If you are unable to provide a photo of your test, please consider the options below.
- Free at-home COVID-19 tests can be obtained:
- How to Submit Online: Your digital photo of your negative test can be uploaded to your camper’s “2022 COVID-19 Test Status” form located in the Forms and Documents section of your Camp InTouch account or can be shown at check-in.
- How to Submit in Person: If you plan on showing your photo of your printed negative test record at check-in and are unable to upload to your Camp InTouch account, you must also email your Camp Director your photo of your printed digital test record prior to or at check-in.
- Campers unable to test within 72 hours prior to check-in CAN TEST at camp. Campers will be required to test at the beginning of the check-in process. However, campers unable to test prior to check-in should plan for a longer check-in process. Please note that testing at camp could elongate the check-in process for your camper by 30 minutes or more for each camper needing to rapid test at check-in.
- A printed copy of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test record issued by a health care professional.
- How to Submit in Person: Your printed test record will be collected at check-in and saved by your Camp Director for future reference.
2022 Summer Camp COVID-19 Vaccination Status Policy
Girl Scouts of Western Washington Camps strongly recommend that all attendees have an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination status as defined by the CDC. Vaccinated participants are requested to upload a photo or digital copy of their CDC-issued vaccination cards to the “2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Status” form located in the Forms and Documents section of your Camp InTouch account no less than one week prior to check-in. An up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination status is described as follows:
- A two-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine).
- And a booster dose, if eligible.
Uploading your camper’s vaccination information is important. Vaccination status has important implications regarding who needs to quarantine when exposed to a case of COVID-19. We will comply with contact tracing and best practices outlined by the CDC and American Camp Association regarding campers.
Acceptable Forms of Proof of Vaccination Status and How to Submit
- We can accept a photo of your camper’s CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card, a digital record, or a photo of a digital record of the vaccination received from your physician’s office, such as a health record. The card or record must include the name of the person vaccinated, the type of vaccination provided, and the date that the last dose was administered.
- How to Submit Online: Upload a photo of your COVID-19 vaccination CDC card, digital vaccination record, or photo of your digital vaccination to the “2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Status” form located in the Forms and Documents section of your Camp InTouch account.
- Please also be sure to add your camper’s vaccination dates to your camper’s Health History form located in the Forms and Documents section of your Camp InTouch account, which will include space to enter dates related to your camper’s vaccination and booster dates.
