COVID-19 Preparedness
Planning for Summer 2022
Summer Camp, Safely
We know families need camp programs more than ever; which is why we are committed to addressing COVID-19 while ensuring our mission of a joyful connection to nature. We are proud of our success in 2021, and we will continue to run camp with the same dedication to the health and safety for all in 2022.
Our guiding compass for our COVID-19 response plan is the health and safety of our campers, staff and greater GRP community. The current plan is current as of 5/25/22, and we reserve the right to amend the plan as necessary to best protect our community as the situation changes.
We will be monitoring the CDC, state and local guidance, ACA and other industry practices, as well as using our own judgment to consider any changes.
IMPORTANT- guardians are responsible for checking this COVID-19 web page regularly and complying with any changes before camp arrival.
No matter what the situation, we will continue to do the following:
- Adhering to guidelines as published by the Center for Disease Control, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Camp Association.
- Requiring a PCR COVID test for all program participants even if you are VACCINATED 3-5 days prior to your camper’s start date. Please check your local resources early to schedule an appointment.
- Rapid testing all participants upon arrival (tests provided by GRP).
- Deepening our program designed around outdoor spaces and limiting time spent indoors.
- Increasing our sanitation protocols throughout camp. Program spaces and equipment will be sanitized between each use.
- Creating camp programs that are fun and meaningful for our campers and staff.
We will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation this spring. As we move forward with program planning, know that we will be abundantly transparent in our decisions.
Again, nothing is more important to us than the safety of our campers, staff, and camp community. We thank you for your trust and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
YES!!!! And this summer will be AMAZING! We are confident we can run a successful summer program and again gather on The Preserve. We will build on the successes of a COVID free 2021 summer and make 2022 just as incredible.
Yes. All campers are required to have a negative PCR COVID test within 5 days prior to your camper’s start date to regardless of vaccination status. All participants will be rapid tested upon arrival (tests provided by GRP). Please check your local CVS, Walgreens, and Urgent Care to obtain a PCR test and schedule an appointment.
YES! All of our staff - from our owners to our counselors who are interacting with campers - are vaccinated. It is a requirement of employment here at camp and we encourage all our campers who are eligible to get vaccinated as well!
We know that this vaccine is incredibly safe and effective. The COVID vaccine is very strongly encouraged for all eligible campers. Campers who are fully vaccinated don’t need to quarantine if they’re exposed to someone with COVID, as long as they don’t develop symptoms. And of course, the more of our campers who are vaccinated, the less likely it is that anyone is exposed to COVID. Campers who are not fully vaccinated will have to be sent home if exposed to someone with COVID in their cohort and WILL NOT receive any credits or refunds for days missed.
If you have questions about the COVID vaccine, please speak with your child’s pediatrician.
We expect families to monitor their campers for symptoms of and exposure to COVID-19 prior to camp. If your child gets sick, has a fever of 100.4 or higher, or exhibits any other symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please notify us immediately.
If your child has had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or has been advised to quarantine, please do not send your child to camp.
We have two medical staff (EMT, registered nurse, Doctor, and/or Physician’s Assistant) on site at all times. Campers and staff will be informed of our in camp safety procedures and our on-site RN will closely monitor the health of all campers and staff.
Campers or staff with a suspected case of COVID 19, will be isolated in our Health Hut and assessed by the Camp Nurse. If testing is needed, we will either conduct that onsite or take the symptomatic patient to our local Hospital.
If someone in your child’s cabin becomes ill with COVID-19, we will notify you and we will be sending the sick child home. If your child is vaccinated, they will not need to quarantine according to the CDC and therefore will be able to carry on with camp! Woohoo! If your child is unvaccinated and exposed, they will need to go home from camp. We’ll then follow our protocols for cleaning, sanitizing, and continuing to run programs safely.
Check-In and Check-Out will be a bit different than in years past for parents. All paperwork and payment must be completed prior to check-in. Following ACA Guidelines, we are asking that campers come with only 1 adult to camp (no other adults or siblings, please). Check-In time will be assigned by cabin and family groups. It is very important to arrive only at the time that you will receive in an email. If you have siblings, please come at the younger child’s time.
Once you arrive, camp staff will conduct a rapid test on your camper. While we wait for the results, our medical staff will come by your vehicle to check-in and obtain an medicines your child will take while attending. Once your child’s rapid tests results are in, we can move forward with unloading!
Camp staff will assist your family in unloading luggage from the car and transporting luggage by carts to your camper’s cabin. Parents will be allowed to walk with their camper to the cabin, however we kindly ask that parents remain outside the cabin to protect our bubble. Remember to keep goodbye’s brief and upbeat.
Check-out will be from 9-11am on closing day. Your camper’s belongings will be in the back field and ready to load in your car. Once all your camper’s items are loaded, you will then walk to the pottery studio to obatin any crafts and retrieve any medications. And of course…..say goodbyes until next time!
Please contact us. This is the last thing anyone wants, but we will work with you to figure out the best solution possible.
Still have questions? Email us
Summer Saftey Parent Information Session Videos
Summer Safety Details & Daily Life for 2021
Summer Safety for New Families
Summer Safety During Expeditions
Want to Learn More? Please check out some of our resources
State and National Resources for Camps
Quarantining Guidelines for NC
ACA worked with Environmental Health & Engineering to create this thorough field guide for camps
ACA partnered with the Environmental Health and Engineering to put together a list of effective practices that camps utilized in 2020 to run camp safely.
Suggestions for Youth and Summer Camps from the CDC
Resources About Camps
Study Shows Minimal COVID-19 Infections Among Children at Day Camps
Summer Camps Successfully Prevented and Mitigated COVID-19 Transmission, Says New CDC Study
Preventing and Mitigating SARS-CoV-2 Transmission — Four Overnight Camps, Maine, June–August 2020
Summer is Approaching Bring Back Camp An article from last year in The Atlantic that highlights the social-emotional impact camp has on children and some ways that camps can operate safely during COVID-19
Children and COVID Resources
Children and COVID-19 A weekly summary of all publicly available data from states on child COVID-19 cases, compiled by The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association
The Kids Corona Study SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital conducted a study last summer to better understand COVID-19 in children and pregnant women. They studied camps in Spain and saw evidence that there was a low infection rate among kids, outlined in this article.
COVID and Children from the CDC
Kids not likely to drive household infection an overview of a study conducted by the University of Minnesota
What you need to know about summer camp and COVID-19 An article that summarizes best practices.
Additional Helpful Resources
Covid Tracking ProjectThe best source for the latest compiled data from around the country
COVID Data Tracker from the CDCCOVID Data Tracker from the CDC
COVID-NET A weekly summary of US COVID-19 hospitalization data organized by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
The Swiss Cheese ApproachAn article from The Verge about how one protocol will have many holes to it, but stacking multiple safety protocols on top of each other is the best approach to preventing a COVID-19 spread. (Here’s a great illustration of this approach)
The Pandemic Safety Rule That Really Matters An article from The Atlantic that discusses how COVID-19 is an airborne virus that is much more likely to spread in “closed” environments with poor ventilation like bars, restaurants, and gyms. The most important rule to follow is not spending time indoors with people that are outside your household
How long does it last? An article by Medical News Today that outlines how long COVID-19 symptoms can last for positive patients, as well as how long droplets can last in the air or in the food.
Don’t rely on a negative test A CNN article about COVID-19 testing and how even if someone tests negative, they could still have the virus and transfer it to others.
Keeping our Staff Safe is a top priority and therefore we have specific guidelines we have built for them. Our guiding compass for this document is the health and safety of our campers, staff and greater GRP community. Please understand this is a living document and we will continue to make adjustments and adaptations based on guidance and guidelines received.