COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
Peniel is so excited to be offering Camp Encounter retreats once again for the 2022 season! Our programs are all under 72 hours and are carefully planned with the safety of your children at the forefront of our agenda. We have thoroughly researched CDC guidelines and NYS protocol for those guests staying on our campus. This document outlines our standards and expectations for campers, parents, and guests. These guidelines are subject to change as new information or standards are released by governing officials.
Guest/ Camper Responsibilities:
- Stay home if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever (temperature of 100.0F or above) or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
- New/unexplained nasal congestion or runny nose
- New/unexplained loss of smell/taste
- New/unexplained muscle aches
- Any other signs of illness
- Notify the camp office as soon as any of the aforementioned symptoms occur in a child.
- Any guest or camper should remain home if they have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19.
- Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was “within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic clients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”
- Follow any and all quarantine procedures requested by Peniel/Camp Encounter or the appropriate medical professional should you show symptoms while on campus as a guest.
- If current state protocol requires it, campers must have masks, clearly labeled with their name. We will provide campers and staff with disposable masks on site if anyone needs one. Gaiters and bandanas are not allowed as a mask for camp.
- Minor guests must have an authorized adult prepared for an emergency pick-up within 24 hours of the onset of any symptoms that may present themselves during a retreat.
Staff Responsibilities:
Camp staff will perform the following:
- Monitoring campers for any signs of illness
- Sanitize shared space and shared items frequently & between uses
- Comply with testing and quarantine requests made by Peniel/Camp Encounter or the appropriate medical professional if symptoms occur
- Encourage guests and campers to implement:
- Physical Distancing: maintaining 6 feet of distance as much as possible
- Frequent hand washing (before/after activities, meals, after sneezing, after coughing, after contact with bodily fluids)
- If current state protocol requires it, wearing masks when inside and unable to socially distance. Masks are not required while sleeping, swimming or when outdoor physical activity makes it intolerable.
- Communicate with the director/ health staff as soon as any symptoms are suspected for campers/staff
- Provide appropriate distancing at meal times and in sleeping quarters
- Provide sleeping quarters that are well ventilated using fans
- Communicate with the director/health staff as soon as any symptoms are suspected for campers/staff
- Records will be kept of all staff, volunteer, and camper attendance/exposure to aid in contact tracing if needed.
- Implementing contact tracing protocol with all members of the camp community in relation to a suspected case of Covid-19
- Provide a separate screening room for any staff/campers with Covid-19 symptoms
- Provide a separate location with personal bathroom for emergency quarantining purposes. Our goal being to keep each camper/guest comfortable and safe until a guardian with private transportation comes to take him/her home.
- Using EPA-approved cleaners and disinfectants when maintaining the campus
- Cleaning and disinfecting all areas of the campus exposed to a reported positive case of Covid-19