Summer Camp Preparations
Summer Camp Preparations
Summer camps are only five weeks away and we are excited! We hope you are getting excited, too! This year requires more preparation than usual, but we are confident our plans have found the right balance of traditional camp fun and health and safety precautions. Due to the ever changing guidance and recommendations from health officials, Covenant Harbor will continue to make adjustments as advised. Here are some of the directions we are headed.
Covenant Harbor is committed to a standard of excellence in health and safety standards.Three weeks before your camper’s session, you will receive the specific health guidelines and protocol for that week. Because recommendations are continually changing, Covenant Harbor is ready to adjust specific standards week to week if necessary. We want you to feel confident and comfortable with the procedures that will be in place during your child’s time at Covenant Harbor.
Health and safety
Last summer, Covenant Harbor ran six weeks of safe and fun Day Camp and Family Getaways. We are building on the successes of our reimagined summer 2020 as we refine and improve health procedures for summer 2021.
Modified Programming
Like last summer, we will embrace the natural beauty of camp. We are getting creative, reimagining the many details of camp to make common-sense adjustments in an era of COVID. Yet, time at Covenant Harbor will still feel like camp. From big games to cabin time, campers will experience all camp has to offer.
Decreased Capacities
We will operate at decreased capacity this summer for overnight camps. Like last summer, we will use “cohorts” or smaller groupings of campers to reduce overlap between programs and age groups. Day Camp will function as its own cohort, Kishwauketoe will be another, and Pier 30 will divide into two separate cohorts.
Meals
Like most of our programming, meals will be enjoyed outside as weather permits.
Pre-Camp Screening and In-Camp Screening
Like last summer, we will continue with enhanced health screenings for each camper prior to arrival. Once camp starts, campers and staff will have a daily health screening, using our expanded medical staff team.
Increased Sanitization
High-touch areas of our site and facilities will be sanitized at an increased rate. New hand-washing and sanitizer stations will be added to key areas.
Covid-19 Vaccinations and Testing
We are encouraging our staff to get vaccinated. Most of our year-round staff are already vaccinated and we will be providing opportunities for summer staff to get vaccinated prior to the start of camp. Covenant Harbor has been partnering with the county health department, running one of Walworth County’s primary COVID testing sites since December, at Covenant Harbor, using Covenant Harbor staff. We will use this same expertise to provide testing for our staff as recommended by health professionals.
Face Masks
Based on what we know now, when campers are outside or with their own cabin/team group, facemasks will not be required for campers. However, there will be limited times when masks might be needed. Because of other modifications, such as running most programs outside and in cohorts, we are able to reduce the number of times masks will be needed.
Mental health
We know this has been a tough year for many campers. We will spend increased time during summer staff training to equip them to come alongside campers and provide extra support for kids while at camp. A weekly camp pastor focused on summer staff, will lead staff devotions and be an extra resource. An expanded nursing team will help respond to any increased challenges.
We are ready
We are thrilled to have kids back at camp! We have put much thought into making this summer an exceptional, transformative, safe and fun experience for our campers. Parents can have peace of mind knowing that we care about the details and campers can expect to have an awesome week at camp. As is the foundation for all our youth programs, we will love kids and share Jesus.
Thank you for trusting us and making Covenant Harbor part of your lives.