Covid-19 Update

Mother of Hope Camp Preparedness Plan

UPDATE
July 3, 2020
Our hours of operation will be 8:30am-4pm. 
Drop Off at the Arts and Crafts building no earlier than 8:30am-Please stay in your car during pick up-we will come and screen your camper before he/she exits the car.
Pick up at The Chapel 3:20-3:30. Please call the office to schedule your pickup between 3:30pm and 4pm-Please stay in your car and we will bring your camper to you. Please have your ID ready. 


June 26-Pick up and drop off procedures-
Drop Off at the Arts and Crafts building-Please stay in your car during pick up-we will come and screen your camper before he/she exits the car.
Pick up at The Chapel-Please stay in your car and we will bring your camper to you. Please have your ID ready. 


Daily checklist resource for administration, staff and parents

https://www.reopeningri.com/resource_pdfs/Phase-II/Printable-daily-checklists-summer-camps.pdf

Dear Families,
Each day we are receiving and reviewing new information from a variety of agencies regarding COVID-19 as it relates to summer camp, most recently Governor Gina Raimondo’s reopening plan and a resource guide developed by the CDC and the American Camping Association. We have decided that we will be opening our summer camp for 7 weeks starting on June 29^th. We would like to share with you some of the changes as you are making your personal decisions around your child attending camp. The changes that we are making are subject to change as new information is being released. As we move forward, the most important factor in our decision making process is the safety and wellbeing of all of our campers and staff. 
Since the situation is fluid, these will not be our final plans and as we know Governor Raimondo said,  “summer camp will look very different this year”. Some of the changes will likely include the following:
Pre-Camp Communication
 • Staying in contact with the DOH and the Governor’s office and local authorities/experts
• Asking campers who are immuno-compromised to take appropriate precautions.

• Campers with pre-existing medical concerns, especially respiratory conditions such as asthma, will need to have a conversation with their primary care provider and consider the level of risk. 

 
 • Asking campers to arrive well-rested, nourished, and hydrated.
 • Directing campers with symptoms of communicable diseases to not come to camp until they are healthy.
 • Reserving the right to not admit campers who pose a communicable disease risk to others.
 • Encouraging parents to contact us with health-related questions in the days before arrival.
 
 
  Staff Training
• Training all staff on illness-reducing strategies.
• Training all staff on how to clean and disinfect common areas and surfaces.
 
Health Screenings
 •Requiring all campers to submit Camp health profiles through the existing registration process
• Conducting health screenings when campers arrive to detect and manage communicable diseases.

• A health screening will be required for campers on a daily basis that may include the taking of temperatures. If a child’s temperature is above 100 degrees, he/she will not be able to attend camp that day. 

Healthy Practices

• The use of face coverings for staff will be required and may also be necessary for campers. We are asking all campers to please bring a mask to camp.
• Requiring regular handwashing and hand sanitizing. Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the camp. Hand washing before and after lunch.
• Encouraging coughing/sneezing “into your sleeve.”
• Asking campers to keep their hands away from their faces.
• Directing that personal supplies (e.g. hairbrushes, hats, clothes, etc.) may not be shared.
• Continue to direct that food and drinks cannot be shared.
• Encouraging appropriate social distance between campers.
  • Social (physical) Distancing and smaller, self-contained groups (cohorts) will be put in place. This will mean that the same campers stay with the same staff for the duration of the camp day and session. Each group will have their own day schedule. They will eat lunch with their group while social distancing from the other groups.
• The use of our trails will be used to transition the campers from one spot to another to avoid close contact with other groups
• Utilizing universal precautions for all body fluids.
• Cleaning and sanitizing all areas that are used on a regular basis, including sports equipment and the playground
• Requiring Waterfront counselor and Lifeguards to isolate campers with questionable symptoms.
• Notifying parents/guardians when their campers have questionable symptoms.

 
 
 
Transportation to and from camp-UPDATE
 

• We will be providing bus transportation this year. Due to the new guidelines, we are only allowed 20 persons on a bus.  We will be adding a 4th bus to accomodate the number of campers. if it is possible that you can drive your camper in and pick them up we would appreciate it. (Please call the camp to change this on your registration.)
• This year will be charging a $25 transporation surcharge per week, If you choose to drop off and pick up your camper there is no additional fee. Thank you for your patience and flexibility.
  This is not something we took lightly, we thought about how we could best accommodate the guidelines and give everyone a chance to come to camp. We hope that next year will bring changes that will allow us to continue to provide free transportation. During this time of change, we appreciate your willingness to work with us, this gives everyone a chance to experience our wonderful camp. The surcharge will be added to your registration. Feel free to call the office with any questions.

General Updates

• We will send updates through direct email to parents and through our website and social media

 
 
Financial Aid
Beyond ensuring the health and safety of our participants and their families, we remain optimistic about providing scholarships for campers this summer. We recognize families across the nation are also bracing for their own challenges. We will extend our financial aid application deadline until June 1, 2020. Please see the financial aid section to request an application.
 
 
 
 
Refunds
2020 Mother of Hope Summer Camp Cancellation policy as of  May 27, 2020
If Camp cancels the session (due to recommendations by the CDC):
 a. Camp families can request a full refund. While camp deposits are normally non-refundable, you will now be able to refund all of your fees if you need to cancel due to COVID-19-related issues. We know that many families are struggling, and it is a little something extra we can do to help.
b. Camp families can choose to donate their camp fees to Mother of Hope Camp. Donations help with the ongoing activities and management of Mother of Hope Camp.
c. Camp families can choose to roll their 2020 payments over to summer 2021.
 
Crisis and response planning
Maintain ongoing communication with the Governor’s office and The Rhode Island Department of Health.
Continue to follow the guidelines provided from the CDC and American Camp Association.
 
We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and share relevant information and updates with you. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to keeping Mother of Hope Camp safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

We will be adding a Covid waiver to our registration

FAMILY RESOURCES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

https://www.reopeningri.com/resource_pdfs/Phase-II/Resources-for-Families.pdf
COVID ILLNESS POLICY

https://www.reopeningri.com/resource_pdfs/Phase-II/Child-Illness-Policy.pdf