Below is a complete list of the COVID-19 related polices for Summer Camp 2020 at Camp Allen. These were created based on the guidelines published by the CDC, Texas State Department of Health and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.  Rather than summarizing these policies, we have included them in full detail so that families of campers have a complete understanding of how Camp Allen plans to keep campers safe this summer.

While this is a different summer for everyone across the world, we can assure you that camp will be full of the same joy that children have been experiencing with us since 1921. We can't wait to see you at Camp Allen!

COMMUNICATION

  • Every volunteer and staff member will be trained/ oriented on new standards and policies each week.
  • If a camper, volunteer, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the Camp Allen staff will promptly inform all families of campers/ volunteers from that campsite of the potential exposure.
  • In the event of potential exposure during a camp session, camper families will be given the option to pick up their camper or permit them to participate for the remainder of the week.
  • If a session of camp has already concluded when we receive news of a positive test for a camper, volunteer, or staffer, Camp Allen will contact all families from the previous week of camp.
  • Any positive test for COVID-19 will be reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) by the Head Nurse.
  • During camper registration and check out, camper families will be informed of the enhanced risks of campers being in direct contact with anyone older than 65 within 14 days of the end of the camp session.
  • Sr. Staff will lead campers through a camp safety course each session on arrival day.  All policies that are pertinent and require campers to take a specific action will be communicated. 

SCREENING

  • An Assessment of Health online questionnaire will be emailed to camper families one week before their session to reduce the risk of ill campers attending camp. 
  • All seasonal staff members and volunteers will also be required to complete the Assessment of Health prior to camp.
  • On registration day,  all passengers in a vehicle will be given a health screening upon entering the property that will include an infrared thermometer temperature reading and verbal assessment questions.  If anyone in the car is running has a fever, the camper will be sent home and should be tested for COVID-19.
  • Sr. Staff will perform daily health screenings on every camper, staffer, and volunteer before breakfast each day. This check will include an infrared thermometer temperature reading and verbal assessment questions.
  • Volunteers and staff members with pre-existing medical conditions that compromise their immune system or respiratory system will be asked to stay home this summer.
  • Volunteers and staff have been advised to self-quarantine for ten days before their arrival at camp.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

  • All facilities that campers occupy will undergo a comprehensive cleaning schedule to limit environmental exposures.
  • Bunk beds in cabins will be arranged to maximize the distance between beds.
  • Increased signage will be posted near eating areas, restrooms, and high traffic areas with reminders for handwashing, physical distancing, and face touching.
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided at every camper gathering place, including cabins, dining rooms, all indoor and outdoor activity areas, etc.
  • Handwashing stations will be monitored regularly and restocked throughout the day.
  • All water fountains will be turned off and replaced with igloo water stations. 

Food services

  • All meals will be served on disposable utensils, plates, cups, and napkins.
  • To maintain physical distance between cabins, both the arts & crafts area and dining room will be utilized with half the campers designated to dine in each space.
  • Each cabin will share two tables pushed together, surrounded by four benches to form a large square.  Campers from the same cabin will be limited to three campers per bench.   Each cabin square will be separated by 6-10 feet.
  • Cabins will be called to the foodservice line one at a time.  A second cabin will not be called until the first cabin has picked up their food and taken it back to their table to avoid a line of campers containing mixed cabins.
  • Kitchen employees will continue to serve camper meals, and Sr. Staff will serve drinks rather than the self-serve stations.
  • Kitchen employees will be screened daily for symptoms of COVID-19.
  • If an employee is ill or displays symptoms related to COVID-19, they will be sent home immediately.  The possible exposure will be communicated to the nursing staff who will follow policies consistent with the Camp Allen infectious disease plan.
  • Kitchen employees will wear gloves and masks when preparing and serving food.
  • The dining hall will be sanitized before and after every meal by kitchen employees utilizing disposable rags.
  • High contact surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches will also be cleaned.
  • The dining room will only be used for meals and remain off-limits to staff, volunteers, and campers otherwise.
  • Community garbage cans will remain open to reduce contact with a lid.

Community gatherings

  • Campers, volunteers, and staffers within each campsite will be kept separate from other campsites to reduce the size of our community circles.
  • All campers will receive facial covering buffs to wear on their neck and utilize as masks in instances where social distancing is not feasible. (This excludes eating, swimming, showering, and outdoor games.)
  • All camp-wide gathering activities such as the picnic, dance, and Eucharist will not take place.
  • A cabin of campers will be treated as a cohort with decreased physical distancing restrictions.
  • Cabins within a campsite will be asked to maintain at least 6 feet of separation between them. For instance, seating arrangements within the dining hall will be arranged in appropriately distanced table clusters.
  • During activity time, efforts will be made for cabins to participate individually. If that isn't possible, the same two cabins will always be scheduled together. Occasionally, there may be a need for four cabins to be in the same vicinity; that group will also remain consistent throughout the week.
  • Daily spiritual programming will take place outside and in smaller groups than what is typical. Seating arrangements during program time will be by the cabin, with appropriate distance maintained between cabin groups.
  • During cabin line-ups, individual cabins will be physically distanced from one another.
  • Campers will be asked and reminded to practice physical distancing during unstructured times such as canteen, free time, swimming, and lakefront.

Sanitation and prevention

  • Families are being asked to limit their group size to one parent or guardian per vehicle.
  • All camp personnel will be required to maintain proper hygiene while on site: daily showers, frequent handwashing, hands kept away from the face, etc.
  • Within each cabin, campers will sleep head to toe on bunk beds: top to bottom and left to right.
  • Camp nurses will wear gloves and facemasks when interacting with campers, volunteers, or staff. 
  • Kitchen employees will wear gloves and facemasks while preparing and serving food.
  • Family members are not permitted to enter the facilities within the campsite during Sunday registration or check-out on Saturday.   Campsite staff will facilitate curbside drop-offs and pickups while family members stay in the car.  
  • No visitors will be accepted while camp is in session.
  • Sr. Staff and Resident Counselors are not permitted to leave the site during their off period.   Exceptions will be made for essential errands.
  • Mail gathered at the pavilion or incoming mail from the postal service will be delivered after a 24-hour hold.
  • A commercial sanitation company has treated all commonly used Camp Allen facilities with a solution that provides 90-day sanitation against all viruses.  This product is non-toxic and has been professionally applied to all areas: cabins, directors quarters, dining halls, staff lodging, pavilion, pool houses, health center, restrooms, etc.    
  • Daily cleaning with an EPA approved bleach solution will be handled by housekeeping employees, staff, and volunteers.
  • Sanitation logs will be utilized to document the cleaning of commonly used spaces and surfaces.
  • Campers' traditional daily cabin cleanup will only include their cabin and no common spaces such as restrooms and craft areas.   Housekeeping employees will clean these areas daily to reduce the risk of camper exposure.
  • Hand washing times are included in the schedule before each meal, during morning and afternoon activity periods, and in the evening before bed. Additionally, hand sanitizer will be well-stocked at every camper location.
  • Campers must keep toiletries in a tote or sealed bag, which they carry to the bathroom when needed.
  • Housekeeping employees will wear gloves and facemasks when cleaning indoor spaces.
  • Supplies or objects that will be commonly shared will be limited as much as possible.

schedule & activities

  • Activities will be kept outside in the open air whenever possible.
  • Showering and handwashing will be scheduled to limit the number of people inside the restroom at any given time.
  • Equipment will be wiped down after each rotation.  This policy includes archery equipment, sports balls, fishing poles, ropes course supplies, boating supplies, life jackets, pickleball supplies, horse saddles, and tack, etc.
  • The lifeguard will disinfect lifeguarding equipment after each rotation.
  • Individual activities will have adjusted protocols to include sanitation guidelines.
  • Water coolers with disposable cups will replace all water fountains. Each cooler spout will be disinfected between groups.
  • Arts and crafts will be scheduled outdoors in smaller groups and spaced by individual cabins.  Tables and benches will be cleaned after each use.
  • Close contact group games and activities such as the shaving cream fight, Romans and Christians, low ropes challenge course, capture the flag, etc., will be replaced with other activities that lend themselves to increased physical distancing.

Camper Check-In & Check Out

  • Arrival times will be staggered according to the age group. Primary campers will arrive between 2:30 and 3:30, and Middler campers will arrive between 3:30 and 4:30, and Jr. High campers between 4:30 and 5:30.
  • Once the health screening at the security gate is complete, families will proceed by vehicle to the pavilion.
  • Pavilion registration will have four check-in lines organized by last name and two nurse lines to take medication.
  • All Sr. Staff and nurses checking in families will be wearing facemasks.
  • Staggering registration while maintaining maximum registration speed will prevent any lines from forming.
  • After completing registration at the pavilion, families will drive to their respective campsite and drop off their child without exiting the vehicle.  Campsite staff will direct cars to form a drive through line.
  • At the drop-off point, the campsite staff will welcome the camper and help carry the camper's luggage to the cabin while the parent stays inside the vehicle.
  • Camper pickup will take place in the same manner as drop off.   Cars will form a drive-through line, and the camper and his/her belongings will be loaded into the vehicle by the campsite staff.

camper transportation

  • Campers will wash their hands before getting on the horse bus.
  • The equestrian staff will disinfectant the interior of the bus before and after each use.
  • Physical distancing will be maximized on the bus and stagger seating, if possible.  
  • Depending on the size of the cabins which will be riding, two trips may be taken to the campsite to pick up campers for each ride.
  • The bus driver will wear a facemask while transporting campers
  • Campers must sit in the same seat both to and from the barn.
  • Bus windows will remain open all day to increase air circulation.

infectious disease plan

  • Staff and volunteers will be removed from the campsite if signs of illness appear and sent to a COVID-19 testing site.
  • Staff and volunteers will leave the property immediately if they test positive for COVID-19.
  • If a staff member tests positive, they may not return to work until three conditions have been met: 5 days must have passed since recovery, the patient must be asymptomatic, and it must be at least 14 days since the onset of symptoms.
  • If an ill staff member is not tested for COVID-19, it will be assumed that they are a carrier.  The employee must not return to work until the three conditions listed above are met.
  • If a camper exhibits symptoms of illness, they will be isolated immediately, and the parents will be asked to pick up their camper within 6 hours.  No observation period will be taken.