Camp Finland 2021 COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Camp Finland 2021 COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Camp Finland/Friends of the Finland Community is committed to providing a safe and healthy space for all of our staff and youth. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our communities, which requires full cooperation among our staff, youth and parents. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our program.

Camp Finland staff are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. 

This plan was created to ensure the safety and health of our staff and participants. Camp staff created this plan and will continue to update it as needed. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Guidelines set forth in the MDH COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Youth and Student Programs, which was updated on 2/12/2021, as well as COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Overnight Camps, which was updated on 2/12/21. We will continue to revise our protocols as more updates from the MDH are published.

Our plan addresses:

  • Hygiene and respiratory etiquette
  • Engineering and administrative controls for social distancing
  • Controls and protections for drop-off, pick-up and transportation during camp
  • Housekeeping, including cleaning, disinfecting and decontamination
  • Prompt identification and isolation of sick persons
  • Communications and training for staff, parents and campers
  • And roles and responsibilities necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.

This year we will be limiting ages, numbers, and days of camp in order to comply with these protocols. The actions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of all staff and participants in our programs are described in more detail below. For more details about MDH guidelines, please refer to the link shared above. 

For information specific to Teen Camp, click here.

For information specific to Kids Camp, click here.

 

Teen Camp Finland COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Krews : We will be operating as much as possible in groups of 10 people (9 youth and 1 staff person or 8 youth and 2 staff people) or Krews that serve as a consistent group of participants and staff in order to more closely control the environment through monitoring of symptoms and adherence to policies for people who are ill. 

Physical distancing guidance will support a 3-foot radius around each participant, resulting in a 6-foot total distance between any two people.

Hygiene and Sanitization:

  • Outdoor washing station use will be limited to one person at a time and will be monitored by a staff person and cleaned/sanitized regularly. Similarly, use of the restroom facilities will be limited to single use and regularly sanitized.
  • Additionally, staff will build routines for participants to wash hands upon entering and leaving the program space, and create regular cleaning practices for frequently used items such as tables, program equipment, and other programmatic materials. 

When Teens are arriving for Camp activities: 

  • We will use signage and cones to direct Parents/Guardians to drop off their teens in a line formation. Only one car can unload their kid(s) at a time and only at the clearly labeled drop off station on the far side of the ball field. Like last year, you’ll be dropping them off “out back” behind the ball field next to the Clair Nelson Center in Finland, and again, we’re asking parents to pull in single file and not get out of your car when dropping off. As you pull up, we’ll be handing you a few medical and consent forms you’ll need to fill out before you leave. You can go park, then come back into the line when finished. Please bring your own pen and sanitize your hands before arriving. Masks are appreciated.

COVID Precautions for Teen Camp: 

  • Teens will divide into Krews of less than 10 for the week of camp. 
  • Like last year, most activities will be occurring outside, and teens will participate in activities in a group of less than 25, as per MDH guidelines. For any time spent indoors, Krews will be divided so that activities are limited to less than 10 people. 
  • For field trips, we will be following the guidelines utilized by Arrowhead Transit to limit the occupants on the bus for safe distancing. 
  • For overnight sleeping, each teen will be in their own individual tent, with the exception of same gender family members. 
  • Outdoor washing station use will be limited to one person at a time and will be monitored by a staff person and cleaned/sanitized regularly. Similarly, use of the restroom facilities will be limited to single use and regularly sanitized.
  • Additionally, staff will build routines for participants to wash hands upon entering and leaving the program space, and create regular cleaning practices for frequently used items such as tables, program equipment, and other programmatic materials. 

Kids Camp Finland COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Pods : We will be operating as much as possible in small, closed groups of 10 people (9 youth and 1 staff person or 8 youth and 2 staff people) or Pods that serve as a consistent group of participants and staff in order to more closely control the environment through monitoring of symptoms and adherence to policies for people who are ill. 

Hygiene and Sanitization: Additionally, staff will build routines for participants to wash hands upon entering and leaving the program space, and create regular cleaning practices for frequently used items such as tables, program equipment, and other programmatic materials. 

Physical distancing guidance will support a 3-foot radius around each participant, resulting in a 6-foot total distance between any two people.

Precautions:

  • When kids are arriving for Camp activities:
  • We will use signage and cones to direct Parents/Guardians to drop off their kids in a line formation. Only one car can unload their kid(s) at a time and only at the clearly labeled drop off station. 
    • All available staff will be at the drop off station to greet the kids as they show up and separate them into pods of 9 kids and one staff member or 8 kids and 2 staff members. There will be support staff to set up items so that no one is sharing equipment or space and sanitizing equipment in between use.
    • All kids will line up, one pod at a time, on ground markers that are 6’ apart to wait to wash their hands at the outdoor, foot activated hand washing station. 
    • Thereafter a dedicated staff member will signal regularly throughout the day for kids to line up, one pod at a time, for more hand washing. 
    • During the hand washing, staff will mentor kids on safe hand washing techniques.
  • When kids are leaving Camp for the day:
  • Parents/Guardians can use the same procedures for picking up as they did for dropping off (see description above)

 

  • Exclusion plan for when/if staff or kids/teens start feeling ill while at Camp: 
  • Staff will communicate with parents prior to sessions around expectations if their child becomes ill while at the program.  We will have a room that can be used to isolate a symptomatic staff member, volunteer, or participants while they wait to be picked up or are able to leave on their own; we will ensure there is enough space for multiple people placed at least 6 feet apart (in the case more than one participant becomes ill).
  • Participation in Camp activities is limited to Lake County year round residents, or seasonal residents, if they are here for 2 weeks prior to camp for an isolation period.
  • Staff and parents are asked to limit their interaction with local communities when off-site to obtain only essential services; and only allow sparingly or find other ways to get supplies/services. Follow appropriate social distancing and health etiquette measures when interacting with the community.  We encourage staff to limit their interactions with others on their time off. 
  • We will adapt practices to ensure high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, dining hall tables and benches, program equipment, and other items are regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Rules:

  • One person will be allowed into the bathroom at a time. There will be a waiting line clearly marked on the floor with waiting spots marked at six foot intervals. Bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized regularly. 
  • The water fountain is closed. Personal water bottles from home only. No sharing. 
  • We will have a foot lever activated outdoor hand washing station.
  • No nonessential visitors during anytime when the campers are present.
  • Activities will take place mostly outside with limited indoor access for kids/teens only in times of inclement weather/necessity.