The best camp sessions start with healthy campers and this begins at home. Please be diligent, ask questions of friends and family, and notify us immediately if you learn that there has been an exposure. While we certainly cannot impose restrictions on your actions when your child is not at Maplewood, we hope that you will make careful choices, considering others that will spend time in the company of your child during their time at Maplewood.
In an effort to minimize illness at camp we are asking that all participants begin screening for fever and other symptoms 14 days prior to the start of their session, and to complete a daily electronic screening attestation prior to arriving at camp each day (completed by 7:30 a.m. through the Campanion app).
Campers and staff members will not be permitted to enter the bus or camp if any of the following occur: the electronic screening form is not received; questions on the electronic screening form are answered yes; we find that the child is not well during the morning visual inspection.
Each morning upon arrival (upon immediately exiting the car or getting on the bus), campers and counselors will be visually inspected for signs of illness (cough, congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing) and may have their temperature taken with an infrared thermometer (temperature check is not required by state guidelines at this time).
Staff will monitor children throughout the day for signs of illness.
The following symptoms, if observed in a child or staff member are cause for immediate isolation and exclusion from camp:
The following symptoms, if observed in combination with symptoms bulleted above, are cause for immediate isolation and exclusion from camp:
Extended day hours are from 7:30-9:00 and 4:00-6:00.
Parents/Guardians should drive into the oval area past the playgrounds and then follow the same procedures included in this document for the regular drop-off and pick-up of campers. Extended day programming will take place on the camp-side, which is the area after the boating area.
Most of the activities will take place outdoors with the indoor space being mainly used for inclement weather. Campers will have a place (table under the tents or canopy) for their belongings (jacket, camp bag).
In addition to the items mentioned in the section – “Important Items to Bring to Camp,” please send your child with additional morning and/or afternoon snacks including bottles of water or a reusable water bottle.
During extended day if campers are indoors due to inclement weather, we will follow our physical distancing protocols which include keeping campers in their own groups (i.e. Bunnies, Knights….), and to the greatest extent possible, maintaining at least six feet separation from other groups. Outdoors, campers will be separated into cohorts by grades.
Activities will include art, sports (gaga ball, basketball….), playground, sand play, and quiet space for reading.
Each family will be emailed a camper drop-off/pick-up card which you should have visibly showing on the passenger side of the dashboard for the staff to easily view. The information on this card will help our staff direct you to the correct location. If carpooling, please make sure that the individual driving has a copy of the drop-off and pick-up card for each camper that will be in their car. Here is what we expect:
- Parents/Guardians are NOT permitted to exit their vehicles
- Minimize the time you take saying goodbye to allow for the continual flow of traffic. Please say goodbye inside your vehicles.
- Counselors will visually inspect for signs of illness and apply hand sanitizer.
- Please have your camper use the bathroom before arriving at camp to facilitate the pre-screening each morning.
Staff and campers will need to wear a well fitted, multi-layer face mask (CDC- approved):
Children may wear masks more than required if that is more comfortable.
Pull-up masks and gators may not be worn.
All campers must bring at least two clean face masks to camp to allow for replacing the covering as needed. These should be clearly labeled with the camper’s name, clearly marked to distinguish which side of the covering should be worn facing outwards, and placed in individually labeled baggies. Maplewood will provide masks to staff and to children as necessary.
Listed below are the health and safety practices that will be in place for all campers and staff who ride the bus to and from camp:
At camp, we will be practicing physical distancing through increased spacing, limited mixing between groups, and staggered scheduling, arrival, and pick-up
In addition to the items mentioned in the parent handbook please supply the following items all clearly labeled:
For the past 56 summers, Maplewood has been known for its outstanding staff and diverse programming. In that respect, this summer will be no different but, to ensure camper and staff safety, some time-honored Maplewood activities and events will be on “sabbatical” for 2021. We have had our “thinking caps” on for months and we are excited to say that our daily group schedules are action-packed. We are planning to hold most activities outdoors but will take advantage of our abundant air-conditioned indoor space for those rainy days. Here is a sneak peek of some of the activities our campers will be able to enjoy this summer:
Diligent cleaning protocols have been implemented and will be adhered to by all staff members and our maintenance team to ensure the safety of everyone at Maplewood. Our maintenance team is already prepping the camp for the arrival of campers and staff. During camp, we will increase the frequency with which we perform deep cleanings of shared surfaces. We have also hired extra maintenance teams throughout the day and a professional cleaning crew at night.
In addition to our new HVAC system in the main building, we recently installed air purifying devices called iWave-C to further enhance air quality when children and staff are indoors.
In order for participants to come to camp after traveling outside of Massachusetts, we require that the participant either quarantine for 10 days upon their return or get tested upon return from a trip outside of Massachusetts (best if the test is close to starting of the camp session as possible). The participant may come to camp once we receive the negative PCR result.
Individuals are exempt that travel outside of MA to drive to a private property they own/rent in another state, as long as there is no unmasked interaction with unvaccinated individuals outside of their household. (EX: You may get an Airbnb in Vermont, or visit a lake house in NY). This includes going to stay at a relative’s house where the people you are staying with are fully vaccinated.
Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms are exempt.
Participants who are symptomatic will be asked to remain home until they receive a negative PCR Covid test or alternate diagnosis from their physician.
In accordance with MA DPH guidelines, participants who present with symptoms at Maplewood will be immediately isolated and brought to the nurse’s office for evaluation. Parents/Guardians will be called for immediate pick-up of the camper. The staff member may use his/her car to drive home.
Participants sent home must remain home until they receive a negative PCR Covid test or alternate diagnosis from their physician. Symptomatic individuals who test negative may return after symptoms improve and have been without fever or fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours.
Confirmed cases will not be able to return to Maplewood for ten days after symptom onset and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Any close contacts (closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes while indoors) will need to quarantine for 10 days without testing OR 7 days after receiving a negative test result (on day 5 or later). Fully vaccinated staff/campers will not have to quarantine if a close contact.
Maplewood will notify families and staff of close contacts about exposure while maintaining confidentiality. In addition, the Easton Health Department and EEC will be notified.
In the circumstance of a reported COVID-19 positive staff or children, all potentially exposed facility areas and equipment will be closed until professionally cleaned and disinfected. We will continue to monitor MA DPH guidelines and will make updates to these procedures as the public health authorities update their guidance.