Our daily drop-off and pick up procedures have been modified to include protocol screening questions and temperature screening for all staff and campers. Before you come to camp each day, please answer all of the questions on our screening form. There will also be a temperature check procedure each day before camp. Staff will also be completing the screening and temperature check each day.  More details on drop off and carpool can be found further down in the FAQs. These protocols will help to ensure a greater likelihood that those who attend camp each day are healthy. While we know that some who are infected with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic, we also know that those who are symptomatic are more likely to be infected. Therefore, this screening is a means by which we will limit the exposure through known, effective measures.

Yes, as we do each year, our summer camp employs clinic staff who is certified to dispense medication. Camp Central will ensure the regular distribution of prescribed medication. We will not administer medication that does, or is intended to, mask a fever in order to bypass the protocol.

The CDC has issued guidelines for at-risk individuals. Parents, in consultation with pediatricians, must determine whether or not their child is at-risk as per the CDC Guidelines and make the decision whether it is safe to attend camp this summer.

If your child becomes ill while at camp we have an isolation protocol. They will be cared for by our staff in isolation until you come to pick them up. In instances of illness, parents will be required to pick their child up within 30 minutes of being notified of their illness.

Any staff member or child exhibiting the above symptoms may only return to camp when all three of the following criteria are met:  1) at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery(resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); and 2) the individual has improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and 3) at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared;

OR, in the case of a staff member or child who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or a PCR test for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to work or camp until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above;

OR, if the staff member or child has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to camp before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis.

• We will notify and coordinate our response with local health officials
• We will notify staff, and families immediately of a COVID-19 diagnosis while maintaining confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• We will close off areas used by that person and will not use them again until cleaning and sanitizing has occurred.
• We will ensure safe and correct application of sanitizers and keep sanitizing products away from children.
• We will inform those exposed to a person with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days. On the 10th day, if the test result is negative, the camper may return to camp. If the camper doesn’t get tested, then he or she can return to camp after 14 days while following the CDC and health department’s guidance.
• We will monitor State and local health department notices daily about transmission in the area and adjust operations and this policy accordingly.
• We have designated a staff person to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns and have a rapid response team within our JCC to respond quickly to any COVID-19 situations that may arise over the summer.

All camp staff will be required to wear face covering unless they are eating and drinking or by themselves. This policy is subject to re-evaluation based on new information changing what is considered best practices.

All school-age campers will need to wear a mask each day, indoors and outdoors, except while eating, drinking and swimming. Camp Simchah campers will be able to remove their mask during eating, drinking, napping, swimming and other strenuous outdoor activities. We know that this a learning process and we will use positive reinforcement and encouragement to teach this skill.

Please make sure to send your child with a large, refillable water bottle that is clearly labeled with their full name to camp each day.  We will have water filling stations for counselors to refill water bottles for their campers throughout the day.  We will not be using water fountains at camp this summer.

Yes, your children will need to reapply their own sunscreen this summer. Please apply sunscreen on your child before arriving at camp.  At camp your child’s counselors will coach them on this process, visually observe them applying sunscreen, and help them to build this important life skill. Won’t it be amazing when they have this skill to use at home?!  Camp Simchah campers can bring spray sunscreen for counselors to reapply.

The best prevention for contracting COVID-19 from a hard surface is hand-washing. Your children will wash their hands many, many, times each day. Hand sanitizer will only be used in instances where your child touches something and is unable to wash their hands in a short period of time. Your child’s counselors will have small quantities of hand sanitizer. If you would like for your child to have their own individual bottle, you can send it with them. However, again, our focus will be on frequent hand washing.

All JCC Camp Staff will be required to attend training sessions specific to COVID-19, our health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, and how to ensure for greater health and safety, prior to their first day of work. It will include the entire CDC Guidelines for Camps.

1. Counselors will teach and reinforce washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes among children and staff.
2. Counselors will teach and reinforce use of cloth face coverings among all staff and campers.
3. Staff and children will be frequently reminded not to touch the face covering and to wash their hands
4. Information will be provided to all staff and campers on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings.
5. We will have adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer), tissues, and no-touch trash cans.
6. We have posted signs on how to stop the spread of COVID-19, properly wash hands, promote everyday protective measures, and properly wear a face covering.

In order to guarantee the optimal experience for children enrolled in camp programs at the J, group sizes are limited and size limits will be strictly observed. This summer, Group size maximums will be 12 campers and 2 to 3 counselors. Furthermore, our Camp Leadership will build groups to minimize changes to the group setting (i.e. limiting kids in and out each week.)

As with every summer, Camp administrators will place children in the group that best serves each child’s developmental needs. Staff will use the child’s date of birth, gender, and the number of camp weeks for which the child is registered to determine the most appropriate placement for each child. The final decision will be made by the Camp Administrative Staff. Parents will be notified of group assignments in the days prior to the start of the camping.

Yes, you may still request friend placements for camp.  However, please be aware that while we will do our best to honor those requests, that we will be grouping campers based on factors such as schedule, enrollment periods, etc. to minimize the number of transitions that take place throughout the day.