4/27/22

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Dear Tapawingo Parents and Staff, We are so excited to be open for Summer 2022 to offer your girls a Christ-centered and community-focused experience at Tapawingo. We are privileged to come alongside of our campers once again. Our vision for this summer is to be an oasis of discipleship to strengthen the faith of our campers and staff. Part of executing this vision is maintaining a safe environment at Tapawingo. The health and safety of our campers is important to us.

 

The New York State Department of Health has issued COVID-19 Best Practices for Overnight Camp Programs. These guidelines helped us to run a COVID free summer in 2021 and will enable us to continue our mission of serving our campers in a safe and friendly environment. We are ready to serve our campers and believe that this summer has the potential to meet them in a unique place and distinct time of need.

 

We are monitoring New York State's guidance and regulations closely, and you will receive correspondence should there be changes. Please read the information below.

 

Tapawingo COVID-19 Guidance for Parents Based on Current New York State Best Practices

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  • Vaccination is encouraged for all eligible children and staff (up to date includes boosters for everyone who is eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people).

  • The rest of the guidelines call for programs to collect COVID-19 vaccination status and documentation for all staff and children, as well as training staff on daily monitoring of symptoms to look out for.

 

Pre-Arrival, COVID Waiver, and Communication

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  • Campers and staff are instructed to stay home if they are COVID-19 positive or show any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses.

  • Upon arrival campers and staff will complete an Intake Screening and Assessment which will screen for symptoms and include a temperature check.

  • Parents and staff are required to sign a COVID Waiver.

  • Parents are required to sign a COVID-Testing Consent Form.

 

Registration and Visitors

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  • Registration will take place at the CAMP-of-the-WOODS Pavilion.

            o Please seek to maximize social distancing.

  • Any parent/guardian or child/camper or staff member who screens positive for or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 or has a temperature         greater than or equal to 100.4 must not be allowed to enter the facility or area and must be sent home with instructions to contact their           healthcare provider for assessment and testing.

  • Parents of first-time campers may accompany their daughter to the island (please refrain from bringing siblings and limit your party to two         people).

  • Returning camper families should say their goodbyes at the boat launch. Take heart! Our staff will be sure to give a warm welcome to your       daughters and get them settled in their cabins.

  • Visitors to the island will be limited to a needs-only basis.

 

Testing

 

  • Parents are required to sign a COVID-Testing Consent Form.

  • All campers and staff are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 Test (PCR), 1-3 days prior to arrival at camp.

             o Campers and staff with documentation of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in the previous 3 months can be excluded from pre-                      camp testing if not symptomatic.

  • While at camp, campers or staff displaying signs or symptoms of COVID-19 must be separated from other campers/staff. They will be tested within 24 hours.

 

Face Coverings and Social Distancing

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  • Tapawingo will maintain a supply of medical/surgical face coverings in case they are needed.

  • Campers are encouraged to bring their own face coverings should the need to wear one arise. Disposable face coverings will be                 available as a backup resource.

              o All masks must be well-fitted and cover the nose and mouth. See the CDC Guide to Face coverings for most updated guidance.

  • Campers and staff exhibiting signs of COVID should wear a face covering to the Health Center.

  • Campers may feel free to wear face coverings in indoor settings where vaccination status is unknown (i.e. The Dining Hall, the Chapel,           the Crafts Cabin).

  • Physical distancing between cabin groups may be maintained indoors should a need arise.

 

Outdoor Activities

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  • As much as possible we will hold activities and events outside to allow for ventilation.

  • Outdoor dining may be available.

 

Cleaning, Sanitation and Signage

  • We will continue a thorough cleaning regimen (to include sanitizing high-touch areas and cleaning the bathrooms multiple times a day).

  • We will have hand sanitizer stations around camp.

 

Quarantine/Isolation

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  • Tapawingo has an isolation room in the Health Center.

  • Parents/guardians must be available to pick up their daughter within 24 hours of receiving a phone call if their camper has tested positive       for COVID-19.

  • Parents will be notified if a member of their child’s cabin tests positive for COVID. Symptoms will be monitored but parents will not be             required to pick up their child unless she tests positive for COVID.

 

See you soon! We cannot wait to serve you in just a month or two! We are praying for your families and your campers as your daughter prepares for her time at Tapawingo. Please keep in mind that COVID-19 best practices are fluid. We will update you as needed. Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate best practices to remain open this summer.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joy Huseland

Tapawingo Director