Q: Are we having summer camp? A: Yes, we are continuing to plan for an exciting summer camp season. The Camp Director is working hard to finalize staff needs and preparing material orders. We are continually evaluating how we can offer our programming in new and innovative ways to ensure that safety of everyone remains our top priority.
Q: How do I get updated on further communications about summer camp status and how 2021 is going to look/ operate? A: We plan to update this page so please plan on checking back often. We also use email and our council Facebook page to communicate with our members.
Health & Safety-
Q: What kind of safety guidelines will you be following at camp? A: A: The health and safety of our participants is of the utmost importance to us. Our camps are nationally accredited, inspected by the local health department, and held to high standards. All participants will be required to come to camp healthy and able to participate. Camp personnel will perform a daily symptom screening of all campers, including upon arrival. We will be employing the use of “cohorts“. Cohorts will not be not be mixed, including during meal times, for at least 14 days to facilitate contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine in the event of positive COVID-19 cases. Cohort size may not exceed 25 campers, not including staff. When any camper or staff is traveling throughout the camp or near other cohorts, strict six feet of physical distancing and mask wearing must be observed from those not in their cohort. Ten feet of distancing must be observed when engaging in singing, cheering, exercise, or other activities involving increased exhalation.
Q: What are your plans to clean and sanitize camps? A: We are continually monitoring guidance from the CDC, the VA Department of Heath, and the American Camp Association (ACA) to ensure we will be following the most up-to-date procedures to keep everyone safe. Pipsico specific procedures developed to date are found by clicking here and the ACA guidance can be found here.
Q: What are you doing to prevent someone from bringing COVID-19 into camp? A: First, units and families must monitor their personal situation and not let anyone displaying Symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been around anyone with COVID-19 symptoms attend camp. Per normal BSA policy, all camp attendees receive an individual medical screening, including communicable disease screening, immediately upon arrival at camp. These screenings apply to camp staff, participants, and adult leaders. Individuals who do not pass this screening will be sent home. Screening protocols as detailed in our COVID-19 Safety Protocols will be followed. It’s important that units use these prior to even loading into their vehicles to travel to camp. In addition, per VA Department of Heath Regulations, a 14 day health monitoring OR proof of a COVID-19 negative test will be required to be turned in at camp arrival.
Q: What are you doing to encourage hand washing at camp? A: We will be emphasizing hand washing through all aspects of camp with the intention of creating a “culture” of hand washing. We have constructed additional hand washing stations outside of our dining facilities as well as installing permanent soap dispensers at the hand washing stations already located in every campsite. Lastly, hand sanitizer stations are being acquired and will be provided at every program area. Soap will be made available at every location where water is available, which includes all program areas and campsites. A formal policy of “Wash-in/Wash-out” when transitioning between activities/locations will be established and followed.
Q: Will we be required to wear masks at camp? A: Campers above the age of 5 and staff must wear a mask as required by VA Executive Order 72. A group of campers and staff cohabitating in the same sleeping space are considered equivalent to a Family as defined in VA Executive Order 72; mask requirements do not apply unless persons are in the presence of campers or staff outside their camp cohort/Family, or are in an indoor public place that is shared with other campers or staff..
Financial Questions-
Q: If summer camp is cancelled, do we get a refund? A: Given the current trends in vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases, we do not expect that camps will be ordered not to operate this summer, however, if Tidewater Council cancels the summer camp season, we will work with units to move reservations to 2022 or refund the payment to the unit.
Q: What if I cancel my unit’s reservation early and my session is held as usual? Do I get a full refund? A: Please refer to refund policy is the 2021 Summer Resident Camp Leader’s Guide.
Q: What if I have to cancel our unit’s reservation because we were unable to hold our unit fundraiser and can’t make our camp payment? A: Before cancelling your units camp experience please reach out to the camping department to discuss payment plans. Secondly please look into our campership program, which offers assistance of up to 40% for families.
Summer Camp 2021 FAQ’S
Updated March 11, 2021
Program Questions-
Q: Are we having summer camp?
A: Yes, we are continuing to plan for an exciting summer camp season. The Camp Director is working hard to finalize staff needs and preparing material orders. We are continually evaluating how we can offer our programming in new and innovative ways to ensure that safety of everyone remains our top priority.
Q: How do I get updated on further communications about summer camp status and how 2021 is going to look/ operate?
A: We plan to update this page so please plan on checking back often. We also use email and our council Facebook page to communicate with our members.
Health & Safety-
Q: What kind of safety guidelines will you be following at camp?
A: A: The health and safety of our participants is of the utmost importance to us. Our camps are nationally accredited, inspected by the local health department, and held to high standards. All participants will be required to come to camp healthy and able to participate.
Camp personnel will perform a daily symptom screening of all campers, including upon arrival. We will be employing the use of “cohorts“. Cohorts will not be not be mixed, including during meal times, for at least 14 days to facilitate contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine in the event of positive COVID-19 cases. Cohort size may not exceed 25 campers, not including staff. When any camper or staff is traveling throughout the camp or near other cohorts, strict six feet of physical distancing and mask wearing must be observed from those not in their cohort. Ten feet of distancing must be observed when engaging in singing, cheering, exercise, or other activities involving increased exhalation.
Q: What are your plans to clean and sanitize camps?
A: We are continually monitoring guidance from the CDC, the VA Department of Heath, and the American Camp Association (ACA) to ensure we will be following the most up-to-date procedures to keep everyone safe. Pipsico specific procedures developed to date are found by clicking here and the ACA guidance can be found here.
Q: What are you doing to prevent someone from bringing COVID-19 into camp?
A: First, units and families must monitor their personal situation and not let anyone displaying Symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been around anyone with COVID-19 symptoms attend camp. Per normal BSA policy, all camp attendees receive an individual medical screening, including communicable disease screening, immediately upon arrival at camp. These screenings apply to camp staff, participants, and adult leaders. Individuals who do not pass this screening will be sent home. Screening protocols as detailed in our COVID-19 Safety Protocols will be followed. It’s important that units use these prior to even loading into their vehicles to travel to camp. In addition, per VA Department of Heath Regulations, a 14 day health monitoring OR proof of a COVID-19 negative test will be required to be turned in at camp arrival.
Q: What are you doing to encourage hand washing at camp?
A: We will be emphasizing hand washing through all aspects of camp with the intention of creating a “culture” of hand washing. We have constructed additional hand washing stations outside of our dining facilities as well as installing permanent soap dispensers at the hand washing stations already located in every campsite. Lastly, hand sanitizer stations are being acquired and will be provided at every program area. Soap will be made available at every location where water is available, which includes all program areas and campsites. A formal policy of “Wash-in/Wash-out” when transitioning between activities/locations will be established and followed.
Q: Will we be required to wear masks at camp?
A: Campers above the age of 5 and staff must wear a mask as required by VA Executive Order 72. A group of campers and staff cohabitating in the same sleeping space are considered equivalent to a Family as defined in VA Executive Order 72; mask requirements do not apply unless persons are in the presence of campers or staff outside their camp cohort/Family, or are in an indoor public place that is shared with other campers or staff..
Financial Questions-
Q: If summer camp is cancelled, do we get a refund?
A: Given the current trends in vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases, we do not expect that camps will be ordered not to operate this summer, however, if Tidewater Council cancels the summer camp season, we will work with units to move reservations to 2022 or refund the payment to the unit.
Q: What if I cancel my unit’s reservation early and my session is held as usual? Do I get a full refund?
A: Please refer to refund policy is the 2021 Summer Resident Camp Leader’s Guide.
Q: What if I have to cancel our unit’s reservation because we were unable to hold our unit fundraiser and can’t make our camp payment?
A: Before cancelling your units camp experience please reach out to the camping department to discuss payment plans. Secondly please look into our campership program, which offers assistance of up to 40% for families.