ATTENTION PARENTS

While summer camps are awaiting regulations from the NYS Department of Health, we wanted to share our best answers to date to questions that we’ve fielded from Givah parents. As standards change and updates are made available, we will continue to update our parent guide for the most accurate information. Our responses are based on guidance from medical professionals and the most current regulations.

FAQs for Summer Day Camp

Cleaning of Facilities

• Equipment and touch points will be wiped down at the end of each period. This includes...
  • Bathroom areas (surfaces and doorknobs),
  • Playgrounds, tables, boating equipment, and additional hard surfaces.
  • “Soiled” equipment will be set aside and disinfected prior to re-use. Campers will have their own siddur for the summer for prayers and Birkat Hamazon cards will be wiped with sanitizer after each use.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be installed throughout the camp in all areas for the easiest access.
• Staff will be reminding and requesting campers to sanitize hands at the end of​ each period.

Vaccines

• All staff and campers aged 16 and above should have received the COVID vaccine(s) prior to the start of camp.
• This policy is in addition to our existing vaccination policy, which is as follows:
• Prior to attending camp, all campers and staff at Temple Israel’s Camp Givah must have received the vaccinations recommended in the standards of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• The only recognized exemption will be if a physician certifies that a given, specific vaccination will be detrimental to a child/person’s health.
  • Requests for exemptions based upon personal preferences, philosophical concerns, or religious beliefs will not be entertained. 
• ​​Proof of such vaccinations will be required before applicants will be allowed to participate in camp.

*If you have a child over 4 years of age, please make sure your child has received the 2nd MMR, 2nd Varivax, DTAP5 and polio4.

​What steps will be taken when a child or employee develop symptoms at the camp?

• We will take the temperatures each day for children and staff as they arrive, both prior to entering the bus or if they drive up to Camp.
• Campers/staff that have temperatures above 100 will be asked to leave and must be 72 hours fever free before returning to camp.
• Campers and staff will be requested to use the hand sanitizer as they enter the bus  and then again as they get off the bus at camp.
• Campers and/or staff that show symptoms will be separated from their group and evaluated.
• A quarantine tent has been set-up for quarantining any camper or staff​ member who shows symptoms and/or needs to be quarantined until they can be picked up.

Will Campers/Staff who live with COVID positive family members, be able to attend camp?

• No, campers and staff that live with COVID positive family members must quarantine based on DOH instructions.
  • This is part of the daily screening for our summer camps.

Masks?

• Staff and campers will be required to wear masks while at camp. Campers will be able to remove their masks while eating, drinking and swimming.
  • This is subject to change following Governor’s Executive Orders and/or CDC recommendations.
• All campers will be required to wear a mask if Camp Givah is transporting them to or from​ camp.

Transportation?

• Each camper will have their temperature taken prior to getting on the bus and parents will be required to complete the intake COVID-19 form.
• We will have 1 family per seat.
• All riders must wear a mask while on the bus.
• Buses will be cleaned before and after every trip.
• Seats will be wiped down.
• Windows will be open for the ride for added ventilation.

Will the pool be open?

• Yes, the pool will be open for instructional and free swim periods. Swim periods, just like​ all other camp activities, will take place by group/pod.