Operating Procedures 

These policies will override any prior policies due to heightened risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Camp Christopher will operate under the procedures listed in this document for summer
2021 as long as COVID-19 specific guidance remains in place. These procedures are drawn from guidance by the state of Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Camp Association, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Cleveland. Procedures are subject to change as new information is available.

BEFORE CAMP

• Parents/guardians should
  • Be alert for any symptoms of COVID-19 and keep campers home if showing any signs of illness.
  • Monitor camper contact with others who may have COVID-19 symptoms and keep campers home if they meet the criteria listed below.
  • Avoid allowing campers to participate in activities with increased risk for viral spread (such as unmasked crowded indoor spaces) in the 14 days prior to attending camp.
  • Teach children proper handwashing techniques
  • Teach children how to properly wear a cloth face covering.
  • Watch the mail for a color-coded ‘Pick Up Card”. This will be a brightly colored sheet with the name of your camper(s) on it. Display this on your car windshield so that camp staff know the driver has been approved for pickup. If anyone arrives to pick up a child without this sheet, he/she will be asked for identification and only those authorized in the camper’s registration will be permitted to leave with the child.
• Staff and children in the following categories may NOT participate in camp programs:
  • Diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Under orders to quarantine related to COVID-19
  • Showing any symptoms related to COVID-19:
  • Fever of 100 or greater
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Chills

*Campers who are unable to participate for the above reasons and can show medical documentation of the above will be refunded or rescheduled for an alternate session (if space is available).

DROP-OFF PROCEDURES

Camp Christopher will use a “curbside” drop off and pick up model for Day and Resident
Camp programming. This will involve campers being taken directly from their
parent/guardian’s vehicle without parents parking or exiting the car. No other individual
besides the camper will be permitted to exit their vehicle unless there is an emergency.
The following procedure will be used for each service:

DAY CAMP (Monday-Friday, 8:45 am-9:00 am):

• Parents will pull into camp and follow the signs into the designated lanes.
• Parents will remain in the car during the check-in process while they answer the daily COVID-19 screening assessment questions.
• Campers will be directed to wash hands or use hand sanitizer before entering the program.
• Campers will be immediately placed in their small group.
  
  

RESIDENT CAMP (Sunday at the camper’s assigned time):

• Drop Off is divided into two time slots.
  • Female campers ages 12 and older check in between 2:00-2:45 PM.
  • All other campers check in from 3:00-4:00 PM. (If a family has multiple campers in different time slots, they may choose either time slot.)
• Please do not arrive before your designated check in time. If you arrive more than 10 minutes before your designated check in time, you will be asked to leave the lot until your designated check in time.
• Parents will remain in the car during the check-in process while they answer the COVID-19 screening assessment questions.
• Camp Christopher staff will assist campers in removing luggage from vehicles, perform health checks, facilitate communication with the camp nurses, take mail (no food/drink or care packages-see section below on Care Packages), and lead campers to their assigned cabin counselor.
• Campers will be immediately placed in their cabin group.
• Cabin counselors will assist campers to make beds and settle into the cabin.

PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Similar to Drop Off, Camp Christopher will use a “curbside” model for programming. This will involve campers being directed to their parent/guardian’s vehicle without parents exiting the car. No other individual besides the camper will be permitted to exit their vehicle unless there is an emergency. The following procedure will be used for each service:

DAY CAMP (Monday-Friday, 3:45 pm-4:00 pm):

Parents/Guardians will receive a Camp Christopher “Pick-Up Card” in their email prior to the camper’s scheduled week. This card must be presented each day in the windshield of the vehicle in order to pick up the camper (see bullet above under ‘BEFORE CAMP’).

Vehicles will pull into camp and follow the signs into the designated lanes.

Adults picking up must remain in their car, and staff will escort the camper to the vehicle.

The staff member will sign out the camper to the authorized adult.

RESIDENT CAMP (Saturday between 9:30 am-10:30 am):

• Parents/Guardians will receive a Camp Christopher “Pick-Up Card” in their email prior to the camper’s scheduled week. This card must be presented on Saturday in order to pick up your camper (see bullet above under ‘Before Camp’).
• Vehicles will pull into camp and follow the signs into the designated lanes.
• Adults picking up must remain in their car, and staff will escort the camper to the vehicle.
• The staff member will sign out the camper to the authorized adult.
• Camp Christopher staff will assist campers in loading their luggage into vehicles and returning medication from the nurses’ station.
• All campers must depart by 10:30 AM

DURING THE WEEK

• Activities will be done outdoors as much as weather allows.
• Campers will be placed in groups according to age group, cabins, and/or camp they signed up for.
• Campers will stay in their assigned group (cohort) the entire week. Interaction between cohorts will be as limited as possible under the circumstances throughout the day.
• Large group gatherings will be held outdoors as much as possible with spacing between small groups as the location allows.
• Staff will enforce increased hand washing and sanitizing throughout the day - before and after eating, using the restroom, and each program activity.
• Campers and staff will be asked to bring their own cloth masks, and are required to wear them when indoors or when in close proximity to others. Campers are not required to wear masks outdoors unless in close proximity to others.
• If a camper shows signs/symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 during their time at camp, their parent/guardian will be contacted to pick the camper up. The camper will be isolated and monitored by camp personnel until the parent/guardian arrives, but pick up must take place within a window of 2 hours from the time the call or message is made to the parent/guardian.
• Campers may return to camp upon presentation of a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken after the symptoms were identified by camp personnel. As an alternative to a negative test result, a camper may return if he or she is symptom free after 7 days from the day the camper was sent home.

MEALS

• Day campers will be served meals through our food service, but will eat outside picnic style as long as weather permits. If campers cannot be outside due to weather, they will be spaced during the meal in our dining hall and rec hall.
• Resident campers will eat food served in the dining hall with cabin mates. The dining hall will operate at reduced capacity in order to maintain the integrity of the cabin cohorts.

FACE COVERING/MASK POLICY

• Please send your camper with at least one mask.
• Day campers will be required to mask when inside of buildings in which social distancing cannot be maintained. This would typically happen on days when the weather does not permit campers to be outside.
• Resident Campers will be required to mask when inside buildings if they are interacting with other campers outside of their cohort and social distancing cannot be maintained. Resident campers are not required to mask inside of the cabin or at meals because they will be distanced together as a cohort.
• For All Campers: Parents/Guardians can request that their camper wear a mask at all time while at camp. Staff will do their best to remind campers of the parent’s directive.

PACKING

The full packing list for Camp Christopher can be found below: 

Day Camp Packing List

Resident Camp Packing List

If you intend for your camper to wear a mask throughout the week, please plan to send your camper with masks.

CARE PACKAGES AND FOOD/DRINK IN CABINS

In order to reduce the risks of any transmission of the COVID-19 virus, we will not be
accepting care packages this summer. Because eating and sharing of food and drink in
a confined space is an activity which increases the risk of the spread of the COVID-19
virus, food and drink will not be allowed in the cabin. Along with being provided three
meals each day, campers will be given a snack each afternoon as well as the
opportunity to buy snacks at the Camp Store (See Camp Store Procedures below). If a
camper brings snacks from home, they will be directed to place them into the
trash outside of the cabin.

MAIL

Campers are only permitted to receive letters. These letters can be dropped off during
check in, emailed to campchris1924@gmail.com or sent through a postal service.
Campers are not permitted to be sent care packages (see above). Please have
letters addressed and ready to go during the check in process.

CAMP STORE

The Camp Store will be operating throughout the summer. The store will sell a
variety of snacks and drinks as well as Camp Christopher apparel. Each camper will
have an account that families may load with money for the camper’s weekly spending.
The camp store does not accept cash. Please do not send cash to Camp Christopher.
In order to provide funds for your camper to shop at the camp store, please follow the
Camp Store Deposit Instructions which can be found at ccdocle.org/camp-store-merchandise. 

HEALTH CARE PROCEDURES

Camp Christopher has protocols for health care which are reviewed annually by a
physician. In addition to these, the following COVID-19 specific policies are in
place:

• If a camper shows signs/symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 during their time at camp, their parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the camper. The camper will be isolated and monitored by camp personnel until the parent/guardian arrives, but pick up must take place within a window of 2 hours from the time the call or message is made to the parent/guardian.
• Campers may return to camp upon presentation of a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken after the symptoms were identified by camp personnel. As an alternative to a negative test result, a camper may return if he or she is symptom free after 7 days.
• If any staff or camper tests positive for COVID-19, they must notify Camp Christopher. Camp will then notify the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Summit County Health Department. Camp Christopher will work with Summit County to communicate with any individual who may have had close contact with the infected individual.

CLEANING PROCEDURES

Camp Christopher staff will regularly clean and disinfect shared spaces and equipment
to maintain a safe environment for campers and staff.

VISITOR POLICY

Camp Christopher is not open to the public, even during off hours. Any visitors must be
approved by the Camp Director before entering the grounds and facilities. This includes
all guests of staff. Visitors should call the office (330-762-2961) in order to make an
appointment to be on site at the camp.

COVID-19 FAQs

Camp Christopher will operate following the guidance of the State of Ohio’s Department of Health, recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, Summit County Department of Public Health, the American Camp Association, and Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland.

Q:   Will my camper be required to wear a mask while at camp?
A:   Campers who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine will be required to wear a mask 
       indoors and when unable to maintain 6 feet social distance. This includes campers who
       are currently unable to receive the vaccine, such as children ages 5-11. Campers will
       not be required to wear masks while sleeping.

Q:   What COVID-19 precautions are being taken?
A:   We are following the guidance provided by the state in regards to resident camps.

Q:   Will group sizes and cabin sizes be different?
A:    Group sizes are dictated by the state and we will be monitoring appropriate guidelines
       for any changes. At this time, cabins are being filled to 1/2 capacity.

Q:   Will my camper miss out on any activities due to COVID-19?
A:    All activities and departments will continue to be offered this summer.

Q:   Will my camper be allowed to bring snacks into their cabin?
A:    To reduce the spread of germs within cabins, campers are not permitted to pack snacks.
       Along with being provided three meals each day, campers will be given the opportunity
       to buy snacks at the Camp Store.

Q:   Will I be allowed to send my camper care packages?
A:    Campers are not permitted to be sent care packages. Letters can be sent using one of 
       the methods listed on our Camp Mail page.

Q:   What happens if my camper is exposed to or tests positive for COVID-19 prior to
       their camping session?
A:    Please contact the camp office prior to arriving for check in.