Health and Safety

Summer 2022

High Risk Population

Those who have pre-existing conditions or who have a higher risk of complications due to Covid-19 should speak with their primary care physician to assess the risk of attending camp prior to registering.

Pre-Camp

One of the best ways to prevent Covid-19 at CSM is to minimize bringing Covid-19 to Camp. This makes the diligence of our camp families very important. If any campers or their families are considered a close contact to Covid-19 within 10 days of coming to camp or test positive for Covid 19 in that time please stay home. If you have any Covid 19 symptoms 10 days or less prior to camp please get tested for Covid 19 and presuming a negative test and sypmtoms have improved you should be fine to come to camp. Please contact us if you have any questions as to whether or not your child should be attending camp. We need your help to keep camp safe and fun this summer.

Fever or Covid-19 Symptoms at Camp

In the case of a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher at camp or a camper experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, that camper will be isolated under the watch and care of our nurse or medical health officer. We will contact you and if we have your consent on file we are able to offer a rapid Covid 19 test. Presuming a negative result, the camper will be able to rest and recover in the infirmary until he/she is better. If the result is positive the camper will need to be picked up.    If a camper in your child’s cabin were to test positive for Covid-19, the rest of the cabin, if symptom free, would be monitored and stay at camp presuming no symptoms. If symptoms develop we would test for Covid 19 after speaking with you and making sure your consent is on file. If no consent is on file or you do not want your child tested you would need to come and pick your child up.

 

COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Summer 2021

June 26, 2021

Updated June 26, 2021

Dear Families,

It has been a great start to the summer and we look forward to welcoming many more campers! The first two weeks of camp have been filled with much joy, enthusiasm, excitement, and gratitude! It is so wonderful to see all of the smiling faces of our campers and their families.  

We have been following the ever-evolving guidelines and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Camping Association (ACA), and the State of Michigan. We have been in contact with doctors and nurses and other camps to determine the best strategy to provide a safe and fun experience while mitigating the risk of Covid-19. With the latest update for camps having just come out this week after the lifting of restrictions on Tuesday, June 22 we share with you the following changes for the summer.

The following safety strategies are based on the current guidelines at this time. These are subject to change based on the recommendations of the CDC, ACA, State of Michigan, and the doctors and nurses who help to guide us.

High Risk Population

Those who have pre-existing conditions or who have a higher risk of complications due to Covid-19 should speak with their primary care physician to assess the risk of attending camp prior to registering.

Pre-Camp

One of the best ways to prevent an outbreak of Covid-19 at CSM is to minimize bringing Covid-19 to Camp. This makes the diligence of our camp families in following the pre-screening process so important. If there is any potential exposure to campers or their families to Covid-19 within 14 days of coming to camp or any symptoms shown please stay home. We need your help to keep camp safe and fun this summer.

For 14 days prior to coming to Camp, campers are asked to fill out a daily health screening form which will include taking and recording temperatures. You can use one of the following forms CSM Health Screening Form, MHSSA Covid Monitor Form, or a health screening app if you prefer. We also ask that for 14 days prior to coming to Camp, the following practices are observed:

  • Choose safer activities that limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19. See the CDC’s guide to safer activities CDC Guide to safer activities
  • Wash hands with soap and water frequently. Limit non-essential travel.

Covid-19 tests are encouraged within 3-5 days prior to attending Camp.

Please contact us if you have any questions as to whether or not your child should be attending camp

Arrival at Camp

We will be limiting access to indoor spaces and check-in will look very different this year. It will be a drive-through process. We are no longer asking that only parent drop their child off. Upon arrival, the following will take place:

  • Temperature screening of all in the vehicle (If anyone in the vehicle has a temperature of 100.4 or over, the registered camper will be unable to check-in. Hence, it is vital you are taking daily temperatures including prior to leaving for camp on the day of check-in. If a temperature is found please stay home.)

If a camper has any symptoms or has been in contact with a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19, you will not be able to check in. Please stay home if you or your child answer yes to questions a, b, or c.

  • The following questions will be asked:
  1. Have you or your child been in contact with a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19?
  2. Have you or your child felt unwell in the last 3 days? (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste of smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea)
  3. (The camper will be asked) Have you felt unwell in the last 3 days? (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste of smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea)
  4. Are you feeling well today?

With the above having been satisfied we will proceed with the check-in process as follows:

  • Parent/guardian(s) will turn in paperwork, medication, and settle any balances.
  • Camper will have a health screening performed by our Camp nurse/medical health officer prior to heading to their cabin.
  • After the above has taken place, the camper may head to their cabin. We ask the person dropping off the camper to refrain from going inside the cabin. You may drop off luggage at the porch/door of the cabin, meet the counselors who will greet you outside, and say your goodbyes. Counselors will assist campers with settling into the cabin and getting their bunks set up.

At Camp

  • Masks are no longer required anywhere at camp.
  • The maximum number of campers in a cabin will be 16.
  • Cabins will be considered a household.
  • Temperature checks will take place each day.
  • During meals campers will be seated as a cabin with social distance between cabins. Windows will be open in the mess hall during meals to provide ventilation.
  • As much as possible, activities will be done as a cabin. The camper’s team will be their cabin mates.
  • Any all camp activities outside of Mass, Night Prayer, and meals will take place outside and be socially distanced between cabins.
  • As much as possible, outside of our specialized activities, such as horses for example, we will keep the cabin counselors with the campers from their cabin.
  • Counselors will make sure campers are either washing their hands and/or using hand sanitizer throughout the day.
  • Mackinaw Island trips will be suspended this year so as to protect our CSM bubble and limit exposure to crowds and outside people.

Cleaning and sanitation

We are returning to our regular cleaning protocols which meet the ACA and the State of Michigan high standards.

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Fever or Covid-19 Symptoms at Camp

In the case of a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher at camp or a camper experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, that camper will be isolated under the watch and care of our nurse or medical health officer. If the fever or symptoms persist the camper will need to be picked up and the camper will need a Covid-19 test.  CSM will need to be informed of the results of the test so we can inform health officials, Camp families, and staff.  (If a camper in your child’s cabin were to test positive or display symptoms of Covid-19, the rest of the cabin, if symptom free, can stay at camp and continue in their own bubble until camp ends. Parents will be notified if there is an exposure but no campers would have to check out early unless symptomatic. This cabin would then become what is called a shadow camp and would have separate activities, meals, and chapel time.)

The following are symptoms that can be related to Covid-19:

  • Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
  • Body or muscle aches
  • Cough
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat

Check-out/Pick-up

NEW FOR 2021: All check-outs for our boys’ and girls’ sessions will take place on Saturdays at 1pm. Check-out will also be a drive-thru process, and we will be limiting indoor access as much as possible. Upon arrival for check-out, the following will take place:

  • Show your ID
  • Sign your camper out
  • Settle any balances
  • Collect camper’s medication, if necessary
  • Receive cabin photo if one was purchased
  • Receive your slip with your camper’s name on it and then proceed to the cabin
  • Once at the cabin, please stay outside the cabin
  • Counselors will assist the camper in bringing their items out from the cabin
  • Head home listening to all the fun stories from your camper’s stay at CSM

We will continue to assess protocols and guidance as it becomes available from the state and local health department.

 

 

COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Summer 2021

December 11, 2020

Dear CSM Families,

We are excited to begin registering campers for the summer of 2021 on Monday, December 14! We look forward to seeing all of our campers and their families once again!

The foundation of all we do at Camp is Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our mission, to provide young people a technology-free, safe, and faith-filled experience packed with fun remains the same. Jesus and our mission have not changed.

But there will be some changes in our practices and programming at Camp this summer. We have been following the ever-evolving guidelines and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Camping Association (ACA), and the State of Michigan. We have been in contact with doctors and nurses and other camps to determine the best strategy to provide a safe and fun experience while mitigating the risk of COVID-19.

We share with you some of the plans being put into place for the summer of 2021. As we are all aware, we are in very fluid and ever-changing times in a way that none would have predicted. The following safety strategies are based on the current guidelines at this time. These are subject to change based on the recommendations of the CDC, ACA, State of Michigan, and the doctors and nurses who help to guide us.

HIGH-RISK POPULATION

Those who have pre-existing conditions or who have a higher risk of complications due to COVID-19 should speak with their primary care physician to assess the risk of attending camp prior to registering.

PRE-CAMP

One of the best ways to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 at CSM is to minimize bringing COVID-19 to Camp. This makes the diligence of our Camp families in following the pre-screening process so important. If there is any potential exposure to COVID-19 to campers or their families within 14 days of coming to camp or if any symptoms are present, please stay home. We need your help to keep Camp safe and fun this summer.

For 14 days prior to coming to Camp, campers will be expected to fill out a daily health screening form which will include taking and recording temperatures. We also ask that for 14 days prior to coming to Camp, the following practices are observed:

  • Self-quarantine to the extent possible.
  • Limit contact with those outside the home to only that which is necessary.
  • When contact with others outside the household cannot be avoided, wear a mask and practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from other people.
  • Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
  • Limit non-essential travel.

COVID-19 tests are encouraged within 10 days prior to attending Camp.

Please contact us if you have any questions as to whether or not your child should be attending Camp.

ARRIVAL AT CAMP

We will be limiting access to indoor spaces and check-in will look very different this year. It will be a drive-through process. We ask, if at all possible, that only one parent or guardian drop off campers this year.  Upon arrival, the following will take place:

  • Temperature screening of all in the vehicle (If anyone in the vehicle has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, the registered camper will be unable to check-in. Hence, it is vital you are taking daily temperatures, including prior to leaving for Camp on the day of check-in. If a temperature of 100.4 or higher is present, please stay home.

If a camper has any symptoms or has been in contact with a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19, you will not be able to check in. Please stay home if you or your child answer yes to questions a, b, or c.

  • The following questions will be asked:
  1. Have you or your child been in contact with a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19?
  2. Has your child felt unwell in the last 3 days? (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste of smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea)
  3. (The camper will be asked) Have you felt unwell in the last 3 days? (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste of smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea)
  4. Are you feeling well today?

With the above having been satisfied, we will proceed with the check-in process as follows:

  • Parent/guardian(s) will turn in paperwork, medication, and settle any balances.
  • Camper will have a health screening performed by our Camp nurse/medical health officer prior to heading to their cabin.
  • After the above has taken place, the camper may head to their cabin. We ask the person dropping off the camper to refrain from going inside the cabin. You may drop off luggage at the porch/door of the cabin, meet the counselors who will greet you outside, and say your goodbyes. Counselors will assist campers with settling into the cabin and getting their bunks set up.

AT CAMP

  • Cabin sizes will be limited to no more than 10 campers.
  • Daily temperature checks will take place each day.
  • There will be limited all-camp activities and during those activities, at least two of the three following things will take place:
  1. Social distancing between cabins
  2. Wearing of masks
  3. Outdoor activity
  • The one exception to the above practice is during meals. Once campers are seated with proper social distancing between cabin groups, masks can be taken off. Windows will always be open in the mess hall during meals to provide ventilation.
  • As much as possible, activities will be done as a cabin. The camper’s team will be their cabin mates.
  • Shared equipment will be limited to cohorts. Cohorts will consist of cabins of the same age groups who may participate in some activities together. Otherwise equipment will be cleaned between uses and/or each cabin may have their own equipment in order to limit shared items.
  • As much as possible, outside of our specialized activities, such as horses, for example, we will keep the cabin counselors with the campers from their cabin.
  • Between programs, counselors will make sure campers are either washing their hands or using hand sanitizer which counselors will carry with them.
  • Mackinaw Island trips will be suspended this year so as to protect our CSM bubble and limit exposure to crowds and outside people.

CLEANING AND SANITATION

In addition to our regular cleaning which meets the ACA and the State of Michigan’s high standards, we will increase the frequency of cleaning. This will include cleaning/disinfecting of high touch points multiple times throughout the day.  Some of these touch points include doors knobs, faucets, handles, toilets, showers, and light switches.

As previously mentioned, shared equipment will be cleaned or disinfected between different cohorts using it. Examples of these include canoe paddles, life jackets, bows and arrows, baseball bats, harnesses, and helmets, to name a few.

FEVER OR COVID-19 SYMPTOMS AT  CAMP

In the case of a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher at camp or a camper experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, that camper will be isolated under the watch and care of our nurse or medical health officer. If the fever or symptoms persist, the camper will need to be picked up and the camper will need a COVID-19 test.  CSM will need to be informed of the results of the test so we can inform health officials, Camp families, and staff.

The following are symptoms that can be related to COVID-19:

  • Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
  • Body or muscle aches
  • Cough
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat

CHECK-OUT/PICK-UP

NEW FOR 2021: All check-outs for our boys’ and girls’ sessions will take place on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. This is necessary to allow us time for the extra cleaning and sanitation that will be required this summer. Check-out will also be a drive-thru process, and we will be limiting indoor access as much as possible. If at all possible, we ask that one parent/guardian pick them up, and preferably the same parent who dropped the camper off. Upon arrival for check-out, the following will take place:

  • Show your ID
  • Sign your camper out
  • Settle any balances
  • Collect camper’s medication, if applicable
  • Receive cabin photo if one was purchased
  • Receive your slip with your camper’s name on it and then proceed to the cabin
  • Once at the cabin, please stay outside the cabin
  • Counselors will assist the camper in bringing their items out from the cabin
  • Head home listening to all the fun stories from your camper’s stay at CSM

Health and Safety is our #1 Concern!

It is as high a priority to us, as it is to you, that our campers are healthy and safe. Our infirmary/health office is operated by a full-time nurse and/or Red Cross trained staff. Campers have access to the infirmary and its staff 24 hours a day to address any concerns they may have. Our infirmary staff dispenses medications at scheduled times.  For emergencies, Otsego Memorial Hospital is approximately a 15-minute drive away from camp.  CSM also partners with the 911 emergency system, providing them with details of our operations. Should emergency procedures ever be necessary, parents will be notified promptly.

Licensing and Accreditation

We are convinced that one of the keys to a safe, fun, and wholesome camp is ensuring our facilities are properly maintained and our policies and procedures are up to date and practiced.  Each year we are visited by the State of Michigan (our licensing agent) and local health inspector in order to maintain our license and ensure we are keeping the highest standards.

In addition to these governmental units, we are accredited through the American Camping Association (ACA).  While this accreditation is not necessary, we believe it is important to have as the standards and practices of ACA are more rigorous than the state. We believe that ACA provides a structure to help us be the best camp around. There are over 300 health and safety standards that need to be met for this accreditation! Click here for more information about ACA.

 

Waterfront

Our Waterfront is run by American Red Cross certified lifeguards. On the first day of swimming, each camper is tested on their ability to swim and is subsequently classified as one of six levels. Swimmers use the buddy system, are area restricted, use life jackets on boats, swim only in supervised areas and receive swim instruction during their stay at camp.  CSM has some of the best waterfront practices around.

Meals

Campers play hard at CSM and it is important that their bodies stay nourished with a well-balanced diet. Our menu is a balance of healthy, nutritious, and fun foods.

Our Camp Nurse works closely with the kitchen staff to ensure that all camper’s needs are met. That includes allergies and diets! Hot meals are on a rotational menu with a salad bar always available. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available with advance notice. Some parents prefer to bring allergy specific meals for their campers – please contact us for more information. That which we prepare is just as important as how it is prepared. Our kitchen staff is ServSafe certified and take their responsibility seriously.

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