This page will serve as a living document with broad scope practices surrounding COVID-19 spread mitigation at camp in 2022. This page will be updated as we get closer and closer to camp.
COVID Vaccine Policy Update 5/30/2022
With camp right around the corner, the CDC has expanded booster eligibility to include 5 – 11-year-old campers.For campers coming to Session 1, we highly encourage all 5 – 11-year-old campers without medical exemption to be considered ‘up-to-date’ on their COVID vaccine status. We do recognize the time constraint that this places on Session 1 families with campers in this age group and as such, while strongly recommending the booster to all campers who are now eligible, we will not be requiring that campers 5 – 11 years of age in Session 1 be ‘up-to-date’. As we look towards Session 2, Session 3, Teen Village, and Baktanna, we will be requiring all campers without medical exemption to be ‘up-to-date’ on their COVID vaccines by the start of their session. Please ensure your vaccine appointment is at least two weeks out from the start of your session so your camper can be fully inoculated and ready-to-go for their registered programs. To reiterate: all campers in attendance of Ranch Camp Session 2, Session 3, Teen Village and Baktanna are required to be fully ‘up-to-date’ on COVID vaccines by the start of their session. If you need clarification on CDC terminology, you can find that here: CDC Website: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
With health and safety at the top of mind, for all campers and staff we will be requiring up-to-date COVID vaccines for any person eligible to receive a vaccine. While we will allow medical exemptions, we strongly encourage you to work with your medical provider to exercise this exemption only if absolutely necessary. Up to date means a person has received all recommended doses in their primary series COVID-19 vaccine, and a booster dose when eligible. We are following the current recommendations from the CDC which can be found on their website.
As we look to summer, none of us know exactly where we will be with the current COVID pandemic. As such, we are still working on a plan for COVID testing and will communicate this plan as we learn more and work with our medical committee in the coming months before summer.
Ranch Camp will work with families who do not feel comfortable vaccinating their camper to issue a refund from the JCC for everything, except the initial deposit, before April 1, 2022. If you have specific questions or concerns on this, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for working with us to keep our campers and staff members healthy.
2022 Pre-Camp Testing Policies
All campers will be required to show a negative PCR Test taken 72 hours before arrival. If campers have recently gotten COVID, proof of recovery is required in lieu of a PCR test.
On the day of arrival all campers will be required to show a negative rapid antigen test. You should bring the rapid antigen test with you and complete it during the arrival day health screening. You can order free rapid antigen tests here: https://special.usps.com/testkits.
Testing Site Resources:
Walgreens COVID Testing (rapid 2-hour NAAT test option!)
Apex Family Medicine (rapid PCR testing available!)
IF YOUR CAMPER HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN THE LAST 90 DAYS: In lieu of testing, you will be required to present a note signed by your camper’s physician that states the date of their positive test and that they have fully recovered.
What will your masking policy be?
Please make sure you include plenty of masks as you are packing for camp. You should bring at least one mask per day that your camper will be at camp and several disposable masks. We do not anticipate campers needing to wear masks at camp, but want to have masks available in case of potential COVID exposures.
Are you requiring vaccinations?
With health and safety at the top of mind, for all campers and staff we will be requiring up-to-date COVID vaccines for any person eligible to receive a vaccine. While we will allow medical exemptions, we strongly encourage you to work with your medical provider to exercise this exemption only if absolutely necessary. Up to date means a person has received all recommended doses in their primary series COVID-19 vaccine, and a booster dose when eligible. We are following the current recommendations from the CDC which can be found on their website.
Ranch Camp will work with families who do not feel comfortable vaccinating their camper to issue a refund from the JCC for everything, except the initial deposit, before April 1, 2022. If you have specific questions or concerns on this, please feel free to reach out: info@jccdenver.org or 303-316-6384. Thank you for working with us to keep our campers and staff members healthy.
As always, attending children must be fully up-to-date on vaccines listed both on the Colorado childcare center vaccine requirements, as well as the Colorado public school vaccination requirements. You can get a full list of those, here.
5/31 VACCINE POLICY UPDATE
With camp right around the corner, the CDC has expanded booster eligibility to include 5 – 11-year-old campers.For campers coming to Session 1, we highly encourage all 5 – 11-year-old campers without medical exemption to be considered ‘up-to-date’ on their COVID vaccine status. We do recognize the time constraint that this places on Session 1 families with campers in this age group and as such, while strongly recommending the booster to all campers who are now eligible, we will not be requiring that campers 5 – 11 years of age in Session 1 be ‘up-to-date’. As we look towards Session 2, Session 3, Teen Village, and Baktanna, we will be requiring all campers without medical exemption to be ‘up-to-date’ on their COVID vaccines by the start of their session. Please ensure your vaccine appointment is at least two weeks out from the start of your session so your camper can be fully inoculated and ready-to-go for their registered programs. To reiterate: all campers in attendance of Ranch Camp Session 2, Session 3, Teen Village and Baktanna are required to be fully ‘up-to-date’ on COVID vaccines by the start of their session. If you need clarification on CDC terminology, you can find that here: CDC Website: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
Will my child be able to see their sibling/friend/peer who is not in their bunk?
Absolutely! This was the case in summer 2021 and will be the case again in summer 2022. While we are not sure exactly what cohorting at camp will look like in 2022, we are planning on having programs structured in a more socially diverse way than 2021. The ultimate turnout of programmatic flexibility will be determined by government regulations leading up to camp.
Will testing be a part of my campers summer?
All campers are required to take a PCR test within 72 hours of their arrival at camp AND a rapid antigen test on arrival day. Campers must have negative PCR test results in hand on arrival day and will take their rapid antigen test during their camp health screening. Campers will not be able to arrive at camp with out these two tests.
Testing Site Resources:
Looking for our 2021 policies?
Look no further: https://www.ranchcamp.org/coronavirus-updates/
Are you providing refunds for COVID exposures and positive tests?
This summer, we are not offering any refunds for COVID related cancellations. If your camper tests positive before camp, we will try to get them into a later session or allow them to arrive late, but you will not be refunded for any time missed at camp due to COVID.
What happens if my camper tests positive or is exposed at camp?
Exposure at camp:
- Up-to-date on vaccines with no symptoms and a negative test: Continue in program. Retest after 5 days. Daily Health Checks.
- At camp with a medical exemption? 10 day quarantine at home. Can return to camp with a negative PCR test and no symptoms.
Positive case at camp:
- 10-day quarantine at home
- Yes – CDC recommends 5 days – BUT – need to effectively mask, not possible at camp b/c eating, sleeping
- Campers isolating at camp = less safe, not fun, slower recovery, higher risk of exposure
- Can return to camp with documented proof of recovery, symptom and fever free for 24 hours without use of medication.
- Day count starts @ symptom date
There are no refunds for isolation time.
What if my camper has had COVID within 90 days of their arrival?
IF YOUR CAMPER HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN THE LAST 90 DAYS: In lieu of testing, you will be required to present a note signed by your camper’s physician that states the date of their positive test and that they have fully recovered.