COVID-19 Policies & Procedures

We’re proud to have offered in-person programming safely in 2022 without a single case of COVID-19. As of April 2023, we’ve updated our COVID-19 policies and procedures for the upcoming camp season. We’ve developed this plan following the guidance of the CDC, the state of Massachusetts, our local Boards of Health, and our Medical Advisory Committee of local pediatric oncology experts.

We constantly strive to limit exposure to, and spread of, transmissible illnesses in the camp setting, there is always some risk associated with attending an in-person camp. We strongly encourage you to review our policies and procedures, particularly if you or your child may be at higher risk of severe disease from infection, and speak with your, or your child’s, health team to weigh the benefits and risks of participation.

Thank you for your partnership in continuing to keep Camp Casco safe for all participants!

Vaccination Requirements

  • We strongly recommend campers receive all available vaccinations and boosters against COVID-19 to limit the risk of severe illness caused by coronavirus.

  • Camp counselors are expected to be immunized against COVID-19 to the fullest extent possible, based on their age group and personal risk factors.

COVID Testing & Monitoring

  • Upon initial arrival to your camp session, a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 will be provided to every participant by Camp Casco.

    Participants who test negative will undergo a temperature check, COVID-19 symptom screening and exposure assessment before proceeding onto the campsite.

    It is expected that campers and camp counselors arrive for their camp experience in good health. Camp Casco reserves the right not to admit any ill person.

  • All campers and volunteers with possible symptoms of concern, such as cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat, will go to the Med Shed for evaluation and appropriate testing, including:

    • A rapid antigen test provided by Camp Casco

    • Temperature check

    • Symptom screening

  • If any camper tests positive for COVID-19, parents or guardians will be notified immediately, and the camper will be comfortably isolated until they can be picked up from camp.

    If any camp counselor tests positive for COVID-19, they will be asked to leave the campsite immediately. If they need to arrange other transportation home, they will be comfortably isolated until they can be picked up from camp.

    After any participant tests positive for COVID-19, parents and guardians of their cabin group will be notified as soon as possible that a positive case has been identified within their cabin group.

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

  • Masking is always encouraged at Camp Casco, especially for participants who are particularly susceptible to infection. Masking is not required at Camp Casco 2023.

  • Whenever feasible, activities will be held outside to limit possible transmission of COVID-19 and any other transmissible disease. There are likely to be times when participants are inside, especially for campers attending one of our sleep-away camps (Overnight Camp and One Mission’s Sibling Retreat), in which campers share rooms with other participants.

  • As always, we will continue to encourage frequent and thorough hand-washing, increased ventilation, and cleaning of surfaces to reduce risk of all transmissible illnesses.

  • In order to reduce foot traffic at our campsites, we ask that all non-registered campers do not leave their vehicles during camper check-in and pick-up. Parents and guardians will be provided with check-in and pick-up procedures specific to their camp session prior to the start of each program.

What Happens If…?

  • Anyone with a recent COVID diagnosis cannot come to camp until at least 10 full days after either their first day of symptoms or first positive test, whichever came first. Participants should have significantly improved COVID symptoms must be significantly improved or resolved, and without fever, in order to be able to attend.

    Please note that participants who are immunocompromised or on active treatment for cancer may be infectious for as long as 20 days. Please contact Krystin (attend@campcasco.org) if you are immunocompromised or on active treatment for cancer, and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to your camp session. We will address these situations on a case-by-case basis in consultation with our Medical Advisory Committee.

  • If a camper is found to have a fever, regardless of any other symptoms, the child’s parent or guardian will be contacted immediately by the health supervisor or camp operator, and the camper will need to be picked up from camp as soon as possible.

    If a volunteer tests negative but is found to have a fever, they will need to arrange for their own transportation home and depart the campsite as soon as possible.

  • If any participant tests negative on a rapid antigen test for COVID-19, but presents with a highly-specific symptom of COVID-19 such as new loss of taste or smell, immediate departure from the campsite will be arranged as soon as possible.

  • If any participant tests negative on a rapid antigen test for COVID-19, does not have any fever or new loss of taste or smell, and presents with any possible symptom of COVID-19, they will be evaluated by the Med Shed and monitored closely to watch for new or changing symptoms.

    If any participant meets the criteria above, and has a known exposure to COVID-19, immediate departure from the campsite will be arranged as soon as possible, even if they have not yet tested positive.

  • While we can’t anticipate every possible scenario at camp, we will always act in the best interest of our campers’ health and wellbeing. We will make every effort to keep parents and guardians in the loop every step of the way. If you have specific concerns that we can help answer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Krystin at attend@campcasco.org anytime.