COVID Protocol

Forward

SummerTech is committed to ensuring the safety of all campers and taking all possible precautions to reduce the risk of COVID-19. While our nature as a computer and indoor camp provides a unique challenge, our low camper-to-staff ratio, our older average camper age, and a new, reduced max enrollment this summer will allow us to adhere to rigorous safety and health practices while still allowing our campers to have the SummerTech experience. To increase safety this summer, in addition to reorganizing our schedule and activities, we will be enacting and practicing the following protocols.

Prescreening and Ongoing Monitoring

• • We will modify our drop-off and orientation process to include a COVID screening. Following American Camp Association (ACA) recommendations, our Health Director will ask incoming campers 2-3 screening questions as well as take their temperatures.
  • Per NYS guidelines, we will monitor campers’ temperatures on an ongoing basis, with an additional screening every morning after drop-off.

• All staff members will be required to go through the same screening process.

• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt these procedures as any new information becomes available to us.

Concentric Circles Exposure Model

• • We will follow ACA and CDC recommendations and implement a “cohorting” system of ten campers or fewer. Campers will stick within their cohorts for classes, social and gaming activities, electives, meals, and attendance. Masks and physical distancing will be practiced during any short windows when cohorts potentially interact, such as during outdoor recreational periods. Parents and visitors will not be allowed in the Lab. We will implement curbside drop-offs and pick-ups in the Fort Awesome parking lot, so parents will be able to safety drop off and pick up their children without exiting their vehicles.

• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.

Lab Plan and Layout

• We will modify our lab seating arrangements to increase distancing between each seated camper for Room 126 (“Main Lab”) and our Room 142 (“Creative Lab”).

• • We will install a physical barrier (cloth curtain, partition, or equivalent) in the center of the Main Lab to better safely separate cohorts.

• We will install a plastic shield at the reception area in front of the main lab.
• We will put down safety tape so that traffic will flow one way through the labs.

• We will put up COVID-19 signage around the labs as required by NYS.
• We will put up required COVID-19 signage outside of all bathrooms.
• In order to support even greater physical distancing, capacity will be limited to no more than 20 students in the Main Lab and no more than 10 students in the Creative Lab.

Disinfecting and Cleaning Plan

• • We will utilize the installed hand sanitizer stations in the Main Lab and add new ones to the Creative Lab.
  • Campers and Staff must always use hand sanitizer, outside of any notified allergies or complications, upon entering the lab or during the transition between any activity, using the restroom, or sneezing/coughing.

• We will disinfect all computers and keyboards, equipment, and door handles twice a day: midday during the lunch break and at the end of the day.

• • We will implement “one device, one person” policies, such that each camper and staff member will be assigned their own, individual device for all classes and activities, and will not be allowed to touch devices used by others.

• Sports and other communal equipment will be disinfected immediately following use.
• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.

PPE: Usage and Protocol

• • We will require our staff to wear PPE, in the form of a disposable face mask or cloth covering (as described by the CDC) at all times.
  • We will let parents and campers know that campers are required to wear a mask or cloth face covering throughout the day. Students will not be required to wear a face mask within their cohort while outdoors, following ACA recommendations, but will be required to wear one during any window in which they may interact with students from another cohort (including during outdoor recreational activities).

• We will require all campers to wear face masks while indoors.
• Staff members will be required to wear disposable gloves while performing any disinfecting.
• We will conduct PPE training for our staff prior to the start of camp.
• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.

Ventilation

• We will designate the side doors in the main lab as emergency exits only, to reduce air flow from alternate rooms of the building and only use the front and back doors for ingress and egress from the main lab.
• We will consult with Purchase facilities on the filters and recirculation systems present in the labs and the possibility of installing higher quality filters.
• We will install exhaust fans in order to move more air out of the labs and reduce the recirculation and movement of droplets.

• • We will keep the front and back of the labs open to facilitate airflow and to allow for contactless entry and exit.

• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.

Meals and Dining

• Students will bring their own bagged lunches and eat outdoors.
• Students will eat within their cohorts during meal times, and avoid mixing with other cohorts. 
• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.

Closure Policy and Contact Tracing

• • In the event that a camper or staff member who has attended the program within the past 14 days tests positive for COVID-19, we will suspend camp for the remainder of the week, and notify the families of all campers that have attended in the past 2 weeks.

• We may choose to completely disinfect the lab, and resume camp the following week with an entirely new staff and prohibit any individuals that attended camp in the past 2 weeks until 10-14 days after we’ve been notified of the positive test result.
• We will have two staff members (the Camp Director and the Health Director) complete the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing class.
• We will monitor CDC, NY, and local Westchester guidelines and regulations and adapt this policy as any new information becomes available to us.