SUMMER CAMP
COVID-19
We’re closely monitoring the COVID-19 epidemic, and considering various ways to keep kids healthy during Summer Camp on Whidbey Island. We’ll occasionally post updates here.
May 13th update:
As it stands, we are planning to host our two Summer Camp sessions, plus a third one in August. We are making key modifications according to safety and distancing recommendations.
We established a maximum size for Session I (45 players). This puts us well within the Washington State health guidelines, and it gives overnight campers twice as much space in the bunk rooms compared to what we’d normally use.
We added Session III (Aug 10-14) in order to provide more space later in the Summer.
We updated the registration dates in order to offer more flexibility and last-minute planning. Refer to Overview page.
We updated our cancellation and refund policy. Refer to Register page.
For sessions II and III, we have reserved twice as much space in the bunk rooms as we’ll use for overnight campers, and we have access to more space if we need.
“Health and safety first.” If health & safety guidelines are such that we should cancel one or more of our camps, we’re prepared to do so.
April 17th update:
As it stands, we are planning to host our two Summer Camp sessions with some key modifications to safety and distancing recommendations.
In late March, we moved our “standard registration” deadline from 3/31 to 5/15 in order to allow more time/flexibility with the decision to send players to camp. Our cancellation policy remains the same (see Registration page).
COVID-19 FAQ:
What’s the sleeping arrangement like in the bunk rooms?
The bunk rooms have rows of bunk beds, spaced out every ~10 feet. When we move players into the bunk rooms during check-in, we will maximize the space between campers.
During the day and night, players will have space to store their bags & personal belongings in drawers and/or under beds.
One coach, minimum, will be sleeping in the group bunk room and monitoring that campers remain respectful of the social distancing guidelines.
How will meal time work?
We will eat meals in the main Camp Casey dining room, aka the “Mess Hall A.” For every group that stays at Camp Casey meal times are specified and so different groups eat at different times.
Mess Hall A seats 150+ people, and Cascades campers will be assigned a specific set of tables which will be blocked off from any other groups that eat before/after us. Furthermore, our tables & chairs will be cleaned and sanitized before and after we eat.
There is a limited number of people in the dining room at any given time, and when we are eating there will be a maximum of one other group eating at the same time as us.
We’ll have hand sanitizer containers on every table that we eat at, and there are permanent hand sanitizing stations near restrooms in the Mess Hall.
Campers will be required to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after every meal.
Weather permitting, we will eat some meals outside at a set of picnic tables.
Will players and coaches be screened or tested before camp?
Right before camp, each camper and coach will answer a questionnaire asking whether anyone in their family or close social circle has experienced COVID-19 symptoms within the prior two weeks.
We will react to these surveys on a case by case basis, and if a camper or coach poses any risk to others we will ask them not to attend camp.
What protocols are in place to address COVID-19?
This is an ultimate camp, and so we’ll be catching and throwing discs. In order to minimize situations when “everyone touches the same disc” we’ll use these guidelines.
Coaches will use twice as many discs as a group our size would normally use. For example, if a typical drill with 15 players would utilize 5-10 discs…. we’ll use a stack of 10-20 discs instead.
We’ll form groups for drills that are smaller than we typically would. For example, if we’d normally do a drill with 15 players, we’ll split into two smaller groups, side-by-side.
Coaches will swap out their stack of discs in between drills, and we’ll wipe them down with disinfectant wipes before they’re used again.
During scrimmages, we’ll swap out the disc in between each point.
Coaches will have masks on hand, and we’ll determine right before each camp how consistently they’ll wear them while they coach.
(We may evolve these guidelines and/or come up with different ones as camp draws near.)
We rent the facilities from Seattle Pacific University and they have a year-round presence at Camp Casey. As they monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, they are aware of the impact it has on their clients and they maintain a web page dedicated to communicating about key issues: [SPU Camp Casey COVID-19 web page]
In the bunk rooms and gathering places, we’ll clean & disinfect surfaces and high-touch areas on a daily basis.
What if someone shows COVID-19 symptoms during camp?
Any camper or coach who experiences COVID-19 symptoms will be able to stay apart from the group until they are able to leave the camp.
If we have any indication that a camper or coach has COVID-19, we will notify primary contact people as soon as possible.
If it’s needed, urgent care is available 24/7 at Whidbey General Hospital, approx 3 miles NE of Camp Casey.
What is the refund policy?
Our Refund/Cancellation policy is described in full on the Register page.
(Do you have a good COVID-19 related question or concern? —> Please let us know!)