Town of Guilderland
Summer 2021 Recreation Programming
COVID-19 Participant Guidance
Goal:
The purpose of our summer programming is to offer the Town of Guilderland residents and its youth the safest recreational environment as possible.
Objective:
To provide guidance and procedures to employees of the Town of Guilderland Parks and Recreation Department, and community members that will allow us to safely resume all functions of the Parks and Recreation Department, and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Action Plan:
The following procedures will be administered:
- Parents/Guardians Pre-Screening For All Campers:
- Take their temperature
- Make sure that your child answers NO to the following questions:
- Do you have ANY Symptoms: Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, Fatigue/Tired, Muscle/Body Aches, Headache, New loss of Taste/Smell, Sore throat, Congestion or Runny nose, Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
- Have you knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 10 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has had symptoms of COVID-19?
- Have you traveled within the past 10 days and not complied with the requirements of the NYS Travel Advisory?
- When you took your child’s temperature today, was the reading greater than 100.4?
- The Tawasentha Camp Nurse if your child is registered for Half Day Camp at 518-456-3475.
- The Parks & Recreation Office if your child is registered for Sports, Enrichment, or Swim programs at 518-456-3150.
- Pre-screen your child at home by doing the following:
- When you send your child to a camp/program, you are attesting to the fact that you have performed this pre-screening and answered NO to all of the questions.
- When your child arrives at their program, staff will ask “During your pre-screening did you answer YES to any of the questions?”. Per the NYS Summer Camp Guidance - responsible parties are permitted to maintain records that confirm individuals were screened and the result of such screening.
- If your child has any symptoms, or answers YES to any of the pre-screening questions, please do not send your child to camp. Notify the following:
- Any participant that exhibits signs or symptoms of the virus while at the program will be required to be transported home by their parent/guardian.
- IF YOUR CHILD HAS A MEDICAL EXEMPTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARKS & RECREATION OFFICE.
- Tawasentha Half Day Camp Campers:
- If a camper feels sick, keep them home.
- At the designated drop off location, the camper should remain in the vehicle until a camper daily intake screening evaluation is conducted.
- When you send your child to a camp/program, you are attesting to the fact that you have performed this pre-screening and answered NO to all of the questions.
- When your child arrives at their program, staff will ask “During your pre-screening did you answer YES to any of the questions?”. Per the NYS Summer Camp Guidance - responsible parties are permitted to maintain records that confirm individuals were screened and the result of such screening.
- If your child has any symptoms, or answers YES to any of the pre-screening questions, please do not send your child to camp. Notify the camp nurse.
- After further evaluation - for precautionary measures the camper may be asked not to attend camp for the day and/or the remainder of the session.
- The Camp Director and the Recreation Administration will be advised.
- If needed, the Guilderland EMS Department will be contacted for further direction.
- Regardless of vaccination status, all camp staff and campers will be required to wear a mask during the drop-off and pick-up process. Once stable groups are established, and depart to their first activity- vaccinated staff will be allowed to take off their mask. Once campers are in their groups, they are encouraged to but not required to wear masks.
- Campers will be asked to wash their hands upon arrival to camp and departure from camp. An increased number of hand washing stations allowing campers to wash their hands between activities. Please do not send your child with his/her own hand sanitizer.
- The Town will supply any necessary cleaning supplies to disinfect the area.
- The Town will follow the group size limits as set out by NYS.
- Social distancing will be kept when feasible, and groups will be kept stable to limit cross over of campers and staff.
- Campers will be asked to wear their masks anytime they are indoors or utilizing transportation, if applicable.
- Tawasentha Half Day Camp Staff:
- If an employee feels sick - symptoms such as flu-like they are not to report to work.
- They are to contact the Camp Director directly via phone call or text message and their group leader.
- All unvaccinated staff must wear their mask at all times.
- Vaccinated staff are not required to wear their mask except for during pick-up and drop-off times, while indoors (i.e camp office) and during transportation.
- Camp Staff will be responsible for their Pre-screening at home by doing the following:
- Do you have ANY Symptoms: Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, Fatigue/Tired, Muscle/Body Aches, Headache, New loss of Taste/Smell, Sore throat, Congestion or Runny nose, Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
- Have you knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 10 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has had symptoms of COVID-19?
- Have you traveled within the past 10 days and not complied with the requirements of the NYS Travel Advisory?
- When you took your temperature today, was the reading greater than 100.4?
- Taking their temperature
- Answering the following questions:
- When staff arrives at camp, they are attesting to the fact that they have performed this pre-screening and answered NO to all of the questions.
- Camp staff will be asked, “During your pre-screening did you answer YES to any of the questions?”. Per the NYS Summer Camp Guidance - responsible parties are permitted to maintain records that confirm individuals were screened and the result of such screening.
- If necessary - after further evaluation and for precautionary measures the staff member may be directed to not report to work.
- The Camp Director and the Recreation Administration will be advised.
- If needed, the Guilderland EMS Department will be contacted for further direction.
- Sports and Enrichment Camps:
- Instructors will be required to self screen themselves for any COVID-19 related symptoms prior to leaving for camp. If they have any symptoms or any YES to any of the pre-screening questions, they will remain home and notify the Parks & Recreation Office.
- Programs may be adjusted after registration opens to follow future regulations and guidance from the State or the Town EMS Department.
- The Town will supply each camp location with any necessary cleaning supplies to disinfect the area and/or materials.
- Camp size will be limited to follow social distancing recommendations and group size limits as set out by NYS.
- Campers will be asked to wash their hands upon arrival to camp and departure from camp. There will be hand washing stations available to allow campers to wash their hands between activities. Please do not send your child with his/her own hand sanitizer.
- Outdoor Camp Programs:
- All campers, parents and staff will be required to wear masks when checking-in to programs and getting into groups
- Masks will also be required when campers are leaving programs at pick-up time.
- Once campers are in their groups at their outdoor program, they are encouraged to but not required to wear masks. Camp instructors will let campers know when they must have their masks on, like when utilizing the bathroom or during a break when groups may be closer together.
- Vaccinated staff are not required to wear their mask except for during pick-up and drop-off times, and while indoors (if applicable).
- Unvaccinated staff are required to wear masks at all times.
- Social distancing will be kept when feasible, and groups will be kept stable (no more than 36 campers) to limit cross over of campers and staff.
- Indoor Camp Programs:
- All parties (campers, parents and staff/instructors), regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks inside.
- If an indoor program moves outside for a portion of the day, they may then follow the outdoor camp program guidance while outside.
- Swim Lessons will be offered this year with modifications to adhere to guidance from the DOH.
- Tawasentha Day Camp Swim Lessons will be held this summer, but they will be limited in numbers to keep spacing while in the pool.
- There will not be a Water Safety Aide Volunteer Program this summer to adequately limit the number of persons in the water.
- All swim lessons will require parent/guardian transportation (To the Day Camp or to Swim Lessons).
- When entering the pool facility and checking in to swim lessons, parents and children above the age of 2 are encouraged wear face coverings - it is possible that when entering you will be less than six feet away from others.
- Face masks should NOT be worn in the pool/water.
- Time slots of Swim Lessons will be slightly different this year to minimize the foot traffic when entering/leaving the facility.
- Levels 1 through 5 will be capped at 4 participants per time slot to be able to adhere to social distancing recommendations. Depending on spacing this may be adjusted to include more swimmers.
- Lifeguards will use teaching aids such as kickboards and noodles that can be cleaned easily.
- Patrons are encouraged to wear a face covering when using the bathrooms and exiting the pool facility.
- Due to spacing, we will not have any Level 6 swim lessons this summer.