COVID-19:
We are doing our best to ensure every camper has a safe and healthy experience at summer camp. Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit. The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from this Coronavirus. Camper families should evaluate their own risk in determining whether to attend. People who show no symptoms can spread Coronavirus if they are infected; any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19. By coming to camp, you acknowledge and agree that you assume these inherent risks associated with attendance. Some images shown throughout this website do not represent current operational guidelines or health and safety measures such as face-covering and physical distancing requirements.
Our Steps for Your Safety:
Guidance: Warren Willis Camp & Conference Center takes its guidance from the American Camp Association, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the Florida State Department of Health. They have all helped us formulate our protocols for safety as it applies to cleaning, food service, communal living, programming and activities.
Keeping it Clean: We take great care to ensure our staff, volunteers and campers enter clean rooms regardless of the current crisis. We utilize the best cleaning practices and products for our guests’ health. As a camp, accredited through the American Camp Association, we meet or exceed industry standards set forth by the ACA in cleaning protocols.
Check-Ins and Registration: Health screenings for all campers and volunteers: Prior to and upon arrival, we will be taking some extra time to verify the health of campers and volunteers. Our staff will be equipped with temporal thermometers and other screening efforts to make sure each guest is healthy before entering our programs and housing. Employees will self-screen daily.
Constant Hand Sanitation: Hand sanitation dispensers will be in common areas as well as dining areas. Our staff will be trained to encourage everyone to use hand sanitizer each time they enter a building and wash their hands often. Our staff will also practice this.
Social distancing: We are putting limitations on the number of individuals in all spaces of camp, mitigating large groups, and limiting the number of campers in each housing area during our programs. We will ensure that counselors direct their groups to practice social distancing and eliminate cross-camp interactions. We will also implement “do your part, stay 6 feet apart” in indoor spaces.
Facemasks. All campers, volunteers, and staff are required to wear face masks when appropriate. We do not provide facemasks and ask that all campers and volunteers PLEASE BRING FACE COVERINGS with them for personal use (enough for their entire stay). Employees will wear masks when serving in the dining hall and whenever we are unable to maintain 6 feet of distance outside. All indoor activities require a facemask to be worn. There will be intentional times provided in the schedule where campers could be mask-free: 6 feet apart and outdoors. Everyone on camp property should be aware that the majority of the day will be spent wearing a mask.
Limiting exposure: We will be limiting the number of non-program staff, visitors, and vendors on our properties during camp to help limit exposure to illness.
Food Service Modifications: We are taking steps to eliminate exposure to our staff, volunteers and campers by adjusting our service practices. Our serving team will be equipped with masks and the usual sanitary procedures to ensure every meal is safe for everyone. Meals are served cafeteria-style and tables are spaced further apart to help maintain distance between campers. Facemasks are worn by everyone until they are seated and actively eating.
Cabins: All of our cabin sleeping areas have new technology that helps to clean the air using needlepoint bipolar ionization. You can watch a short video about this product by clicking this link. https://vimeo.com/477644097 Our medical consultants have recommended having people spaced appropriately in their lodging to achieve a maximum distance between faces while sleeping. Cabins will be at 50% capacity or less. What this means is that their will only be one camper per bunk bed. Or one camper on the bottom bed and no one on the top bed.
Other Measures: These measures begin to cover the most pressing questions and address the larger issues facing a successful summer camping season. As summer continues to get closer, look for updates to our practices and procedures on our COVID-19 Updates Blog.
Before Your Week of Camp:
- Testing your camper for COVID-19 ahead of camp is not currently required but is encouraged.
- If your camper is showing any signs of sickness they should stay home. Contact the camp for alternate dates or a refund.
Upon Arrival:
- Staff will be present, as you arrive in the parking lot, to assist with the health screening protocols. Everyone will be tested for an elevated temperature, in line
During your Camp:
Everyone will do their best to model and encourage the following best practices.
- Masking Up – Wearing masks reduces the transfer of COVID-19.
- Spread Out – We have lots of space around our property. Take advantage of it and spread out to reduce contact.
- Wash/Sanitize Your Hands – We have anti-bacterial solution and bathrooms equipped with soap and warm water. Washing your hands kills harmful germs.
We thank you for helping to keep our campers, volunteers and staff safe!