Summer Experience Camp

This summary gives you a glimpse of our plan for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 transmission at camp and our response if a camper develops symptoms of COVID-19. You can use this information to determine if Summer Experience Camp 2021 is right for you. If you are considering in-person camp as an option, immunocompromised teens and teens with chronic health conditions should consult with their primary care provider regarding decisions about camp attendance.

Due to the pandemic, camp is limited to those within a six-hour driving radius from the Leader Dogs for the Blind campus (1039 S. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, Michigan). Campers must be driven to and from camp. Camp will be limited to 10 participants and a minimum of 6 participants are needed for an in-person camp to be held. Campers will have their own bathroom and bedroom spaces. Campers will keep personal belongings separate from other campers’ belongings. Cleaning and disinfecting procedures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the sanitization of frequently touched surfaces and shared equipment.

We have put many COVID-19 related protocols in place to ensure the safety of our campers and staff during camp. Below is a list of some of our protocols.

• All staff have been trained on all safety guidelines outlined by the most recent Michigan executive order. We are following all CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines and other relevant best practices available to us.
• All staff and campers will wear facemasks in public areas or when working within 6 feet of each other. We will provide a facemask for campers or campers may bring their own.
• Campers will be called individually to the dining room for meals or to board vehicles when traveling to a camp session.
• Our dining room has been extended into a much larger area. There will be at least 6 feet between chairs. Campers may also choose to eat their meals in their rooms.
• If human guide is needed, we will utilize a cane or modified harness between the guide and camper to create more distance.
• Hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the residence, downtown training center and on vehicles.
• Staff and campers are required to complete a health screening survey every morning prior to breakfast. Additionally, our camp nurse will monitor health throughout the day and temperatures will also be taken. We want to share with you the daily survey questions that are asked of the Leader Dog team and that we will ask campers. We also ask that campers and families consider these questions each day prior to camp, and if a camper or family member answers yes to any of them, please give us a call so we can discuss next steps.

Health Screening Survey

Do any of the following statements apply to you?

• I have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher (a camp nurse will be taking temperatures).
• I am experiencing shortness of breath.
• I have a cough (excluding chronic cough due to a known medical reason other than COVID-19).
• I have at least two of the following symptoms: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell and/or diarrhea. (excluding diarrhea due to known medical reasons), extreme fatigue.
• I have had close contact with a confirmed/probable COVID-19 case in the last 14 days.

We will ask that participants (campers and staff) submit a daily health survey for the 10 days leading up to camp. We will provide more details on how this will be completed as camp approaches. Throughout camp, a designated member of our staff will communicate with parents. We will ask parents to provide multiple forms of contact information to allow quick contact if a camper gets sick and needs to be picked up.

If someone becomes symptomatic at camp, they will be immediately separated from others and sent home. If an individual cannot be picked up immediately, they will be isolated in a designated residence room until they can be picked up. Campers will not be left alone in these instances and will be monitored.

Within a week of the April 1 deadline for applications, we will determine the next steps for Summer Experience Camp 2021. We plan to host a parent webinar to share details and answer general questions. Please know that as we learn more and facts become available, we will provide an update regarding Summer Experience Camp 2021.

If you decide that in-person camp is not the right fit, a virtual experience will be offered. Dates for Virtual Summer Experience Camp will be made available by April 16.

Should you have specific questions about your circumstances, please contact us directly.