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UPDATE: March 2022
covid-19 addendeum
COVID-19 Pandemic Response Policy and Field Guide

May 2021

Dear Circle Community,

Our intention is to host camp in-person for the summer of 2021. Due to the nature of this pandemic, there are still many unknowns regarding the variables that affect the safety of hosting camp in person. We are currently creating a COVID manual that will contain Circle's policies and procedures for the summer.

We are utilizing the guidelines set forth by the CDC, the World Health Organization, the American Camping Association, and various medical professionals who have had direct experience planning and implementing COVID procedures.

This page will be consistently updated as we roll out new and pertinent information about the summer. We will also publish resources that will help guide you and your family in making the right decision regarding camp. 

This pandemic requires flexibility and constant communication from all of us. Rest assured that while our goal and hope is to host camp in-person, we will only do so if we feel confident in our plan.

Please take a moment to read through the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Policy and Field Guide above. 

Resources

From the CDC

​When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated: How to Protect Yourself and Others


From the American Camp Association 

COVID-19 Vaccination Priority: Get Camp Staff Vaccinated for Summer 2021
March 5, 2021
Hasim Dawkins
​
​The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously expanded the definition of "essential workers" to incorporate out-of-school time workers, including camp staff. To support that move, CDC recently made changes to their website that explicitly list camp staff in Phase 1b of their vaccination prioritization. 
Although CDC has recommended that camp workers be deemed as essential workers, each state governor ultimately decides which workers are deemed essential in their state. The language included on the CDC website details the clear intention of CDC to have camp staff included in the vaccination prioritization. The first step is determining in what order essential workers are being vaccinated in your state. 
  • Start by using the CDC’s How Do I Get a Vaccine? tool. Using the tool is easy — select your state from the dropdown menu and you will be directed to your state’s eligibility requirements and vaccination sites. 

  • Determine if your state’s health department has listed any of the following categories as Phase 1b Essential Workers.  
    • Education and Child Care (Note: may be listed in separate categories) 
    • Out-of-School Time  
      * Categories may be listed as subcategories depending on the health department.  
      * Some health departments have online forms/apps to determine eligibility. 

  • Once you determine that you and your staff meet the eligibility requirements, seek a vaccination site using the How Do I Get a Vaccine? tool. 
What if Your State or Local Health Authority Says No?If your state or local health authority indicates that camp staff, specifically, or out-of-school time workers, generally, are not being included in the Essential Workers category, you have a few options. 
For state health officials, determine if camps in your state have a formal or informal group advocating for appropriate rules for camp in 2021 (or other statewide issues related to camp). If you do, then use reference in information available on the CDC website listed below to advocate for the acceleration of the vaccination of camp staff. 
If your state does not have an advocacy group, refer to ACA’s State Advocacy Toolkit on the best practices related to statewide advocacy on behalf of the camp industry. 
If your state is prioritizing camp staff as essential workers, but your local health authority is not, you can advocate for their inclusion using your state health authority’s information along with the CDC information below. 
CDC Information Regarding Day and Overnight Camp Staff as Essential Workers In the link listed below, the following considerations have been added to CDC guidance regarding vaccination priority:  
Interim List of Categories of Essential Workers Mapped to Standardized Industry Codes and Titles   
Specifically:  
Some subcategories within these NAICS groupings industries are designated as essential critical infrastructure by CISA but are not contained within any of the large workforce categories explicitly included by ACIP:  
  • 7212 RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps 
Additional Notes about specific industries: 
aThis includes workers who are providing these services outside of a fixed workplace (e.g., street outreach workers). 
bWorkers in other industries whose duties involve child day care (e.g., day camps, after-school activities) may also be considered for 1b prioritization. 
References and Notes 
1How Do I Get a Vaccine? tool 
2State Health Departments 
3CDC Prioritization of Camp Staff for COVID-19 Vaccinations

CDC Prioritization of Camp Staff for COVID-19 Vaccinations
March 2, 2021

​
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously expanded the definition of "essential workers" to incorporate out-of-school time workers, including camp staff. To support that move, CDC recently made changes to their website that explicitly list camp staff in Phase 1b of their vaccination prioritization.
CDC’s Interim List of Categories of Essential Workers Mapped to Standardized Industry Codes and Titles states the following: 
Some subcategories within these NAICS [North American Industry Classification System] groupings industries are designated as essential critical infrastructure by CISA [US Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] but are not contained within any of the large workforce categories explicitly included by ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices]:
  • 7212 RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps
Additional notes about specific industries:
aThis includes workers who are providing these services outside of a fixed workplace (e.g., street outreach workers).
bWorkers in other industries whose duties involve child day care (e.g., day camps, afterschool activities) may also be considered for 1b prioritization.
Please note that while CDC has recommend that camp workers be deemed as essential workers, each state governor ultimately decides which workers are deemed essential in their state. The language included on the CDC website details the clear intention of CDC to have camp staff included in the vaccination prioritization.
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Circle Camps is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 2002 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Circle Camps is also registered as a foreign non-profit organization in 2020 in the State of Georgia
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  • About
    • FAQ
    • Mission
    • Program
    • Directors
    • Leadership Team
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Strategic Plan
    • Conflict of Interest Policy
    • Whistleblower Policy
  • Our Camps
    • Circle at Camp Twin Lakes - Rutledge
    • Circle at Tapawingo - Sweden, ME
    • Circle at EKC - Morgantown, WV
    • Circle Leaders in Training
  • Come to Camp
  • Support
  • Contact
  • Community
    • Resources
    • The Inner Circle Newsletter
    • The Circle Blog
    • Camp Store