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Summer Camp Prep: The Ultimate Guide for Parents

Summertime is upon us, and many children will be embarking on a new adventure, going off to summer camp for the first time. Summer camp, in many ways, is a rite of passage in most children’s lives. Yet, many parents often become frazzled and stressed out when choosing and sending their child to summer camp.

When should you arrive? What do they need to pack? Here are some great tips to help make that summer camp experience a great time.

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Are you considering enrolling your child on a Summer Camp in 2021?

Find out what Les Elfes has to offer!

Tips for a Great Summer Camp Preparation

Choosing the Right Camp With the Right COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

2020 was a terrible year for group activities amid Covid-19, and this year is still feeling the effects of the pandemic. Children, in general, tend to be less affected by Covid-19, but they can still catch it, and they tend asymptomatic, which means they spread it better than adults. Therefore, if you are thinking of sending your child to a camp, look into their Covid-19 safety policies and procedures. Make sure they have a good hygiene plan in place, are limiting the number of campers mingling, and know what to look out for so your camper will be safe and you won’t be anxious the entire time they are away.

‘Extra research into the camp you are choosing never goes amiss,’ says Glenda Burns, a writer at Phdkingdom and Write My X. Ask all your questions, read the information packs, talk to other parents who send their kids to summer camp. Anything that will help put your mind at ease.

Speak Positively and Calmly About Camp

Summer Camp PrepYour child will pick up on any anxiety you have about preparing and going to camp. It’s essential to stay calm and positive when talking about going to camp. If you are excited and calm about sending them, they will feel more at ease about going and are less likely to be sad and anxious about their experience. If your child expresses any anxiety over making friends or missing you, ease their worries and reiterate that they are fully capable of overcoming both.

Follow the Packing List and Get Your Child Involved, Too

When you have chosen a summer camp, the camp will send out all the relevant information and forms that you will have to fill out. They also include a packing list. It’s super important that you follow this list, and getting your child involved with the packing is important. They will glean ways on how to pack their bag for going back home by helping you pack their bag on the way there. Make sure the clothing is all play clothing that can get dirty. Do not skimp on sun protection, as you are outside a majority of the time. Also, depending on what part of the summer the camp is running, the evenings can get a bit chilly, so bring a couple of warm sweatshirts to cozy up at night.

‘Label all of your belongings that you are bringing, or you will come home without some of them,’ explains Diana Weber, a parenting blogger at Australia2write and Britstudent. Many campers are usually in a cabin, and stuff will get mixed up and borrowed by their friends, so labeling will help them sort out whose stuff is when it’s time to pack up and go home.

Arrive on Time and Leave on Time

Know when you need to get your camper to the site and when you can check-in. Make your goodbyes short and sweet not to cause too much upset, and don’t forget to hand in the required paperwork. The same goes for picking them back up, be sure to be on time, so no one gets held up.

Handling Homesickness

Handling HomesicknessAt some point, your child might feel homesick, which is perfectly normal. Be sure to empower and encourage your child that they will see you soon enough and to have a great time without you. They will usually bounce back once they know they can have fun without you.

These tips and tricks will help you, the parent, send your kid to summer camp well-prepared to have an amazing summer camp experience.

*Sources:
1. Summer Camp Prep: What Every Parent Needs to Know
2. Preparing Children for the Summer Camp Experience
3. Parent Questions About Summer Camps Amid Covid-19 Restrictions and the Answers They Should Listen For
4. The Ultimate Guide to Kids' Summer Camps
5. PARENTING TIPS FOR CHOOSING A SUMMER DAY CAMP

Are You Looking for a Summer Camp for Your Child?

Kendra Beckley

Kendra Beckley is a business development manager, as well as an editor at Academicbrits.com and Originwritings.com. She helps companies enter new markets. She is also interested in writing articles on various topics at Nextcoursework.com.

What Are the Benefits of Understanding Different Cultures?

With the world becoming more multicultural than ever before, nothing should stop you from understanding different cultures. Being culturally aware allows you to have more relevant interactions with people around you.

Besides making you more respectful and empathetic of others, cultural awareness helps you celebrate your similarities and differences. This means that you’ll hardly treat people differently simply because they aren’t from the same ethnicity or culture as you. There are numerous benefits of understanding cultural diversity, as you’ll learn in this article.

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The best way to experience the benefits of different cultures personally interacting at multi-cultural events or camps.

Find out more about Les Elfes international summer or winter camps.

What is Culture?

Culture is the knowledge and traits of a specific group of people that defines their religion, language, social habits, arts, music, and cuisine. According to the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, culture is a shared standard of interactions, behaviors, understanding, and mental processes learned through socialization.

Cristina De Rossi, Barnet and Southgate College in London’s anthropologist, says, “Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones and a million other things.”

Importance of Understanding Different Cultures

Promoting a culturally sensitive, accepting, and positive society allows you to adopt multiculturalism and reconsider old beliefs. You think about what you consider normal or abnormal and challenge yourself to view the world from a different mindset. So, why is it important to learn about different cultures?

Learning and understanding a different culture from your own is the first step towards eliminating judgment on someone or something you know nothing about. According to sociologists, understanding multiculturalism plays a significant role in helping you:

  • Recognize that there are lots of different cultures and that they’re individually diverse
  • Acknowledge that all cultural expressions and backgrounds are valid
  • Respect the differences between you and people from other cultures
  • Value everything that other cultures bring to the table
  • Empower people to accomplish their ultimate potential by criticizing their own biases
  • Celebrate each other instead of condoning our differences

Why Should You Learn About Different Cultures?

Understanding a different culture gives you cultural sensitivity, and this helps you avoid embarrassment and misunderstanding. Of course, this is an invaluable skill in daily life. When you learn about other cultures, you widen your horizons, and this is a great way of consuming new information and viewing things differently.

And, knowing about other cultures makes you open-minded. You’ll have an easy time respecting and accepting their differences. Why is it important to respect other cultures? Being culturally aware is essential in today’s evolving world. So, you should accept every opportunity to learn and understand other cultures.

What is the Relationship Between Language and Culture?

use books to learn different culture

Language and culture are closely connected. For starters, both terms describe a person, their habits, traditions, views, and nearly everything about their lives. While here, it’s important to understand that paralanguage is the nonlexical element of communication specific to different cultures. It’s a broad approach that includes the pitch and tone of your voice and body language. Paralanguage varies depending on your roots.

Did you know that you learn some intonations, expressions, and gestures from the people around you? Again, body language can be interpreted differently from one country to the other. For example, what’s interpreted as welcoming in one country can be seen as hostility in another.

As a result, paralanguage can trigger communication misunderstandings in various ethnic groups. Paralanguage impacts the language you speak and this explains the habits, gestures, and even voice changes for bilingual people.

· Impacting the Thinking Process

Linguistic relativity states the language you use in your discussions influences your perception of the world. For example, if you think and speak in Dutch, your view of the world will be different from the person who speaks Spanish. Bilingual people who use two languages daily may think in both languages, and this makes them more capable of viewing the world differently.

And they’re likely to understand it better from different sides. The culture you grew up in impacts your perception of the world. Your morals, values, logic, and mindset will be different from that of other people.

· The Homologous Relationship Between Language and Culture

There’s an imminent homologous relationship between culture and language. They both emerged and evolved together before humans could write. According to experts, “language is culture and culture is language.” There are numerous interconnections and history between language and culture.

The two have a huge influence on people’s lives. According to Elisa Abbott, translator and writer for PickWriters, to understand language you must understand culture, and vice versa. Language evolution had a direct impact on culture development and vice versa. The more cultured you are, the more advanced your language is.

· Inter-Cultural Interactions

Today, interacting with other cultures is more common than ever before. What with the accessibility of travel and opportunities that encourage people to relocate to other countries? But what is the relationship between intercultural interactions and language?

Some language theories are not present in other languages, and the culture related to the language can impact this situation. Of course, when people from different cultures try to communicate, there’s likely to be a language barrier. Body language and habits people develop while growing influence inter-cultural relations.

· Assimilation and Social Communication

Before numerous languages engulfed the world, large groups of people spoke core primary languages. Later the people evolved, and so did their language and culture. This they did because they needed to assimilate and adapt to new situations. Different dialects have developed following the influence of some cultures on others. An example of this would be that of Tome and Ancient Greece.

After the Romans captured Greece, the Greek language, culture, and religion highly influenced them. They ended up adopting the Greek pantheon of gods. Think about England and France. When the English people began speaking French with the English language adopting part of French’s vocabulary.

Today, 30% or English words come from French. Some tribes changed their language to become better than others or gain acceptance in a new land, and adopting the traditions and customs of the local people made this even easier.

· Transmission

One of the easiest ways to learn a language is via oral communication and not writing. Children understand the basic theory of grammar and language way before they start schooling while relying on parents as their core sources.

When they begin preschool, they learn the basic components of their first language before learning the complex concepts and structures of their first or even second language in school. But the foundation is already there before school. Just like language, children, somehow inherit culture from their surroundings.

The family, the country, its citizens, traditions, and customs are responsible for this inheritance. A child incorporates everything they hear and see, even unconsciously. When they grow, children encounter written linguistic and cultural learning. Their minds correspond based on the books and the language they read.

If you’re bilingual, you’re likely to remember learning the languages because you use them in your daily life and process the information you get from written materials.

The linguistic differences of language can be classified into functional, social, and geographical. Geographical differences occur when a section of the language is commonly used in some areas of a community.

For instance, a language spoken in the western part of a country may be different from what the Easterners speak. On the other hand, occupation, age, and gender impact social differences. For instance, an office worker talks differently from a politician or even a professor.

Functional differences come from the function and circumstance the language is used in. Despite these differences, culture unites people speaking different forms of the same or even different languages.

Culture and language play a critical role in human life. We share numerous differences due to our varying individualities and identities. Still, there are many similarities that we have as a result of the connection between our language and culture.

Does Understanding Different Cultures Promote Growth?

What is the importance of understanding cultural differences in business, and what can we learn from other cultures? When interacting with people from a different cultures, you learn about their community customs. And not only that, but you also understand their challenges.

Doing so allows you to rethink any stereotypes you may have had about these people. This knowledge promotes cultural competence and individual growth. And it encourages you to extract as much information as you can about your own culture. But how can you learn about different cultures?

Besides research, you can engage your friends on social media to discuss their cultural standards. Camping and traveling are some of the most practical and effective strategies you can use to learn about multiple cultures.

What are the Benefits of Learning About Different Cultures?

If you are still asking yourself why is it important to interact with different cultures, here are the benefits.

· Increased Cultural Awareness

Being culturally aware teaches you how other cultures can help you based on collaboration or communication. Cultural consciousness is the idea of being aware and respecting the influences and roles of other cultures. This concept positively impacts every individual’s responsibilities and roles.

Again, it also helps you stop misjudging individuals from other cultural backgrounds. But why is it important to understand your own culture? Doing so helps you understand that being different from others doesn’t make your culture more superior than others. It also allows you to relate better with others without disagreement. Being culturally aware can be beneficial in various ways, including:

· Exposure to different perspectives

What is the significance of studying the different cultures of the country? It helps you recognize new outlooks that can result in innovative ideas. For instance, you may discover that some cultures have unique problem-solving approaches, which can inspire your way of thinking in various ways. Further, learning about a new culture helps you understand how people from other backgrounds view the world. Of course, this realization can help you think creatively and critically.

· Understanding Cultural differences

Learning about other cultures promotes respect and tolerance. When you learn from another culture apart from your own, you learn about their beliefs and different perspectives. This can transform you into an empathetic and open-minded person. Eventually, you’ll have fewer disagreements and more valuable relationships. When you become culturally aware, you start supporting cultural differences and adopt new ways of coping in society. You’ll break all cultural barriers and connect respectfully with different communities.

·  Appreciation for Diversity

Appreciation for Diversity

Schools, workplaces, and countries, in general, comprise different ethnic, racial, and cultural groups. This diversity is an opportunity for people to learn from one another. When you learn from other people, your perspective on the world changes.

Besides dispelling personal biases, you also reconsider negative stereotypes you may have about people from a different cultural background. Being culturally diverse means, you can identify and respect practices that are different from yours.

As you interact with others, you can develop trust, knowledge, and respect across cultures. Dn’t you think such diversity makes the world a better place to live in? Of course, it does.

· Improved Communication Skills

While language is crucial for human communication, other factors contribute to effective communication. These include presentation, speed, and figurative language. Also, culture influences how people express their body language and gestures.

You can enhance your communication skills by learning about different cultures. But how does effective communication help you connect with people from other cultures?

· Overcoming language barriers

One of the core obstacles you’re likely to face when communicating with people from other cultures has to be language barrier. As the world becomes more connected, you’re likely to find yourself in a different country with a different culture than yours. In this case, it’s important to learn core words and phrases of that culture to ease communication.

Be open to learning and seeking clarification when you feel lost. Learning a new language is not easy, especially as an adult. But with patience, you can learn core words and communicate effectively.

· Cultural nuances and nonverbal communication

Non-verbal communication is critical in intercultural interactions. Every culture has a different interpretation of gestures, eye contact, and body language. For instance, direct eye contact is a sign of respect in some cultures. But other cultures see it as a sign of disrespect or aggressiveness. When you learn the basics of other cultures’ non-verbal cues, you edge closer to achieving effective communication.

· Building strong relationships

Building strong relationships

You can meet people in different ways, like attending camp, participating in events, and attending special day celebrations. This way, you can meet and interact with people from diverse cultures, expand your social circle, and learn about another culture.

· Enhanced Career Opportunities

Part of understanding other cultures, as seen above, often involves moving to a new country and learning a different language. These factors increase your chances of landing career opportunities in different countries whenever they arise. More career opportunities result in:

· Globalization and multicultural work environments

When you start exploring the world, you begin relating with and understanding people from other cultures. And this strengthens the cultural connection while limiting the risk of cultural conflicts. When you’re culturally aware you can understand what can be unsuitable to people with diverse backgrounds.

This facilitates globalization and reduces potential barriers. Remember, your culture influences how you view the world. Different perspectives, as well as different professional and personal experience of an international team, can provide varying viewpoints that inspire staff to view the world, and especially their workplace, differently.

Besides driving innovation, diversity of ideas breeds creativity, facilitating problem-solving and meeting customer needs in different ways. Creating a diverse yet inclusive workforce can help companies generate new ideas.

· Ability to work with diverse teams

A Glassdoor survey revealed that two-thirds of job applicants mentioned diversity as a crucial aspect to consider when analyzing job and company offers.

In today’s overly competitive job market, showing that your business is committed to fostering an inclusive and multicultural environment helps you attract the right candidates. Further, prioritizing diversity during the recruiting process widens your talent pool of potential employees.

If your workplace is diverse, your employees have a higher chance of remaining loyal, especially if they feel valued and respected for their contribution. Colleagues who understand the impact of the diverse culture, experiences, and perspectives of team members will be more respectful of one another. An all-inclusive multicultural environment is a great way to connect with teams and colleagues.

· Competitiveness in the job market

A culturally diverse workforce gives companies an advantage when expanding to new markets. Usually, the service or product should be adapted to succeed in international markets. Being conversant with local regulations, laws, competitive landscape, and customs can help companies thrive.

What’s more, native language skills, local connections, and cultural knowledge can enhance international business development. Plus, when a company is more competitive, it has a high chance of becoming more profitable.

According to recent research from McKinsey, diversity is great for a company’s success. The research also discovered that ethnically diverse organizations had a 35% likelihood of getting above the national industry average financial returns.

· Personal Growth and Development

When you’re culturally aware, you’ll have better and more meaningful interactions with people around you. You develop empathy and respect for others and appreciate the similarities and differences. Understanding other cultures is critical in:

· Learning from Different Cultures

Learning from Different Cultures

The world today is filled with people from different cultures. When you’re exposed to these cultures, you discover and learn about the differences in each culture. Eventually, you start appreciating and embracing the people who are different from you.

If you have children teach them the importance of interacting with and valuing people from other cultures. Such lessons are crucial in helping them value and respect them. Attending summer camps is one of the best ways of exposing children to diverse practices and cultures. The entire experience is a learning process, and the children take away lifetime lessons.

· Challenging Personal Biases and Stereotypes

Teaching your children about different cultures from an early age prevents them from classifying others based on stereotypes and personal biases. Everybody is different. And the actions of one individual shouldn’t define the entire community.

You should know that racial and ethnic divisions can harm society. For example, it may trigger misunderstandings, lack of opportunities, and sometimes violence. Communities that experience racial and ethnic rivalry usually suffer from financial and human resources.

Exposure to multicultural experiences helps you become more aware of your actions, the clothes you wear, and what you say. Further, it enables you to reconsider your cultural biases and makes you establish where they emanate.

Knowing that you can change your opinion and admitting personal biases helps you begin recognizing others for who they are.

· Broadening one’s worldview

Being culturally aware helps you acknowledge your heritage and worldviews. Further, you understand the differences in other people’s beliefs and customs. Learning about different cultures is one of the best ways to realize the connection between cultural awareness and self-awareness.

Conclusion

Understanding other cultures helps you understand the diversity in human creation. And it’s important in dispelling miscommunication as well as misinterpretation. Besides creating meaningful and valuable relationships with others, you learn to respect and appreciate their differences. In today’s interconnected world, you’re highly likely to encounter people from diverse cultures everywhere.

Learning about other cultures helps you cope in diverse situations. Whether you’re a student or an employee in a multicultural environment, interacting with others helps you become a better person. Learn about a different culture today and prepare yourself for hassle-free interactions in the future.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUR CHILD? 

Is Summer Camp During the Pandemic Safe for Kids?

Sending kids to summer camp seemed like an uphill task last year at the beginning of the pandemic. Today, children are hopeful of attending camp, especially with the invention of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Are you wondering whether or not to send your child to sleep-away camp? This article will help you make an informed decision. Read on for extensive details on summer camp safety amid the pandemic.

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Are you considering enrolling your child on a Summer Camp in 2021?

Find out what Les Elfes has to offer!

Guidelines in Place to Guarantee Safety in Summer Camps During Covid

These safety guidelines are applicable for both overnight and day camps. Every camping facility should adhere to the CDC safety protocols. Remember, these safety measures will help lower the spread of Covid-19 among camp staff and campers. According to the American camp association in Georgia, all camp administrators should strive to reduce risks for all attendants. These guidelines include:

·       Wearing Masks Properly

If any campers or camp staff have been fully vaccinated, they will not need to wear masks during summer camp. However, this depends on the state, federal, tribal, territorial, or local laws. Campers above two years should always wear masks indoors and outdoors unless they are eating or swimming. All camp staff, especially those that facilitate camp activities daily, should wear double masks. Doing so lowers the risk of spreading Covid-19. 

·        Focus on Outdoor Activities

Is Summer Camp During the Pandemic Safe for Kids

Covid-19 is a high-risk respiratory disease whose chances of spreading increase when people are stuck indoors. As a result, world health experts and professionals from the American academy of pediatrics recommend outdoor activities to lower the risk of Covid-19. Spending time outdoors allows campers sufficient space to guarantee physical distancing while creating a safer environment for the kids. 

·        Maintaining Physical Distance

According to the CDC officials, summer camps should adopt the “cohorting” system. Here, staff and campers are placed in pod-like classes and remain there whenever possible. This system helps reduce risk among large groups. In addition, everyone inside the cohorts must maintain a 3-feet physical distance from one another.

·       Adoption of Testing and Monitoring Practices

Some summer camp facilities conduct testing and monitoring examinations on the staff members and campers. These assessments include temperature checks every morning. CDC officials say that people who are not yet vaccinated should get regular Covid-19 tests.

·        Enhanced Hand Hygiene

Summer camp organizers should provide various handwashing stations complete with soap and running water. Campers and camp staff should clean their hands regularly where possible. In addition, the use of hand sanitizers should be encouraged during off-site activities. 

·       Thorough Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Facility Maintenance Practices

All shared rooms and surfaces such as the dining hall, cabin bunks, and game rooms should be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned daily. Facilities should be well-arranged to facilitate sufficient ventilation and social distancing where possible. 

Additional Guidelines for Campers Attending Overnight Camps

Camp organizers request attendants to isolate or quarantine for fourteen days before embarking on the summer camp trip. Campers traveling from abroad through rail, air, or buses should follow the set local travel regulations. Remember, some countries require travelers to have additional preventive Covid-19 tests and adhere to isolation, according to the New York Times. 

·        Adopt a Contingency Plan to handle Emergency Sickness

Some campers may use shared transport services which may expose them to the Covid-19 virus. As a result, camp organizers and supervisors should have a laid down quarantine plan to handle possible emergencies. 

·       Contact Tracing

Should the camp experience Covid-19 infections, the camp administrators will need to contact and work together with the local or state public health officials to facilitate: 

  • The isolation of people with Covid-19 related symptoms
  • Testing of people with Covid-related symptoms
  • Quarantining of all close contacts of individuals with Covid-related symptoms
  • Alert family members of all kids attending camp

Remember, fully vaccinated people with no Covid-related symptoms do not require quarantine. However, this depends on the local, state, or federal regulations. 

Is Sending Your Child to Summer Camp During the Pandemic Risky?

The possibility of campers contracting Covid-19 depends on the viral level of the infectious disease within a specific area. Leverage the following tips to determine the risk level of your preferred summer camp facility before the trip. 

·        Understand the Prevailing Limits on Crowds

Safety Measures Within Summer Camp During The Pandemic

The CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is against large crowds. Remember, these regulations may vary from one region to the other. Determine the safety measures within the summer camp area and get details about gathering sizes before sending your child on a summer camp trip. 

·       Determine the Coronavirus Cases in the Area

What is the Coronavirus situation in your locality? Are the numbers dropping, increasing, or stagnant? Even when your locality has not been affected by the virus, you want to consider the summer camp region, especially if your child is going abroad. Contact the health department within your locality to obtain this information. You may also want to check different resourceful websites and local newspapers for detailed information. 

·    Ask Questions With an Emphasis on Safety

Whether you want to send your child to your favorite summer camp or want to try a new location, emphasize safety and consider the cons and pros. Before choosing your ideal summer camp facility, you want to understand:

  • The number of campers allowed in the facility. 

  • The regulations on group sizes? How many campers will be in one group? Will small groups have the same supervisor?

  • The camp’s operating program. Is it running under full or partial capacity arrangement? Does it offer both day and sleep-away camp services? 

  • What about physical distancing? How does the facility plan to achieve the three to six feet apart from a physical distance during naps, activities, and mealtimes? Does the facility have sufficient areas and rooms to maintain the social distancing rules? 

  • What are the pickup and drop-off arrangements for day campers? 

  • Determine steps the camping facility has in place to prevent the spread of the virus while campers are in attendance. 

Health Monitoring Practices

How do the facility monitor staff members and campers during the camping period? What procedures do they have in place to isolate ill individuals? What communication method will they use to alert you if your kid falls sick?

What to Lookout for in Summer Camps Amid the Pandemic?

Seek answers to the following questions before sending your child to a summer camp facility during the pandemic. 

·        What Measures has the Camp Adopted to Ensure Campers Adhere to Covid-19 Safety Regulations?

Camps should adopt age-appropriate strategies to ensure campers practice social distancing, hand hygiene, and wear masks when necessary. Maintaining these practices can be a difficult task for young kids, and camp staff members should be ready to remind them often. 

·        Will most Activities Take Place Outdoors or Indoors?

Safe Outdoor Activities for Kids during the Pandemic

Outdoor activities allow campers to enjoy the fresh air and give them enough room to adhere to physical distancing rules.  Further, they lower the risk of spreading and contracting Covid-19—further, the outdoors enabling campers to experience nature which boosts their overall and mental health. However, camp organizers should clean and disinfect playing items and surfaces every day to prevent kids from contracting germs. 

·       What if a Camper or Staff Member Gets Sick?

Camps should adopt a robust plan for measures to take should anyone start experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. The program should align with the state or local public health regulations and policies on responding to and reporting possible Covid-19 cases.

·       Is there Ready Support for Campers who require Specialized Health Care?

Camp directors and organizers should strive to meet every child’s needs. If your kid requires specialized health care, consult your pediatrician and the camp organizers to determine the ideal accommodation package for them. 

·       How will Meal and Snack Times Work?

Where possible, kids should carry their own meals, especially if they will be attending day camp. Camps should have separate eating areas for different small groups. This arrangement is less risky than eating in cafeterias or dining halls. Campers should always carry their own water bottles. 

Considerations to Make Before Sending Your Child to Summer Camp Today

With the advent of vaccination, this summer promises to be better than last summer, especially now that campers above 12 years old can get the Covid-19 vaccine. What are some of the things that parents should consider before releasing their children for summer camp? Read on to find out. 

·       Understand Safety Protocols the Summer Camp has Adopted to Protect Campers from Covid-19

Recently, the CDC announced a detailed and updated guide for overnight and day summer camps. The guide highlighted various fundamental principles. For example, it recommended that all eligible camp staff members and campers should get the Covid-19 vaccine.

If some camp staff and campers are unvaccinated, the CDC recommended enhanced physical distance and outdoor activities, reduced capacity, and enhanced ventilation in indoor areas. Further, the CDC recommended wearing masks indoors and within some outdoor situations.

Determine the strategies that your preferred camping facility has adopted to adhere to these requirements. Remember, many of these regulations apply for overnight and day camps. 

·       Determine Risk Factors and Get the Vaccine 

Parents should think about the specific risk factors for each potential camper and organize vaccination for eligible children. Remember, if your child is ineligible for vaccination and has underlying health complications like congenital heart illness or asthma, they may be at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19. If your child has a weak immune system and has not been vaccinated, then remaining at home would be ideal for protecting them from the virus. 

·      Find Out How Camp Activities during the Pandemic Will Differ From Pre-pandemic Times

Camp Activities during the Pandemic Will Differ From Pre-pandemic Times

Some camp practices will not be applicable during summer camp, especially for unvaccinated campers. For example, health experts have advised against full-packed rooms where campers converge and engage in song and dance. While campers will be allowed to sing, they can only do so outdoors.

Parents and other outsiders may be barred from the camp premises, while camp staff may have to remain within the camp premises until the camp is over. Some of the fun and exciting activities involving campers competing against one another will be highly discouraged. Camps will need to modify various camp activities to meet the requirements of various health organizations aimed at reducing the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Many camping facilities have canceled day camps, and you want to confirm the arrangements in place before planning a trip for your child. Understand how the camp intends to ensure that campers maintain the required physical distancing while at the facility. 

·       Find out what will Happen Should Your Child Get Sick

Camp policies will vary from one facility to the other. For example, should your child develop covid related symptoms while on day camp, the facility will isolate them before alerting you. Covid-tests under such circumstances are highly recommended, and if the child tests positive, they will only return to the camping facility after 10-14 days or when the symptoms have subsided.

If the child has contracted Covid-19 at the camping facility or other people in your household have contracted the virus, the kid may need to stay in quarantine for approximately 14 days if campers develop Covid-19 symptoms while in an overnight camp, the camp staff should isolate them immediately and organize a Covid-test.

Should the results turn positive, camp staff should transfer the child to a dedicated facility where they can receive specialized medical care. The camp staff should alert you immediately and allow you to either pick your child or allow them to remain at the quarantine facility until they recover. 

Remember, campers will still have a fun camp experience regardless of all the set regulations. 

·        Determine Sleepaway Camp Regulations

If your child is attending a sleep-away camp, be sure to seek answers to the following questions.

  • Does the camping facility have medical staff, and do they have specialized training to handle Covid-19 related complications?
  • How will you contact me in case of an emergency?
  • Is there a hospital or healthcare facility nearby?
  • Will campers and camp staff require quarantining before and after camp?

Making the Final Decision

Remember, you hold the decision on whether to release your child for overnight hor day camp. Consider the child’s unique risk factors before making the final decision. If your family has a higher risk of Covid-19 and related complications, you may want to suspend any summer camp plans until the situation improves.

If your child requires specialized healthcare, consult their pediatrician before sending them to camp. If you choose to send your child to summer camp, ensure they understand the following:

  • Thorough hand washing practices. Train them child, and have them practice handwashing with soap and running water. 

  • Teach them how to wear masks properly and understand the importance of having them on for extended periods. 

  • Demonstrate how physical distancing operates.

  • Remind them of the importance of proper respiratory etiquette. Children should sneeze or cough into a tissue, discard it, and wash their hands. 

  • Teach them the importance of following the directions set by the camp supervisors. 

Finally

  • If your child is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination, let them get fully vaccinated before embarking on the summer camp trip.

  • Ensure the camping facility has adopted safety protocols to reduce the spread of Covid-19 within the facility.

  • Ensure the camp has in place robust measures to handle any Covid-19 cases should they arise. 

  • Campers will still have fun despite the strict regulations aimed at protecting them against the virus. 

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUR CHILD?