I hope this update to my previous letter of March 24th finds you and your family healthy and involved, as much as possible, in a variety of daily activities.
Over the past several weeks I have been paying close attention to notices and updates from the American Camp Association (ACA), the Vermont camp Association (VCA), and the Vermont Governor's office. Additionally, I have been participating in on line discussion groups made up of camp owners and directors, as well as consulting a close friend who is a veteran camp owner in NH about his plans for opening or not. Camps in general are still in a holding pattern until specific guidelines for summer camps to open are released by individual State Governors and local health departments. Vermont is likely to be a state that can open to tourism earlier than many. If the guidelines for VT are similar to what Maine recently proposed, the small size of our camp may be advantageous to being able to open. Maine has projected that groups and organizations of fifty or fewer will be able to function with restrictions beginning July 1st.
If the State and local authorities allow our camp to open, we will then have to determine if the guidelines for operating safely are achievable and practical for our situation. Along with the imposed government and health department requirements, I would implement best practices that have proven successful at the Continual Care Retirement Community where I serve as VP of Operations and disaster management officer. I am very happy to report that our 300 residents have remained safe from Covid-19 and that I have learned a great deal from the health care professionals I have been serving with during this challenging time.
My best guess is that a firm decision will be in place by the end of the third week in May as to whether we open on time, delay opening until July 12th and operate a four week program, or not open at all. If camp opens, we will have to see what the availability of testing will be prior to boys and staff arrivals. If things have not advanced to where testing is practical, we will require a two week self quarantine prior to camp and arrival by private vehicle instead of public transportation.
