Silver Birch Ranch Coronavirus Update Page
Updated 6/17/20
Silver Birch Ranch: Our Commitment to Keep Campers Safe
The health and safety of kids, staff, and families have always been our top priority at SBR. As we continue to look ahead to this summer with excitement, we also want to address any possible concerns you may have about what we’ll be doing to keep your kids and our staff safe due to COVID-19 as well as other illnesses. For over 50 years we have provided a safe camp with intensive medical and cleaning protocols for a wide range of medical situations. This isn’t the first virus outbreak, it won’t be the last, and we take them all very seriously. We believe that kids will need the opportunity to get outside, interact with friends, learn about God, and have fun this summer. We also believe that there needs to be changes and new guidelines in place to ensure the safest summer experience possible for all kids attending SBR. It is with this approach in mind that we bring to you our health and safety commitments for summer 2020.
Planning Team
SBR continues to plan and review our health policies and procedures with volunteer health professions who have teamed up with us, as well as the CDC and other governing authorities. We have a healthy working relationship with our county health department (Langlade County) as well as the local hospital, clinic, and EMS. We desire to provide the best care to all of our guests.
IT STARTS WITH YOU…Partnering with Parents
We know that you put the health and safety of your child at the top of your list, and we also want to make sure that all kids have a safe and fun time at SBR. Before your student comes to camp, we will send you a check list. Link to check list here If you are not able to meet the health standards on this checklist, we would ask that you keep your kids home for the safety of all of the other campers. If you are unsure whether your child should attend camp, you can call our office prior to the first day of camp, and we will work with you on the best plan possible.
Four-Step Health Screen
Screening at home before registering for camp. Link to check list here
Screening at the bus/van (for those taking the bus/van) before coming to camp. Link to check list here Mask required!
Screening when the camper arrives at camp. Link to check list here
Screening throughout the week at camp.
Once on camp grounds, if your camper is found to be sick or show signs of sickness, they will be quarantined, and a plan will be put into place for their medical care or plans will be made to go home.
Camp Will Look Different
As we all adjust, you are going to notice camp is the same, yet a bit different. Because we are receiving permission from the government to open camp with restrictions, we are rethinking how we do theme night, program areas, food service, and more. You will notice new policies for your safety and some new forms. Please know that camp will still be an incredible experience that is safe, fun, effective, and affordable. Our goal “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known” has not changed.
For More Information:
If you would like more specifics on how we are planning camp in accordance with the CDC.
Link to CDC Field Guide for Camps
Hand Sanitation
Hand sanitation and soap dispensers will be in each cabin, meeting room, in common areas, and meal areas. Our staff will be trained to require every retreater to use hand sanitizer each time they enter and exit a building, and before / after participation in each activity, or wash their hands before every meal. Our staff will also practice this.
Groups of 50-June: Groups of 100-july/august
We are limiting camp to multiple group sizes of about 50-June (100-July/August). Everyone in each group will need to go through the four steps of health screening. They will then be assigned into a group of about 50-June (100-July/August) which will then be their “family unit.” By dividing campers into family units of 50/100, we are able to limit any possible exposure, help mitigate tracing a source if there is an exposure and keep campers safe. There will be multiple “Groups of 50/100” participating at camp during the same session, but each camper will stay with the program created for his/her “Group of 50/100.”
Social Distancing
We are setting limits on the number of campers in all spaces of camp, mitigating large groups, limiting the number of campers per cabin, and assigning sleeping arrangements in each housing area. We will train campers and staff on proper coughing and sneezing. We will greatly limit camper physical contact, but because they will already be in a “family unit,” they can do many of the things you have normally been doing in your home and will not be restricted to the standard 6 foot social distancing in their family unit.
Free Time and activities
Campers will stay within their family unit groups and be assigned areas and activities to which they can rotate. Counselors within the family unit group will be rotating with students. Campers will participate in sign-up activities as cabins. Each family group will have separate allotted times at the beach, with time in between groups to allow for disinfecting equipment. In other public activity areas, campers and counselors will be encouraged to practice social distancing from campers in the other family group. As the schedule is planned, the intent is to have each group be autonomous from the other family group as much as possible.
Keeping it Clean
Our summer leaders will lead daily mandatory cleanings in all cabin spaces using EPA disinfectant products. Our staff will be trained in these procedures prior to the start of camp and will be held accountable through daily check lists. A deep cleaning of all bathrooms, offices, and shared spaces will occur at the end of every week. To the best of our ability, activity areas will be sanitized between each activity or camper group. (Example: helmets for zip line) Bathrooms, meeting rooms, and common spaces will be cleaned at lunch and after camp daily.
Link to Cleaning Procedure here
Training and Orientation
At the beginning of each week, all campers will be trained on updated safety protocols which include practicing good hygiene and approved social distancing. Staff will receive training on updated protocols, additional care, daily temperature checks, and action steps to take if a camper gets sick.
Temperature Checks
Throughout the week each camper and summer leader will have his/her temperature checked and logged. If a temperature comes back higher than our determined standard, they will be further evaluated in our medical building, Fix-It.
Fix-It Infirmary
The “Fix-It” medical area is open 24/7 with medical staff who are ready to help, contain, and treat illnesses at any time. Many of our full-time and volunteer staff are trained with First Aid and CPR and are trained to identify illness and help address medical concerns that may come up throughout the camp session.
Food Service
We are working with the WI State Health Inspector to make sure we follow all food service guidelines. The State is developing protocols for our salad bar line, beverage dispensers, program kitchen, specialty food area, and PBJ Bar.
Sending Sick Campers/Staff Home
In the event that a camper or staff member becomes sick with an illness that could spread, they will move to a designated quarantine area, and our medical team will implement a quarantine protocol that works to identify, control, and contain the illness. If SBR determines that a camper/volunteer/staff member needs to go home, the parent is responsible to pick up that person within 12-18 hours of being notified.
Limiting Exposure
We will be greatly limiting the number of non-program staff, visitors, and vendors on our properties during camp sessions to help limit exposure to illness.
COVID-19 Waiver
Parents will be responsible for completing this waiver. This will be turned in upon camper arrival along with the pre-camp health screening form. COVID-19 Waiver
We will continue to evaluate and update the details of each category and make any additional changes according to CDC or local guidelines.
Please continue to join us in prayer for every camper, staff member, family, and church partner who will be a part of Silver Birch Ranch this year!