Silver Birch Ranch
Family Camp - Coronavirus Update Page
Updated 8/3/20
FACE COVERINGS
Per the Wisconsin Governor’s order, effective Saturday, August 1, 2020, through September 28, 2020 (unless changed), face coverings will be required in all buildings.
Dining Hall—face coverings will be worn unless you are eating or drinking.
Cabins:
Families— will not be required to wear face coverings in their cabins.
Individuals—will be required to wear face coverings except when preparing to go to bed, preparing for the day, or sleeping.
Climbing Wall/Zip line—Face coverings will be required in vans, and whenever in the building. They are not required while zip-lining or climbing outside.
Outdoors—Face coverings are not required anywhere outdoors.
Chapel—face coverings are required.
Canteen-- face coverings must be worn unless you are eating or drinking.
Meeting Rooms - face coverings must be worn unless you are eating or drinking.
Please note; We will not be policing face mask-wearing. Per HIPPA, we cannot ask individuals if they have a medical condition that prohibits them from wearing a face covering.
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 and families 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 campers 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 family at the top of your list, and we also want to make sure that all campers have a safe and fun time at SBR. Before your family 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 stay home for the safety of all of the other campers. If you are unsure whether your family 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 when the camper arrives at camp. Link to check list here
Screening throughout the week at camp.
Once on camp grounds, if someone in your family is found to be sick or show signs of sickness, they will be quarantined in your family cabin, 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.
Family groups
We are encouraging families to be mindful of social distancing when interacting with other families that are at Family Camp. Rather than trying to spend time with every family in attendance, we are encouraging each family to choose a couple of other families and spend time with those same families throughout the week. By encouraging families to do this, we are able to limit any possible exposure and help mitigate tracing a source if there is an exposure and keep families safe.
Social Distancing
We are setting limits on the number of campers in all spaces of camp and mitigating large groups. We will train families and staff on proper coughing and sneezing. We will encourage social distancing wherever possible.
Free Time
Family campers will be encouraged to spend time with their families and to sign up for activities as families as much as possible. As they participate in various free time activities, we will encourage the use of our hand sanitation stations before and after activities.
Youth Groups & Chapel
We will NOT be providing youth groups during Chapel time. Instead we will be having an all-age Chapel time in the morning for families to attend. Families will be encouraged to sit together as families and proper spacing will be provided to allow social distancing from other families. If a family does not feel comfortable attending Chapel, we will be providing the same content in our booklets as a family devotional format that can be done anywhere.
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 families 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 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.
Food Service
We are working with the WI State Health Inspector to make sure we follow all food service guidelines and regulations. Some of these are listed below.
Every guest washes or sanitizes hands before and after entering the Dining Hall.
The peanut butter and jelly station will be closed, but premade PBJ sandwiches are provided in zip lock bags.
The Dining Hall coffee machine is open for guests only during meal times. We close this area in-between meals but keep the Canteen / Coffee Bar area open as much as possible in the afternoon / evening.
Sneeze guards have been placed in areas where food is provided.
Standard hair restraints and gloves must be worn, servers will be wearing face coverings.
All food service employees are health screened before every shift, including temperature checks.
Groups sit with their Family Unit at designated tables. They go through designated lines with their Family Unit.
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, we will work directly with the family to develop a plan that works is safe.
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!