Coronavirus Updates

Dear Parents, 

 After careful consideration we have decided to require campers to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against Covid-19 this summer. In addition, we will again be requiring full vaccination including a booster for all staff members. We will consider medical and religious exemptions. 

 This decision takes into account our desire for our campers to have the full FLC experience in 2022 which begins with making them feel safe and comfortable at Forest Lake. A fully vaccinated camp will ensure that we will be able to provide the most “normal” experience possible where there are no isolation requirements for individuals following possible exposures, groups can intermingle freely, and we might once again have possibility of inter-camp competitions with other fully vaccinated summer camps. We will also feel more comfortable providing our regular transportation options from Paramus, NJ and White Plains, NY. 

 At this point we will likely still require rapid tests upon arrival for all campers and continue with a testing regimen throughout the summer to stay abreast of any possible exposures or infections. 

 We know that many of you have been waiting for this announcement before making your decision to sign your camper up for this summer. Some age groups are already full and we anticipate waitlists for certain sessions, so please register quickly or call us to discuss availability for this summer.

We are so excited for Summer 2022 and can’t wait to welcome all of our campers to FLC in a few short months. 

Dear Parents, 

In the last week we received another updated version of the COVID guidelines for summer camps, followed by the recent announcement by Gov. Cuomo about restrictions being lifted across NY. Camps were mentioned, however it is still unclear to what extent the guidelines provided to us are no longer relevant. We have been adapting our plans and doing our best to keep up with the ever-changing regulations that will help us keep our campers and staff safe and healthy this summer. It is our belief that regardless of the restrictions being lifted, we will still be taking certain precautions in order to ensure a safe and care-free summer for all. 

Just to keep you up to date and provide an overview of what FLC is currently planning:

TESTING before and upon arrival at camp

Campers who are unvaccinated will need to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival at camp. Parents are responsible for getting their own test through your local provider. We will also require a negative rapid antigen test upon arrival at camp for ALL campers. We will have testing on site on opening day where parents will swab their own campers with the assistance of camp nurses. It is an anterior nasal swab (lower nasal) with results in 15 minutes. If you prefer to have a test done at home or on the way to camp, the negative result must be within 6 hours of your arrival at camp. If you do your own rapid test on the way to camp you will have to show us proof on arrival of your camper’s negative rapid test (even showing us a picture is fine). Face masks and social distancing will be required during testing and screening on camp. 

*Transportation: If your camper is arriving at an airport and we are providing transportation, a temperature screening and questionnaire will happen before they board the bus. The rapid test will be performed at camp upon arrival. Campers will be required to wear face masks during transportation with spaced seating. Siblings may sit together. 

During Camp

We will implement a hand washing routine in cabins before every meal assembly and sanitizer will be available at all activity areas around camp. Counselors will do morning health checks, as we do every summer, and take special note of any symptoms that may be related to COVID. Campers who are not feeling well will be temperature checked by the nurses and will have a rapid test on camp if necessary. We will contact parents of campers who test positive using a rapid test on camp and need to be sent to the health center to receive a PCR test. Campers with a positive PCR test will be isolated in the infirmary and parents contacted to come pick up their camper within 24 hours of notification. If you are unable to pick up your camper in 24 hours parents may give camp permission to provide onsite isolation. All other campers within their cohort or Junior/Senior camp will receive a rapid test.

Other safety measures and protocols 

FLC will provide sanitizer at all activity areas for use during all activity periods. Frequently touched surfaces will be sanitized daily and sanitizing spray will be provided for counselors to use inside their cabins in addition to regular cabin clean-up done by campers. Masks will not need to be worn for regular daily activities done by junior/senior camps separately. They MAY need to be worn for camp wide activities IF they occur indoors or when spacing is not possible. We do not anticipate this being the norm as all of our activities will be conducted outdoors or in open air spaces. 

Junior and senior campers will still be allowed to eat in the mess hall together, with tables spaced 6ft apart. Singing and cheering will not be restricted.

FIRST SESSION OPENING DAY (June 27th)

Arrivals will be anywhere after 9 AM, we do not anticipate staggered arrival times based on cabin. 

The order of arrivals will be: 

• Park in front of the welcome pavilion or behind the mess hall
• Proceed to the Confer Pavilion for COVID testing/document check. Wait 15 minutes for results.
• After a negative result, proceed to regular check-in with Brenda in the Welcome Pavilion
• Head to the infirmary for health screening including lice check with the nurses and dropping of medication
• Go to STORE to pick up your camp t-shirt if ordered 
• Meet your cabin counselors and proceed to your cabin
• Parents will not be allowed into cabins or cabin areas to say their goodbyes UNLESS you are the parent of a first time camper. If it is their first summer at FLC you will be allowed one family at a time, masked, into cabins to help them pick a bunk, but please do not stay for a prolonged period of time to unpack etc. Please make your visit to the cabins as brief as possible. Masks will not be required outdoors, however we ask that you please maintain social distancing outdoors with other families and staff. 

ADDITIONAL FEES

To help us cover the costs of rapid tests which will be available throughout the duration of camp, specialty cleaning equipment, sanitizer, thermometers and all other COVID related costs we are adding a COVID fee of $25 per camper. Thank you for your understanding. 

We are looking forward to welcoming our first campers in just 10 days! Our staff has already started arriving and we can finally feel the pre-camp butterflies and excitement that we have been waiting so long for. We can’t wait to open our doors again for another amazing summer. 

We are continuing to plan ahead for Summer 2021. We are optimistic that summer camps in NY will be allowed to open this year and are hopeful that the information and guidance from the CDC and ACA will help us plan for a safe, and much needed, summer.

With everyone still facing so much uncertainty around school, working from home, vaccines, and the rising concerns about the mental and physical health of our kids, we know that camp has become something that both kids and parents are really looking forward to. Now more than ever, our kids need a break. They have to have the opportunity to flex their social muscles again and to just be kids. With all that in mind, we are doing our best to prepare for this summer and are giving parents more flexibility around planning for camp as well. We have extended our no risk refund date to March 15th (deposit and tuition fully refundable) in addition to the payment protection option which allows families to cancel and receive a full refund for any reason until the morning before their camper is expected to arrive at camp.

We are confident that our 2020 COVID operations plan would have kept our campers and staff safe last summer, and we are prepared to use the same, or similar, plan for 2021. We will await guidance once again from the American Camp Association (ACA) and CDC on the best practices based off more data, including the successful openings of overnight camps in other states. We will use our 2020 plan as a foundation and peel back or layer on protocols as needed. We will keep you updated as we hear more about summer camp safety for this year.

In the meantime we are finishing up our hiring for next summer (we already have the BEST staff in place!), we’re getting kids signed up, placed in bunks, back in touch with friends and engaged with our camp community, and giving them something amazing to look forward to.

Please give us a call if you want to talk about your summer plans and to let us know how you’re doing! 518-623-4771

To read a list of FAQs regarding our Operations Plan from our Town Hall please click here.

Dear Parents,

As our planning for an exceptional summer at FLC continues, we are writing to provide a further and more specific update on our plans for making the summer of 2020 safe for our campers, counselors and their families. 

Much still remains unknown and there is currently very active debate happening with the CDC, ACA and political officials which unfortunately have bogged down the issuance of more detailed guidelines for many businesses including summer camps. These delays mean that we aren’t yet fully able to deal with some of the detailed operational guidelines that we will be putting in place for the summer. We were also expecting some news from the Governor of New York this week, however he did not provide any information or update regarding summer camps in his briefing today. Nonetheless, we have actively engaged our Medical Advisory Board and we are proceeding with our operational planning. There is a lot we do know now and are considering, and we wanted to share those thoughts with you based on the concepts that have been outlined to us already (to see the ACA’s outline for guidance please click HERE). The sections in the outline are updated by the ACA as they become available. 

In the past, many have heard us discuss the idea of a camp bubble; the existence of camp as a separate landscape full of special memories and people that frees our campers to be their best selves while forming lifelong relationships with their camp family. This year the camp bubble will take on new meaning, and this is the general idea behind how the summer operations will be constructed. We will establish the most solid bubble possible around camp, using the current situation and guidelines provided to us as they evolve towards our summer season. Within the larger bubble of FLC there will exist smaller bubbles in various ways that will minimize the risks of exposure and outbreak. The fewer the leaks in the bubble, the safer the environment for everyone. Bottom line is we believe we will be able to provide a safe and solid bubble for all of our campers and staff to live while still enjoying camp. 

This will require us to do many things differently, but the goal is that by creating a strong bubble, we will be able to create a near-normal experience within it. This is the concept that is being discussed within the camp community and we expect to see it as the baseline for many of the recommendations that are currently being considered. Again, while we aren’t yet able to get to the most detailed level because of the lack of formal guidance, we can share our thinking on the questions and concerns that we have heard the most from you in our conversations:

CREATING THE FLC BUBBLE

The issue that will most impact our day to day structure within camp is the availability and type of testing for the virus. Regardless of the type of test available (rapid response, 2-3 day delay etc.) our hope is that some testing will be available to all of us by the time camper arrivals begin in July. Through early conversations with our Medical Advisory Board we believe this to be a possibility but not a certainty. This specific information has a major impact on how we will conduct arrivals day, who will be allowed entry into camp and how we will structure daily operations throughout camp. In any possible case, drop-off will not look like it has in the past. All campers arriving by car will be screened prior to being allowed into camp. Parents will not be allowed out of their vehicles and will unfortunately have to immediately leave camp after drop-off as likely examples of some of the many changes that will take place. 

Other items under consideration here will be the attendance of campers or counselors from international locations which will be driven by the travel rules in place at the time. We already have established that staff week will be two weeks so that all staff will have been quarantined for at least 14 days on site before campers arrivals.

KEEPING THE BUBBLE CLOSED

Once the bubble is established, we will look to keep it as closed as possible. There are many variables that will determine what this looks like and how we will keep exposure to the outside world limited. All of the following are being considered with the final structure to be determined. This is not an exhaustive list, but examples of what is currently under discussion by us and the broader camp community include:

1) No Visitors Day – we will not have a Visitor’s Day this year and parents will not be allowed out of their vehicles on camp at any point.

2) Restricted Staff movement – we have already told our staff that time-off rules will look different this year and staff likely will be significantly restricted in their off-time activities if they are allowed to leave camp at all.

3) No outside instructors or people on camp – this may impact our activities but likely will mean limitations on events like our tennis and science specialty clinics and perhaps riflery as well. This most likely will include no inter-camp competitions. 

4) Minimal session flexibility – by moving to a 5 week summer, we are restricting camper arrivals to just two days this summer. We don’t anticipate cutting this further pending future developments.

5) Meal Service – Meal times and the way food is served may be adjusted based on the recommendations of the ACA and CDC. 

MAKING SMALLER BUBBLES

Within the larger camp bubble, there is a possibility that we will create smaller bubbles within camp and this concept, called cohorting, is part of the discussion within the CDC, ACA and camps at the moment. The idea is that smaller cohorts, or family units allow for a feeling of normalcy within the cohort and limit exposure should the virus make an appearance. The size of the allowed cohorts is TBD, though a size of up to 50 people is being most discussed. This would allow for camp to be broken up into smaller bubbles. For example, creating 4 cohorts of 2 junior camps and 2 senior camps (1 each for boys and girls) would split camp up into groups that would sleep, eat and take activities together with their dedicated counselors.  The good news for us is that we are already set up this way and we would anticipate only a few adjustments to meet these requirements. 

The great part of this smaller group setting is that while limiting exposure, it also would allow for camp to still feel like camp. Within the group there would likely not be social distancing requirements though these would still exist for any exposure to those outside the cohort. Again, testing will play a major role in determining how this could work and the size of each cohort.

As the days go by, we can start to see a plan taking shape that will allow our campers to feel the joy of a summer at FLC and that will make sure camp feels like camp while also protecting the health and safety of our campers. While we don’t know the final shape or extent of all of our procedures at this point, we can assure you that every day that goes by we are talking about and planning based on the best information we have. 

TOWN HALL

We will in the coming days announce a Zoom based town hall that we will invite all Forest Lake families to attend in order to answer your questions live about the upcoming summer. 

Thank you for all your patience, encouragement and support as we navigate these unprecedented times. We hear from families every day about how much their children need camp and we are working tirelessly to make that happen safely. Meanwhile we encourage you to reach out to Caroline ([email protected]) to confirm your summer sessions as this is critical to our planning process. Thank you and please stay safe and hopeful. 

Even during these difficult times we are so encouraged by our camp community and the messages we have received. Hearing about how much our campers need to be at FLC this summer has only affirmed our belief that Camp is going to be more important than ever. We are continuing to do everything we can to open camp and make it as safe as possible. The CDC is releasing guidance this week for camps but it does not appear they will include specific information for overnight camps, so we will wait to hear from the ACA as they develop operational guidance for camp. In the meantime, we are proceeding with our own plans to ensure the health and safety of our campers this summer:

Forest Lake Camp Medical Advisory Board

• We have gathered a team of doctors and experts from our community who have agreed to review our health and safety plan and help us make sure it is as robust as possible. The four members bring a wealth of experience as health care professionals and as members of our extended camp family. For more information on the members of our advisory board, please read the bios below*. We are extremely grateful to have them join our team.

We are preparing for program changes that MAY include:

• The possibility of a shortened summer. We are continuing to revise our program and make adjustments in the event that we have to move to a 5 week season.
• Restricting or eliminating of off camp activities for campers and staff
• Possible density restrictions in cabins and activity periods
• Extending staff training to incorporate 14 days of quarantine before campers arrive
• Potentially forgoing visitor’s day this summer and minimizing change-over days

We will be making several health and safety additions to protect everyone at FLC. This includes:

• Proceeding to source health and sanitation supplies such as extra sanitizer stations for installation around camp, tests, thermometers and oxygen readers
• Sourcing extra PPE for our nurses, kitchen staff
• Planning for potential changes for our arrivals day requirements
• Establishing hand washing stations outside Mess Hall

We are determined to be as prepared as possible and know that the addition of our advisory board and program adjustments will only help to bring us closer to our goal of providing camp for our kids this summer. As additional guidance becomes available and our plan evolves based on that guidance we will continue to update you. We anticipate the next communication to be within the next week.

Stay well,
The Forest Lake Camp Team

*Advisory Board Members:

Dr. Chris Davison is the Medical Director of Greenwich Hospital in CT which has cared for hundreds of Covid-19 patients since the initial outbreak in neighboring New Rochelle, NY. Dr. Davison has been a practicing ER physician for over 20 years and has attended FLC for Family Weekend with his family for 10 years. He is very familiar with both the demographics of our campers and staff as well as our FLC facilities.

Dr. Michelle Karten joins our advisory board as a Pediatrician, specializing in pediatric medicine where she has worked in both urgent care and primary care settings. Dr. Karten brings nearly 20 years of experience providing care in her community and working closely with families. She currently practices at Nemours DuPont Pediatrics and is the Medical Director of the Nemours Population Health Management team. In these roles, she has been very involved in the response to the pandemic, creating safe systems of care to keep patients, their families, and staff safe. Dr. Karten’s experience with children and first hand knowledge as an FLC parent brings a very personal point of view to ensuring the safety of campers and staff at Forest Lake this summer.

Dr. Bennett Lorber joins our task force with a lifetime of experience working with infectious diseases and immunology. He has recently retired as the Chief of Infectious Diseases at Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Lorber sits on the American Board of Internal Medicine Subspecialty Board on Infectious Diseases and has a particular interest in the impact of societal change on patterns of infectious disease. Dr. Lorber is an active Alum of Forest Lake Camp as well as an Alum parent. He is very familiar with our FLC infrastructure, programming and demographics and is eager to help in any way he can ensure the health and safety of our campers and staff.

Dr. John Rugge is the founding CEO and Executive Chairman of Hudson Headwaters Health. HHH is a system of 17 community health centers that serves residents throughout the Adirondacks and has served the health needs of Forest Lake campers and staff since 1974. Dr. Rugge is a supporter of Forest Lake Camp and joins our board with an awareness of the local and seasonal medical topography arguably better than anyone in the world.

Forest Lake Camp is continuing our preparations for Summer 2020. Like the rest of the world, we are learning more about COVID-19 everyday and are monitoring and planning accordingly. The safety of our campers and staff is paramount and will be the basis of all the decisions we make. We continue to monitor information from the CDC and WHO, and are receiving guidance from the American Camp Association and local health authorities to help us determine best practices this summer and under what conditions we will be able to safely operate. The usual springtime preparations are underway, with additional protocols, staff hirings and facility improvements progressing.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update our website and camp community as we gather more information in the coming weeks. Despite all the uncertainty that still threatens our summer plans, we are doing what we can to plan and make informed decisions so we are ready for whatever comes.

As camp people, we are used to dealing with both the expected and unexpected challenges that come with running a camp. In the meantime we will stay at home and ride out the next few weeks with all of you. Camp will be as important, if not more, for kids to have this summer, and we will do everything we can to make sure our campers have the chance to come home to FLC. In the meantime, stay connected with us on Instagram for daily activities and virtual gatherings

Thank you for your continued support of Forest Lake Camp. We look forward to another amazing summer.

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