Sky High Hope Camp

Respiratory Health Mitigation Plan 

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Introduction:

Each year, our campers and their families, along with our volunteers, need a week of camp. Our mission remains to enrich the lives of children and teens with current or past cancer and their siblings through a one-week, Colorado outdoors-based summer camp. As we have reignited Sky High Hope Camp Magic with all of you, camp continues to prioritize the health and well-being of our inherently immunocompromised campers and volunteers. We will continue to provide a supportive, enriching, and accepting community, but we need you—both families and volunteers—to help make it possible. 

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Our Respiratory Health Mitigation Plan (inclusive of, and not limited to COVID-19, Flu, RSV) is based upon guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environmental (CDPHE), the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), the American Camp Association (ACA), the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA-I), Larimer County Health Department, and Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Infectious Disease doctors. 

 

This plan is subject to change due to county regulations and Human Services requirements. We will continue to review and revise our Respiratory Health Mitigation Plan as local health concerns evolve. 

 

Before Camp: 

• If you are unsure whether camp is the best choice for you and your family, please check with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. 

• All campers and volunteers are strongly encouraged to be up to date on all vaccinations at least 14 days before camp starts. While COVID-19 vaccinations are not required this year, everyone is still strongly encouraged to be up to date on this vaccination before camp. 

• Campers are required to have all other vaccinations that are required to attend school. 

• Medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis by our medical team. 

• We ask that you be mindful of the activities you participate in leading up to camp to minimize your risk of illness. 

• If a camper, volunteer, or immediate family member experiences illness within 72 hours of camp (i.e. fever, cough, runny nose), please contact Sky High Hope at camp@skyhighhope.org or 719-761-2614 to discuss the situation. 

 

Pre-Camp Activities 

• All families are required to monitor their child(ren) and/or teen(s) prior to camp. 

 

During Camp: 

Check-In & Check-Out Procedures 

• Medical staff will evaluate every camper (and staff) upon arrival to camp (temp, symptoms). 

• Any camper/staff that is symptomatic will not be allowed to stay at camp. 

• Additional details will be provided regarding check-in times as camp gets closer. 

 

Masks & Social Distancing 

• Masks will be available for campers and volunteers. 

• Anyone who feels more comfortable wearing a mask is welcome to wear a mask. 

• Medical staff may ask individuals to wear a mask as part of medical decisions and mitigating respiratory health considerations during camp. 

 

Health Monitoring Camp 

• Our medical team will monitor symptoms throughout the week of camp, and we will have access to testing symptomatic campers and volunteers during camp. Testing will be billed to the provided insurance during registration. We don’t anticipate any expense to our families or volunteers; however, that is ultimately up to the insurance company. Uninsured families are covered under HRSA. 

• The medical team will make any decisions regarding isolation, quarantine, or leaving camp based on the specific situation and current medical guidelines for any specific respiratory health considerations. 

 

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environmental Requirements 

• Camp is subject to state regulations. Please refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s website at cdphe.colorado.gov/covid-19 for complete information. 

 

Facilities 

• Indoor spaces, including cabins, dorms, and bathrooms, will be rigorously cleaned by staff according to protocols set by the CDC and ACA. 

• Bathrooms will be sanitized and disinfected with increased frequency throughout the day. 

• Hand sanitizers will be readily available. 

• Campers and volunteers will be trained on proper handwashing, sneezing, coughing, etc. 

 

Food & Meals 

• Given our inherently small number of volunteers and campers, everyone will likely eat together, and enjoy outdoor eating space for all meals, weather permitting, to limit the number of people in the dining hall at any given time. 

 

Care Packages & Mail During Camp 

• We will be accepting care packages; however, they can’t contain any food. 

 

Visitors at Camp 

• Visitors are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and expected to meet the same expectations that campers and staff met to attend camp. 

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Post-Camp: 

• We ask that volunteers and campers continue to self-monitor and report any symptoms of any respiratory health concerns (or positive test results for any of these) within two weeks after camp.

• We will stay in touch with parents/guardians after campers leave camp in the event symptoms develop or another camper in their cohort develops symptoms. If your camper tests positive, please contact us immediately.

 

Current CDC Guidelines for Respiratory Health: