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Covid-19 Updates - Please read below!

We have been working very hard to ensure that we are able to have a safe and healthy summer here at WEU! We have always taken pride in keeping your kids safe, and the goal this summer remains the same. With that being said, here are some updates and new procedures to help protect your families and ours. Have no fear, our spirit of adventure and high-quality programming will be as you all have come to expect over the past 39 years!

Health Monitoring Form

Two weeks prior to your camp start date you will begin fever screening and documenting on our 'health screening form' that was emailed to you several times in the weeks leading up to your summer camp week. This form is REQUIRED and will be collected by the camp nurse on Monday morning. Please be sure to mark your calendars to start monitoring two weeks prior to camp start date. 

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Any camper who has traveled outside of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire within two weeks of their camp start date MUST reach out to us so our camp nurse can give you a call and discuss any concerns. If any camper who has been on a plane two weeks prior to their camp start date please reach out ASAP so we can switch your camp week or cancel participation.

We simply cannot take any risks as we strive to protect our camp community this summer.  

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Drop/Off & Pick Up:

-Drop-off and Pick-up times will be staggered by age group to reduce traffic, and minimize the number of children checking in and out at once. *Specific times for the summer season will be sent out prior to your campers scheduled week. 

-For Monday morning parents will park for drop-off and wait in their cars for our camp nurse to come to you for fever screening and collection of health monitoring form. We will have cones for cue-ing up at our camp office check-in to help organize and space out families. For the rest of the week when parents sign-in they will need to write down the recorded temperature taken at home that morning prior to camp. The staff is being screened every morning as well.

-We kindly ask that minimal family members come for drop-off and pick-up.

-Curbside pick-up for campers. Staff will walk children to their cars for sign-out in a drive-thru like cue through our back parking lot (Monday - Friday afternoons) 

-Curbside drop-off for campers (Tuesday- Friday), similar to camper pick-up parents will drive through during their group's drop-off time, they will be greeted by their staff member who will walk up with them to the groups meeting area. Monday will be the only day parents need to park and get out with their kiddos.

-Parents and campers will be wearing face coverings/ face masks during drop off and pick up and our staff will be doing the same.

Face masks must cover both NOSE and MOUTH.

Transportation:

-Van transportation will be kept to a minimum this summer, we plan to utilize closer destinations more frequently including our THREE additional private camp properties (Westfield, MA, Russel Pond, and Granville, MA) *Catch those exciting NEW announcements? 240 acres of private WEU woods and streams await in Granville and we have exclusive access to Russell pond this summer for programing and kayaking. 

-We will no longer be utilizing public park locations (Stanley Park, Robinson State Park or Salmon Brook Park)

-All campers and staff will be wearing masks for van transport. We plan to minimize the number of passengers in each van, middle seats left open. All windows will be down and open for improved ventilation.

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-All campers and staff will be wearing masks when social distancing isn't possible. Please be sure your child's mask fits them comfortably and they are used to wearing it prior to summer camp. 

Group Structure / Sizing:

-We have capped registration to keep groups smaller than normal. (Remember, we were already considered a small camp!)

-We have been working extensively on lowering group numbers. We have hired additional staff so we can split groups striving for a maximum of 8 kids per group. All siblings in the same age group will be kept together unless otherwise requested. 

-No groups will be joining up for activities. The group your child is with will be the only group/staff they work with for the week.

Hygiene

-Hand sanitizing will be required upon arrival. Hand sanitizing and thorough washing will be taught to your child and practiced regularly throughout the day.

-We will have hand sanitizing and washing stations set-up at our camp locations. All staff will continue to carry sanitizer, wipes, and extra masks.

-All bathrooms and communal areas are set up with a regular deep clean schedule throughout the camp day.

Face Coverings

All campers will be required to have a personal face mask or face covering in their day pack. These will be required during transportation by staff and campers and required during select few activities when social distancing is not possible. Additionally, we ask parents to wear face masks during drop-off and pick-up times and our staff will do the same.

Health & Screenings

-Our camp registered nurse will be on-site during drop-off and will conduct fever screening on Monday morning for all campers.

-Covid-19 screening questions will be part of camper sign-in each day at drop off. Tuesday - Friday, we will ask parents to take their child's temperature at home prior to drop off and this will be recorded on the sign-in sheet each day.

-Anyone who is experiencing symptoms feels ill, or has come in knowingly contact with someone exposed to Covid-19 will NOT attend camp.

-Staff will be screened daily in the same manner that campers are.

Camper DayPack Additional Essentials

-Please see our equipment list at WEU.COM so your young adventurer is prepared for each day.

-Added to the daypack equipment list this year are the following items required for each kiddo, each day.

*Face Mask / Covering that child is familiar with wearing.

*A package of wet wipes for on-the-go hand washing.

*Personal hand sanitizer 

WEU is committed to continued communication with state and local public health authorities on how to conduct programming safely, and how to best follow their recommendations. We have been in touch with the Southwick health department nearly every day. We will continue to keep you updated as we near the start of summer camp.

Registration, Paperwork, Payments, and Cancellation Reminders

As a reminder, our 25% deposit has always been non-refundable. We appreciate your understanding that this policy remains the same. If parents decide to voluntarily withdrawal camper participation, all payments (aside from 25% deposit) will certainly be refunded. Please make this voluntary withdrawal decision before June 25th so we are able to adjust staffing needs accordingly. Cancellations made after June 25th, within two weeks of campers' start date camp becomes non-refundable.

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For Summer Camp Participation we must have the following on file by June 26th

1. Camp Medical Form (Our WEU med form 1st page filled out and signed by a parent, copy of signed physical, & immunization record)

2. Medication Administration Form (*only if any meds will be administered at camp, including emergency medications)

3. Event Waiver (This is a double-sided document with signatures on both pages)

Forms Required for Camp ->