COVID-19 Policy and Protocol for Spring Camp

Policy:

We are committed to making this event safe and connecting.  Out of care for the most vulnerable people in our community, we require testing before and during camp, plus EITHER vaccination, a booster, and a period of limiting exposure OR a quarantine period onsite before the event.  Our protocol is subject to change based on conditions nearer the time of the event. [Scroll down for more background on our policy choices.]

To those community members whose needs are not met by this protocol, please know that we love you, miss you, and look forward to the day when we can all gather together.  We are working to develop a metric for when we will consider it safe to connect without such strict precautions.

If our final protocol does not work for you, if you decide to withdraw from attending a CFNC event for COVID-related issues, OR if we cancel the event due to a surge in COVID cases, we will issue you a full refund.

If you think that you might cancel, we request that you pay via Venmo or Paypal if you would like to pre-pay for an event, so that we can avoid paying credit card fees in the case of cancellation.

Protocol (subject to change):

  1. Vaccination/Limit Exposure OR Quarantine

All attendees must either

A. Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 AND have received a booster shot within the last twelve months (preferably the bivalent booster, released in September 2022), 

AND

B. Limit exposure for one week prior to arrival at the site:

      • Stay home from big parties, dances, concerts, etc., especially ones that do not require vaccination or masks.
      • If you must attend, please wear a mask, especially a high-quality mask like a well-fitted N95.
      • Please wear masks in public spaces (stores etc.) as well.
      • Transmission while outside is virtually zero.  So if the weather allows, hang out with others outside as much as possible.

OR

Arrive onsite by Sunday April 30 and quarantine onsite for five days before the event.  (Contact us at info@cfnc.us to work out quarantine details.)  If you choose to quarantine, you:

    • Will need to test negative before arriving at the site – see “Testing” below.
    • Will be asked to quarantine separately from campers who are not part of your household.
    • May use a campsite, tent, or sleep in your car for free or may reserve a cabin at an additional cost.
    • Will be responsible for your own food, until/unless you join pre-camp.
    • Will not come into the shared indoor spaces until your quarantine is completed on Friday May 5.
    • May join the pre-camp team if you like and help set up camp.  Pre-camp starts with Tuesday dinner, and from then until camp starts, accommodation and meals will be provided to quarantining pre-campers for a total of $20.
  1. Testing 

All attendees must

    1. Test negative on daily rapid antigen tests taken for three consecutive days prior to arrival, and
    2. Take rapid tests periodically during camp

Details:

  • All attendees will need to test negative before arrival on three rapid antigen tests, one each day on the three days before you arrive at camp.
  • If you have any questions or issues with arranging a test, please contact Michael at 703-755-0607.
  • Please upload your test results here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/5958101/form 
  • Any attendees who get sick right before coming to the event are respectfully requested to stay home – we will refund your registration fee.
  • We will perform a rapid antigen test on everyone as they arrive.

Note: we have removed the pre-camp testing option of taking a PCR-RT test no more than 48 hours before you arrive onsite.  If this is a problem for you, please contact Michael ASAP at 703-755-0607.

  1. After Arrival / At Camp
  • After the negative pre-camp tests and the negative on-arrival tests are recorded, there will be no masking or distancing requirements for anyone attending the event – people are welcome to mask or distance if they choose.
  • Everyone will take two additional antigen tests during camp, on the two days after they arrive.
  •  At the event, please report any symptoms ASAP to the Health Coordinator.
  • Isolation space(s) are available for anyone symptomatic and/or testing positive and unable to leave the event
  • After the event, for the two weeks following your departure, report any symptoms or positive COVID test results to the organizers so we can inform the group and prevent spread in our home communities.

We welcome questions and suggestions to make this a safe, delightful experience for all. Please email us at info@cfnc.us.

*Protocols subject to revision in the event of major changes in the COVID-19 pandemic – Full refunds will be given for any COVID-19 related cancellations.

More background on the Spring Camp COVID-19 policy:

The CFNC organizers recognize that there are various different understandings of COVID, vaccines, and other prevention protocols and policies, and that sometimes it can feel like people are in completely different realities from each other.  Our decisions around event health and safety protocols are based on our personal boundaries and how we see our responsibilities as people and as leaders.  We offer caring and respect to those whose perspectives are different.

We value providing safer spaces for people who have a high risk person in their network, or are at a high risk themselves of death or serious long-term side effects from COVID-19. We note that high risk is associated with some chronic illnesses, and some of these conditions are themselves correlated with economic and social marginalization. Our cautious protocols are intended to allow high-risk people to connect intimately while still keeping themselves and those around them safe.

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