COVID-19 Update May 29, 2020

Dear Camp Families,

We are thrilled to announce that River Run Camp will be open and welcoming campers this summer. In order to comply with state guidelines for keeping campers and staff safe, camp will look different, feel different and sound different this summer. Not all regular camp activities will be appropriate when adhering to best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

However, kids have been required to make tremendous social, emotional and educational sacrifices over the past few months. We are committed to providing them with the smiles, laughter and social connections that camp offers in a safe, thoughtful environment.

Our approach to camp this summer is based on available guidance from the American Camping Association, current Maine CDC mandates, day camp-specific recommendations from the state, and conversations with local health professionals.

This is an overview of the elements of our COVID-19 response:

• Stage 2 State Standards: Campers from out of state are required to quarantine for 14 days prior to attending camp.
• Van Transportation: To help enforce physical distancing, we will not be offering van transportation this summer. Kids will need to be driven to and from camp. To help eliminate “pile-ups” of campers, we will be instituting staggered drop-off and pick up times. More details about this plan will be emailed to you shortly.
• Hygiene Procedures: Hand washing measures will be a major feature of camp this year, reinforced by staff -- who will do their best to normalize it and make it fun, while taking it seriously. Kids may share items (such as craft supplies, balls for games, ping pong paddles), which will be disinfected regularly. In addition, staff members will perform regular cleaning of equipment and barn surfaces.
• Screening: Parents will be asked to commit to daily symptom monitoring of their camper, and to never knowingly send a sick child to camp. On arrival, campers will also be asked to confirm that they do not have any symptoms of acute illness that could be associated with COVID-19. Parents will also be asked to commit to immediately reporting to us any potential COVID-19 exposure in a camper.
• Distancing: Campers and staff will physically distance wherever possible — which will not be always, but the outdoor environment gives us a good options in this regard. We will establish small groups (10-15 kids with a counselor or two) to play games, swim, eat snack, etc. together throughout the day. We'll look for some safe, creative way to engage as a whole camp at some point during the day.
• Face Coverings: When appropriate, face coverings will be used, especially when physical distancing is not possible. Campers are required to bring personal masks labeled with their names.

We are confident that our plans represent a thoughtful approach that follows the recommendations from many sources. In addition, we are prepared to alter our course at any time, depending on health risks or updates in state guidelines.

• Camp Payment: We are asking that you make no additional payments at this time. You will receive an email in a couple of days outlining our payment system for completing your balance.
• Senior Week: Taking extended field trips at this time is not part of our plan. We’ll have to wait and see what the risk situation in August looks like. We will have an alternative design for the week, if necessary.

We understand that not all parents will be comfortable sending kids to camp this summer. Some of you may have unique concerns relating to risk factors for COVID-19 complications in your child or in a household member. Others may simply decide that you are not ready to send your child to a group recreational setting yet. If for any reason, you choose not to send you child to camp this summer, please let us know right away. We will issue a full refund to you.

For those families who are ready for camp, we are pleased to be able to offer River Run Camp, carefully adapted to the world we live in now.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns, or thoughts at riverruncamp@gmail.com or 273-4366.

We look forward to seeing you this summer.

Stuart and Jane

Read Our Previous COVID-19 Announcements →