COVID Protocols

Programs will follow strict COVID guidelines
Please carefully read over our protocols prior to attending our programs.

Camp SEA Lab reserves the right to update these guidelines in accordance with directions from state and local authorities. Check back for updates as needed.

Arrival Procedures

Outdoor School- Testing and Vaccination

For everyone’s safety, Camp SEA Lab highly encourages all participants to be fully vaccinated before coming to Camp SEA Lab programs. If adult participants are not fully vaccinated, they must submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the beginning of their program and must receive a negative result on a rapid antigen test before departing for camp.

Camp SEA Lab requires testing for all outdoor school participants. All students and adult participants may submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 of their departure from school, or must be tested at school on the morning of departure with a negative result on a rapid antigen test before they board the bus.

Outdoor School- Health Screening

Before boarding the bus, Camp SEA Lab requires schools to check ALL participants for any signs of symptoms by:

  • visually screening them for signs of symptoms
  • checking their temperature with a touchless thermometer to make sure their temperature is below 99.1
  • Asking participants the following verbal health questionnaire:

1) Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms- fever, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or frequent coughing?

2) Have you been in contact with anyone within the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19?

A “pre-arrival temperature check” spreadsheet was sent via email prior to camp. Temperature checks and confirmation of negative COVID test results will need to be logged FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS prior to arrival and submitted to the Program Director upon arrival.

All staff members will be required to complete a rapid antigen test prior to arriving at camp on the first day. Staff are required to check their temperature with a touchless thermometer and answer the health questionnaire when they arrive at work each day.

If any student, adult participant, or staff member is displaying symptoms, or has a temperature above 99.1 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be required to return home. Others who have had close contact with the symptomatic individual will be informed to monitor, quarantine as needed, and report any symptoms.

Summer Camp- Testing and Vaccination

For everyone’s safety, Camp SEA Lab highly encourages all participants to be fully vaccinated before coming to Camp SEA Lab day camp. Campers are required to be fully vaccinated to attend Voyage Seaward overnight programs. COVID testing prior to boarding will also be required.

 

Summer Camp- Health Screening

Upon their arrival at camp each day, participants will be checked for any signs of symptoms by Camp SEA Lab staff. This will include:

  • visually screening them for signs of symptoms
  • checking their temperature with a touchless thermometer to make sure their temperature is below 99.1
  • Asking participants the following verbal health questionnaire:

1) Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms- fever, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or frequent coughing?

2) Have you been in contact with anyone within the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19?

If any camper or staff member is displaying symptoms, or has a temperature above 99.1 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be required to return home. Others who have had close contact with the symptomatic individual will be informed to monitor, quarantine as needed, and report any symptoms.

Mask Use and Stable Pods

Outdoor School- Mask Use

Appropriate face coverings are required indoors with a few exceptions.

Times indoors when masks can be removed:

  • While eating in the dining hall- participants must be seated at tables to remove their masks and must put their mask back on to get up from the table. Participants are required to put their masks back on once they are finished with their meal.
  • While participants are in their own cabin
  • When working alone in a room (for staff)

Outdoors, face coverings are optional except during the campfire program and other, coordinated, large-group activities. Masks are recommended but not required during recreation time and field study, especially during lessons when participants need to gather together in close proximity.

Outdoor School- Stable Pods

Each participant will be assigned to a stable "pod" during their time at camp. Pods will consist of 15-18 students, one naturalist and a few chaperones. Students do not need to remain distanced in their pods. Participants will remain within the same pod during all lesson times. Each pod will have a designated area for meeting each day and will eat lunch only with other members of their group. 

Summer Camp- Mask Use

During Day Camp, face coverings are optional outdoors. Masks are recommended but not required during activities when participants need to gather together in close proximity. Masks are required for going into indoor spaces such as bathrooms or museum spaces.

During Voyage Seaward, campers and staff will share eating and sleeping spaces and will be considered part of the same household. Participants are welcome to wear masks as often as they wish; they will be required to wear masks in the following instances:

  • During shore excursions when in close proximity with people who are not part of Voyage Seaward, or in indoor spaces
  • During check-in, check-out procedure
  • In special circumstances dictated by the captain, crew and Camp SEA Lab naturalist
Summer Camp- Stable Pods

Each participant will be assigned to a stable "pod" during their time at camp. Pods will consist of 10-14 campers and one naturalist. Campers do not need to remain distanced in their pods. Participants will remain within the same pod during camp. Each pod will have a designated area for meeting each day and will eat lunch only with other members of their group. 

Dorms and Meals

Outdoor School- Meals

During breakfast and dinner, outdoor options will be available, and schools may choose to use these exclusively, or offer indoor and outdoor dining as an option. Participants must remain masked when coming inside to get food.

All students must sit at the same table with members of their dorm group during breakfast and dinner. Lunch and snack will be eaten outdoors with their pods.

Outdoor School- Dorms

Each participant will also be assigned to a dorm. This will be the group with which they are “householding”, and they may be indoors without masks in the evening. To limit exposure within the dorms, WOLF School encourages participants to remain masked as much as possible.

Students will sleep in a “head-to-toe” arrangement, so that there is a maximum amount of space between heads. As much as is possible, students will also be spaced out within the dorm. Windows may be open for extra ventilation.

Summer Camp- Meals

Day Camp:

Students and staff bring their own snacks and lunches. Groups eat in their own pods only, distanced from each other by at least 6 feet and must remain sitting while eating. Campers wash their hands/sanitize before and after eating. If any surfaces are used, we will sanitize before and after use. Eating will always occur outside.

Voyage Seaward:

Meals will be cooked by the crew of the Schooner Seaward. As much as is possible, participants will be encouraged to eat on deck in the open air. In cold and inclement conditions, campers and staff may eat below decks with sufficient ventilation.

Summer Camp (VS Only)- Sleeping

As per the CDC guidelines for overnight camps, since the campers and crew are all sleeping in the same location, they will be considered a household during the course of the voyage. However, to mitigate risk, there are a few additional precautions Camp SEA Lab and Call of the Sea will be taking.

Each camper will have their own designated bunk. Campers are allowed only in their own bunk and should not wear a mask while sleeping. The boat will be anchored or moored each night and the crew will ensure that there is as much ventilation as possible to pass air quickly through the boat. 

If campers would like to sleep on deck, they will be welcome and encouraged to do so. Sleeping pads are available on the boat, and campers are also welcome to bring their own sleeping pads from home.

Sanitizing, Hand Washing, and Bathroom Procedures

Outdoor School- Surface and Supply Sanitizing

Camp SEA Lab and Camp St. Francis staff will sanitize all surfaces with an EPA approved disinfectant spray each day. Supplies will be kept within pods as much as is practicable, and if there needs to be sharing of supplies, they will be sanitized before and after each group uses them.

Outdoor School- Hand Washing/Sanitizing

Campers and staff will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and before and after handling any equipment that will be shared between participants or pods. Hand washing will be encouraged as a primary option for cleaning, and each group leader will have hand sanitizer with them at all times.

Outdoor School- Bathrooms

All restroom facilities at Camp St. Francis will be sanitized prior to the arrival of the school.

For restrooms outside of the dorms, participants will be required to remain masked the entire time they are inside.

For the dorm restrooms, participants should remain masked unless they are taking a shower, washing their face, or brushing their teeth. Adult chaperones should coordinate between the dorms sharing the bathroom to make sure to use the bathrooms for hygiene routines at different times.

When using public restrooms, staff will ensure that campers wash their hands properly after use and will provide hand sanitizer if supplies in the restrooms are inadequate.

Summer Camp- Surface and Supply Sanitizing

Day Camp:

Camp SEA Lab staff will sanitize any surfaces with an EPA approved disinfectant spray each day. Supplies will be kept within pods as much as is practicable, and if there needs to be sharing of supplies, they will be sanitized before and after each group uses them.

Voyage Seaward:

Every day, Camp SEA Lab and Call of the Sea staff will sanitize high use surfaces with an EPA approved disinfectant spray.

Summer Camp- Hand Washing/Sanitizing

Campers and staff will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and before and after handling any equipment that will be shared between participants or pods. Hand washing will be encouraged as a primary option for cleaning, and each group leader will have hand sanitizer with them at all times.

Summer Camp- Bathrooms

Day Camp:

When using public restrooms, staff will ensure that campers wash their hands properly after use and will provide hand sanitizer if supplies in the restrooms are inadequate. Campers must wear their masks at all times when in public restrooms.

 

Voyage Seaward:

There are two bathrooms on the vessel. Each is a single occupancy space. Bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized every day. 

When using public restrooms ashore, staff will ensure that campers wash their hands properly after use and will provide hand sanitizer if supplies in the restrooms are inadequate. Campers must wear their masks at all times when in public restrooms.

COVID Exposure Plan

Outdoor School- Developing Symptoms

Student:

If symptoms arise at camp in a student, they will be immediately escorted to the program director. The program director will assess the individual and determine if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19. A rapid antigen test may be administered to rule out COVID if the student has a signed approval from their parent or guardian, or if a parent/guardian gives verbal permission over the phone. The student will be kept in isolation until a parent/guardian can pick them up from camp.

If a student is sent home with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but without a positive test, or with a confirmed negative test, the other students in the same cohort will continue to maintain the stable cohort and monitor for symptoms.

If the results of the symptomatic student are positive, other students in the same cohort will be able to adhere to a modified quarantine at Outdoor Science School. This will include continuing to maintain the stable cohort and the option of participating in surveillance testing (one test as soon as practicable and the second test 36 hours later). Parents/Guardians must complete and sign the COVID-19 Testing Authorization form for their child to be tested at camp.

Chaperone/Teacher:

If symptoms arise in a chaperone or teacher, they will be assessed by the program director, asked to isolate, and offered a rapid antigen test. The adult will remain in isolation until they can depart from camp. If that adult was part of a stable cohort, other members of that cohort will be required to follow the same requirements for student symptoms.

Staff Member:

If symptoms arise in a WOLF staff member, they will be required to complete a rapid antigen test and depart from camp. If their results of their antigen test come back positive, the school will be informed and may discuss next steps with the program director. Due to the COVID precautions put in place, staff members are not considered close contacts with members of the participating school unless there are unusual extenuating circumstances.

Outdoor School- COVID Exposure Response Plan

If any staff member or participant has indirect or direct contact with a person infected with COVID-19, they must alert Camp SEA Lab staff as soon as possible. 

A detailed action plan will be sent to registered participants or upon request.

Summer Camp- Developing Symptoms

Day Camp:

If symptoms arise at camp, the camper will be immediately escorted to the Day Camp Lead. The Day Camp Lead will assess the individual and determine if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19. A rapid antigen test may be administered to rule out COVID if the camper has a signed approval from their parent or guardian, or if a parent/guardian gives verbal permission over the phone. The student will be kept in isolation until a parent/guardian can pick them up from camp.

 

Voyage Seaward:

If symptoms arise during the week, the camper or staff will be immediately assessed by the designated Health Supervisor onboard. The Health Supervisor and Captain determine if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19. A rapid antigen test may be administered to rule out COVID if the camper has a signed approval from their parent or guardian, or if a parent/guardian gives verbal permission over the phone. The camper will be kept in isolation and then taken ashore once their parent/guardian can pick them up from camp.

If a camper is sent home with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but has a confirmed negative test, all participants will be monitored for symptoms.

If the results of the symptomatic camper are positive, all participants will be monitored for symptoms and will be offered the option of participating in surveillance testing (one test as soon as practicable and the second test 36 hours later). Parents/Guardians must complete and sign the COVID-19 Testing Authorization form for their child to be tested at camp.

Summer Camp- COVID Exposure Response Plan

If any staff member or participant has indirect or direct contact with a person infected with COVID-19, they must alert Camp SEA Lab staff as soon as possible. 

A detailed action plan will be sent to registered participants or upon request.