Covid Resource Page – Updated August 1

We know the guidance around prevention, vaccination and testing are changing rapidly. With that in mind, the Huckins staff are working with outside experts, as well as collaborating with state and national officials, to prepare for a safe 2021 camp season.   

We will continue to update this page regularly as our guidelines, policies and procedures are finalized. The safety of our campers, staff and families is our top priority, and we will base our decisions on science and medical best practices. Please reach out with questions, and know we look forward to being together at camp this summer. 

UPDATED **Updated August 1, 2021 

This page is dynamic and will be updated as information becomes available, and decisions are made. If you have questions not answered below or in previous communications (see bottom of page), please reach out to the Huckins Registrar, Angela, at [email protected].    

Pre-Arrival Expectations for Vaccinated & Unvaccinated campers   **Updated August 1, 2021 

Pre-Arrival COVID Testing:  

With the recent uptick in cases/delta variant, and breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals, all Session 4 campers, vaccinated and unvaccinated, will need to have a negative COVID test in the 5 days prior to arrival. The pre-arrival test must be a molecular or PCR test; antigen tests do not meet the state guidance for pre-arrival tests.  

  • Documentation of your camper’s negative pre-arrival COVID test should be uploaded to your CampMinder dashboard.  To be safe please bring a paper copy of the results with you on check in day. 

This change in pre-arrival expectations for vaccinated campers is based on a 7.28.21 CDC update for vaccinated individuals. The CDC update included: 

  • COVID infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others.  

With this new information, pre-arrival COVID testing within the 5 days prior to arriving at camp is another layer of protection to keep our Session 4 community safe. 

Campers will not be able to check in without documentation of their pre-arrival COVID test.  If you are having problems scheduling a test, please contact camp right away

Pre-Arrival Activities to Arrive Healthy to Camp for Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Campers – Please wear masks in public, indoor spaces: 

Per the 7.28.21 CDC updated recommendations, we are asking all campers and families to wear masks in public, indoor spaces and engage in low-risk activities in the week prior to camp. This is especially important in areas with substantial or high transmission. The updated CDC recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals include: 

  • Wear a mask in public indoor settings, especially in an area of substantial or high transmission. 
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms  
  • Get tested 3-5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. 

Screening, Testing and Quarantining if a Close Contact 

Check-In Day COVID Testing for Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Campers: 

All campers, vaccinated and unvaccinated, will participate in check-in day COVID testing.  

  • Upon arrival, campers and families will check-in with staff in the parking lot. 
  • After check-in, campers will be escorted to the Program Office by a member of the Huckins staff while parents return to the car. 
  • The test process takes 20-30 minutes. Health Screening will be completed, including the lice check. 
  • While waiting, parents can write a letter to their camper to leave in our mailbox near check-in and attach the luggage tags distributed at check-in. 
  • After the negative test, the camper will return to their car. The family will then drive through the white gates to drop off their camper and luggage near the dining hall. 

Surveillance and Symptomatic Testing During Camp: 

Our current plan is for unvaccinated campers to participate in the day 5 surveillance testing. We will let families know if that decision changes. In addition to the surveillance testing we are doing on Day 5 , we have the equipment and staffing to run on-site rapid COVID testing for symptomatic campers or staff. 

In case of a positive COVID test, the individual that tests positive will be isolated at camp and will need to be picked up within 12 hours of notification. Unvaccinated campers will need to return home to quarantine at home if they are a close contact. Vaccinated campers that are close contacts of the positive case will quarantine at Huckins for a minimum of 3 days with additional symptom monitoring until they can test out. 

Vaccines are not required for eligible campers but are strongly encouraged. 

If the CDC guidance changes or State of New Hampshire requirements change for vaccinated campers, Huckins will update families of changes to our COVID procedures. If infection rates increase or if there is a COVID outbreak at camp we may need to change our procedures, including expanding testing of vaccinated campers or quarantining at home. Please visit the COVID Resource Page of our website for more specifics. 

Our goal is to keep campers healthy and at camp! We hope you will help us achieve this goal by following the pre-arrival expectations outlined in the Camper Handbook and on the COVID Resource Page of our website. 

Definition of Fully Vaccinated

Your camper is fully vaccinated, when they have completing both doses of the
vaccine and two whole weeks have passed(14 days), Please update their health record and upload the
vaccination card once both doses have been completed. We recommend even bringing the vaccination card or a copy as a backup.

Pre-Arrival Screening***Updated June 21

We are asking families to do a daily health check of their camper in the 7 days prior to check in Day.  We are not asking families to submit documentation of this pre-arrival screening.  During the Check-In process, campers will be asked if they had a fever or were ill in the week before camp.

Pre-Arrival Expectations 

Pre-Arrival Expectations

FAQs Pre Arrival Covid Testing

Traveling to Camp using Public Transportation – Updated August 1 

The current CDC guidance recommends vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers utilizing public transportation wear masks.  

The current State of NH guidelines do not require that travelers quarantine for domestic travel. If traveling internationally families must quarantine in the United States for 10 days prior to arrival at camp.  We are asking all families to practice low risk pre-arrival activities prior to their camp session. 

Arriving Late/Leaving Early from Camp

Because of the added complexity created by COVID, families will be assigned a designated check-in time. COVID-19 protocols require all campers arrive to camp on Check-iDay at their scheduled time. Current testing requirements prohibit late arrivals.  

Campers may leave their camp session early, however, COVID-19 safety protocols dictate they will not be able to return once they leave. Campers that wish to leave camp mid-session for an event will not be able to return to camp. 

Check-in and Pick-up Days

COVID safety protocols will require changes to the check-in and move in process. Campers have been assigned designated check-in time to support physical distancing, reduce wait time and allow for COVID testing and health screening. Check in will begin at 9:00 am and end at 4:30 pm. We are coordinating check-in scheduling with Camp Belknap to accommodate families that have both Huckins & Belknap campers. Thank you in advance for arriving at your scheduled check-in time. 

ALL campers will begin with a rapid COVID test at the program office. While waiting for their results, campers will have their health screening and lice checks. After negative results, families will move to a designated luggage drop off, say goodbye and connect with a Huckins staff member who will accompany campers to their cabins. Counselors will patiently help campers make their beds and get settled in their home away from home.  

We will provide lunch for campers arriving between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Our program staff and counselors are working on creative activities to make this check-in day fun for campers.    

All people, campers and families, entering camp on Check-In Day will need to wear a properly fitting mask at all times and families will remain in their vehicles or be in the health screening areas with their camperPer state recommendation, only campers and staff will be able to enter camp buildings. Porta-potties will be available for families’ use.  

Camper pick-up will take place between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.  

Arrival Day Test Insurance Reinbursement- We will supply families with documentation of the arrival day test.  This documentation can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement.  The majority of insurance companies are now covering the cost of surveillance testing.

The store will not be open during Check-In Days. 

Packing for Camp- Updated August 1

Our updated 2021 Packing List.  Please note, campers will be limited to a trunk, 3 drawers, and a bedding bag.  

  • Please note, your camper will need plenty of reusable masks at camp. Please pack at at least 5-7 reusable masks.  

Masks – Updated August 1 

The 7.28.21 CDC guidelines recommend masks be worn in public indoor spaces. With much of our community unvaccinated, our Huckins plan includes “When We Mix, We Mask.” Spending time with campers from other divisions and cabins is an important part of camp, so to make that happen safely, campers will wear masks when mixing with campers from other cabins and divisions indoors and outdoors for the first 5 days of camp. Masks do not need to be worn in the cabin, when seated at your cabin table at meals, when your cabin is more than 6 feet from another cabin outdoors, or at the waterfront for swimming or boating activities. We will also plan for mask breaks and are building a program day that allows for physical distancing so masks will not be worn all day. 

 

Camper Housing 

Outside of the Leadership Division, camper housing will be structured the same as any summer3rd & 4th graders will live in the Junior Division, 5th & 6th graders in the Middler Division and 7th & 8th graders in the Senior Division.  

During summer 2021, our Leadership program will consist of 9th and 10th grade programs and the CounselorinTraining program for 11th graders. The 9th grade W campers will be housed in the three W cabins and the 10th grade W campers will live in the CIT cabin. CITs will be housed in cabins Q1 & Q2 in the Junior Division.  

Camp Life During COVID 

Huckins mission remains unchanged. We are working on modifications to facilities and program to enhance safety and remain true to the core principles of a Huckins experience. We are improving ventilation to cabins and program spaces, renovating the health center, and creating new spaces through tent rental. 

COVID will require we make changes to the program schedule and activities for the 2021 season. We will provide update on planning here. 

Program Changes for 2021

COVID has required us to make changes to the program and activities for the 2021 season, but the spirit of Huckins will be constant and true! 

  • Meals will look a bit different this summer. Cabins will still have their own table, but it may be in the dining hall or in the adjacent 400 square foot tent. Campers will wear masks when entering the meal and when picking up their food from a buffet that is served by staff. Your favorite Chef Joel foods will be on the menu, as will pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, gluten free and vegetarian options. We will not be singing inside the dining hall (or the tent) during meals, but we are building in other times where our community can sing and cheer outdoors with physical distancing. 
  • The horseback riding program has been cancelled for summer 2021. We are hopeful that our horses will return to Huckins for summer 2022. 
  • The Leadership Counselors are putting their Huckins creativity into overdrive to create a memorable and unique summer for our W campers. Due to COVID there will not be W trips this summer. 
  • Our regular hike trip programming will not be offered this summer. 

COVID Testing

Current state requirements include COVID testing of campers and staff before arrival and during camp.

  • ALL Campers must have a negative PCR test within 3-5 days of arrival at camp. Please schedule the test to ensure you have the results prior to Check-in Day, and as close to arrival as possible, so they can be sent to camp before arrival. Camper’s results of the PCR test must be back before a person can arrive at camp.
  • We encourage families to protect their COVID test results and increase the likelihood that campers will arrive COVID free by limiting camper interactions to only their immediate household. This protects the integrity of their pre-camp COVID test.
  • The State of NH requires this negative test prior to arrival, so we cannot make any exceptions. Your camper will not be able to attend camp if we have not received this negative PCR test.

Campers will participate in a rapid covid test at check in.  Campers will move into their cabins after their negative check in day test.  An unvaccinated camper will participate in a day five pcr test.  Unvaccinated campers staying for a month will have a third test at the end of their second week at camp.

Camp Response to Positive Test

Campers with a positive COVID test, as well as unvaccinated campers in that cabin and unvaccinated close contacts, will have to leave camp within 12 hours.  A close contact is anyone that has been within 6 feet for 10 minutes over a 24-hour period, so a positive test could require multiple cabins to go home.

We are asking all families to follow the pre-arrival guidelines to decrease the likelihood of a positive COVID-19 test.  We recognize that some of the expectations may be challenging, but we are asking all campers and their families to do their best to reduce exposure.  Your mindfulness in following COVID safety guidelines will help bring happy campers and staff back to Huckins this summer- something we are ALL looking forward to!

Huckins Pledge

The Huckins Pledge is included in your Parent/Camper Handbook. Please review prior to arrival.

Visitors 

Permission is required to visit camp during the non-summer months. When camp is in session, for the safety of our campers and staff, visitors will be strictly limited. 


Other Resources

New Camper Slideshow Presentation May 2021

New Camper Slideshow Q&A May 2021

2021 FAQ’S

Covid 19 Past Updates