Summer 2021 – Health & Wellness Planning
As we prepare for the 2021 camp season, we wanted to share some of the measures we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our Challenge Camp community. This section will evolve as we get guidelines from the CDC, NY State and Westchester County Health Departments.
Community Health & Wellness Pledge
All staff, students, and parents in our Challenge Camp community have a shared responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, informed by science and founded on mutual respect.
As we get closer to the start of summer, all camp families will sign our Community Pledge committing to a standard of Monitoring, Prevention and Care. This will include pre-camp testing and completion of a daily wellness check. Working together will enable us to have a healthy and successful summer of fun and learning.
The Leffell School Partnership
We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The Leffell School team as we plan for Summer 2021. Leffell has been very successful this year in maintaining in person learning for their school community and we will adopt their best practices as part of our plan. These include:We will also be able to take advantage of the outdoor space that spacious The Leffell School campus provides for many of our classes.
On site Medical Personnel
Challenge Camp has 3 registered nurses on staff to deal with emergencies and administer any medications your child may require. One nurse will be on site at all times during the camp day. The Leffell School has also created a separate quarantine area in the event that a student becomes ill during the camp day.
Challenge Camp has partnered with CampDoc.com as part of our continuous efforts to provide the best possible care to our campers and staff. All Challenge campers must complete an online health history, immunization record and medical release form during registration. The CampDoc software will also be used for our Daily Wellness Screenings.
American Camp Association Accreditation
Challenge Camp is proud to be accredited through the American Camp Association. The ACA has been at the forefront of establishing policies and procedures for camps to operate safely during COVID.
The main purpose of the ACA accreditation program is to educate camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. The standards establish guidelines for needed policies, procedures, and practices. In these complicated times, we strongly encourage you to choose an ACA accredited camp for your child this summer.
Cohort Groups vs traditional Challenge Camp
Challenge Camp is known for offering a variety of project based learning electives throughout the camp day and our goal is to offer a modified program within the constraints of COVID through the creation of cohort groups. During the registration process, campers will select a cohort preference (example cohorts are STEM, Arts, Computer Science, Enrichment Learning).
After the guidance from the state and county health departments regarding cohort size is released, we will finalize the available class options for each period throughout the camp day. We anticipate that there will be 3-5 class selections at each time period for our cohort model, as opposed to a typical summer at Challenge Camp where there may be 7-10 options.
Lunch, Snacks & Food Allergies
Challenge Camp uses the award winning Five Star Caterers as our food service provider. A hot lunch and afternoon snack is included with your camper’s registration. This year meals will be provided as a boxed lunch and the menus will be posted prior to the session. Outside food is not permitted on The Leffell School campus without written approval from Five Star.
If your child has a food allergy(s) or concerns please let us know and our Chef will ensure that a meal consistent with your child’s dietary restrictions is available. Challenge Camp is a Nut and Seed Free camp, and can accommodate most dietary requirements. Our caterer will work directly with concerned parents to ensure we can meet your camper’s needs.
Transportation or Early Dropoff / Extended Day
If you are interested in bus transportation, please contact the camp office (914) 779-6024 or info@challengecamps.com to be added to the transportation interest list. We are waiting on guidance from the NY State and Westchester County Health departments regarding regulations for this summer. We anticipate offering bus service from Manhattan at centralized stops this summer instead of door to door.
Alternatively, we have early dropoff starting from 8am and extended day options until 6pm for families requiring flexibility.
No Visitors on Campus
To comply with health regulations and The Leffell School policies, we do not anticipate allowing outside visitors on campus this summer.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the camp office, info@challengecamps.com or 914-779-6024. Thank you.
