Camp Menesetung Summer 2021 Announcement
This week, following the Ontario Summer Reopening Plan, and the release of the Overnight Camp COVID-19 Guidance Documents from the Ontario Ministry of Health, our Board of Directors met to officially decide what Camp Menesetung will do this summer, with an understanding that their decision is based, in part, upon an assumption that current vaccination and case trends will continue as predicted by Ontario Health Officials this June. After much consideration of what was legal, safe, and possible, we came to the following decision:
For Summer 2021, we are happy to announce that Camp Menesetung will run as an in-person adapted Overnight Camp, Day Camp, and Bridge Camp.
While we are still working with public health to finalize the specifics of our plans. It is important that you know about some of the bigger changes that you can expect as we make every effort to ensure that Camp remains a safe place from COVID-19 for our campers and staff. Find the latest updates on our plans at campmenesetung.ca/covid19.
In order for us to have the confidence to run safely, we need to stop COVID-19 at our gates:
For our Overnight campers, we will be putting in place a double-testing and screening program. Arrival will involve providing proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test, publicly funded from a testing centre or pharmacy from the past 72 hours (this is the normal COVID test that you are already familiar with), AND once at camp, we will provide a 15 minute Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Test - a shallow nasal swab.
For our Day Campers, daily screening, in combination with public health measures such as masking, distancing, cohorts, and spending the vast majority of our time outside will help us ensure safety. We are fortunate that community spread of COVID-19 in Huron-Perth has continued to remain low which makes a day camp program much more realistic.
For our Day and Overnight Campers we ask that for 2 weeks prior to their week at camp that they limit their contacts and monitor symptoms - more details will be sent to families when they register.
To lessen the risk for spread in the unlikely event that the virus enters undetected, we have changed some of our routines, including things like:
Structuring our week to avoid mixing of cabin groups or day campers with overnight campers, and staggering typically large group activities.
Doing almost everything outside like we normally do, but now including activities like eating our meals. We have purchased rain shelters to make this more realistic!
Practicing Public Health Guidance: masking and distancing as appropriate, increased handwashing, and enhanced sanitation.
Closely monitoring symptoms: We have a Health Care Provider on-site who will help us all closely monitor our symptoms. Campers or staff with confirmed symptoms of COVID-19 will be sent home for testing following the guidance of our health unit.
COVID-19 Vaccines are now available for booking throughout Ontario for anyone over 12 years old and we strongly encourage our campers and staff to get their shot!
Until the summer, stay tuned for more details as we finalize our plans, and consider visiting camp for a picnic, games, campfire, or sunset as we open as a day-use campground this June.
Summary of Additional Program Changes:
Our June 11th PD Day Camp has been cancelled. Families have been contacted for refunds.
Our Spring, ‘I AM AWESOME 2SLGBTQ+ and Friends Retreat’ has been postponed to Fall 2021.
For Summer 2021, all Day Camp Programs will no-longer have the Thursday Sleepover option. Families will be contacted regarding refunds for this option.
To reduce complexity, Week 1 (July 11-16) Overnight Camp will be run as a Classic Overnight Camp where campers experience all of our programs. Campers interested in Dynamic Pursuit Specialty Camp and M.A.D. Talent Specialty Camp are encouraged to register for these programs offered in Week 3 (July 25-30).
To reduce complexity, Week 6 (August 15-20) Live Out Loud Social Justice Specialty Camp has been amalgamated into our Week 6 Summer Finale Week Classic Overnight Camp.
Waiting lists have been created for all of our programs due to our reduced capacity, as we polish the details of our plans with our health inspector we may be able to increase capacity.
Bursary funding is available for families in need - please inquire: director@campmenesetung.ca
For more information and FAQs, please visit our website, or contact us!
Team Camp Menesetung
www.campmenesetung.ca | office@campmenesetung.ca | 519 524 6497