2021 Specific Volunteer F.A.Q.s

Volunteer Specific Questions for 2021

• Will training for Camp be virtual or in-person?

  • Training for Camp will be mostly virtual again this year to minimize exposure prior to in-person sessions. For those that are new this year or were new in 2019 to in-person Summer Camp, and accepted to in-person Camp this year, a small part of the training will likely safely take place in person close to Camp in August.

• Will staff need to quarantine before in-person Camp?

  • While we cannot predict the recommended guidelines for participant quarantine prior to in-person Camp in August, we currently would recommend that all participants maintain a mindfulness about their interactions prior to attending in person Camp and complete a daily health screening to track symptoms that coincide with COVID-19

• Will staff need to be vaccinated?

  • For in-person Camp, we will likely be requiring all staff to be vaccinated prior to participation

• Will staff need to be tested before in-person Camp?

  • If deemed necessary by the current guidelines and the guidance of our medical team, we will require a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours prior to Camp departure, and potentially a rapid test at the boat dock on the day of departure. 

• What is the protocol for someone showing symptoms on the island?

  • We will follow the current recommendations by the CDC and Department of Public Health in order to react and respond to any symptomatic campers or staff in a timely manner in order to isolate any potential infections.

• Are adult volunteers safe to attend Camp with unvaccinated children? 

  • Because the risk of transmission from children to adults does not have enough supporting data, we will likely ask all staff to be vaccinated in order to optimize their protection from a potential exposure

• Should volunteer staff with health concerns apply this year?

  • The CDC and our medical team have compiled a list of health conditions that may be at higher risk for complications caused by COVID-19 (see below). For this reason, we recommend that volunteers with health concerns choose the virtual option of Camp this summer.

    • Health Conditions with an increased risk of illness due to COVID-19:

      • 65 or older (the risk of severe illness increases linearly with age)

      • Cancer

      • Chronic kidney or Liver disease

      • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Pulmonary Hypertension, Cystic fibrosis, or Pulmonary fibrosis

      • Coronary artery disease, cyanotic heart disease (with a resting oxygen saturation of less that 92), Hypertension, or cardiomyopathies

      • Immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant

      • Obesity

      • Pregnant

      • Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia

      • Smoking

      • Type I or II diabetes mellitus and/or on Diabetes medication

      • Asthma (on medication within the past 2 years)

      • Cerebrovascular disease

      • Hypertension

      • High blood pressure or on High Blood Pressure medication

      • Immunocompromised state

      • Neurologic conditions such as dementia