Updated May 2022
In March of 2020, the American Camp Association (ACA) and the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) engaged together to provide educational resources to both day and overnight camps, state and local health departments, and parents/guardians and campers. The educational resources were developed by an independent expert panel coordinated by Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. (EH&E), a Boston-based consulting firm specializing in environmental health. This expert panel convened specialists in pediatric medicine, camp medicine and nursing, epidemiology, infectious disease management, biological safety, industrial hygiene, organizational design, and other technical specialties. These educational resources were shared with CDC and state and local health departments so that all parties can be informed.
Field Guide for Camps on Implementation of CDC Guidance
Introduction
This field guide is designed to provide camp directors and staff with a practical resource and tool kit to implement specific recommendations provided by the CDC in relation to risk reduction at camps. The objective of this field guide was to provide educational materials for camp staff to reduce potential exposures to and spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the virus that causes COVID-19. The recommendations provided here were designed to be implemented for various types of camps (e.g. adventure/touring; day, resident, backcountry, weekend) and geographic locations and pertain to camps in geographical locations under low and medium mitigation conditions, according to federal guidance. Any recommendations in this guide should also coincide with a given camp’s communicable disease plan.
CDC guidance and recommendations related to masking, testing and vaccination continues to evolve quickly. As a result, ACA recommends following the CDC guidance related to these areas. The Field Guide continues to serve as a guide for the implementation of layered non-pharmaceutical interventions as needed in a camp setting.
CDC Resources
- Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs (New)
- K-12 and Early Care and Education Frequently Asked Questions Resource (New)
- Frequently Asked Questions for Directors of Overnight Camps (New)
- CDC Recommends Additional Boosters for Certain Individuals
- Updated COVID-19 Booster Shot Guidance
- COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation
- CDC Guidance on Activities and Gatherings
- CDC Guidance for Workplaces and Businesses
- Testing for COVID-19
- Prioritizing Case Investigation and Contact Tracing
- COVID-19 by County
- Variants of the Virus
- School and Child Care Guidance
Field Guide Table of Contents
- Field Guide Cover and Introduction
- 1.0 — Communication
- 2.0 — Field Guide Content and Resources
- 3.0 — Health – Screening and Preventing COVID-19 Infections
- 4.0 — Facilities Management
- 5.0 — Food Service and Other Deliveries
- 6.0 — Cleaning and Disinfection
- 7.0 — Activities
- 8.0 — Campers and Staff
- 9.0 — Transportation Considerations
- 10.0 — Personal Protective Equipment Plan for Camp Staff
- 11.0 — Supplies List
- 12.0 — Technology and Controls
- 13.0 — Medical Testing for Diagnosis and Screening
- Appendix A – References and Resources
- Appendix B – Sample Letter To Parents and Guardians
- Appendix C – Surface Cleaning And Disinfection Checklist
- Appendix D – Restroom/Locker Room Cleaning And Disinfection Checklist
Action Alerts
- June 21, 2021 — Update on Staff Time-Off
- June 8, 2021 — Update on Masks
- April 2021 — Update on Cleaning
Support Videos for the Field Guide
- Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)
- Use of Cohorts in Camping
- Screening for Day Camps
- Screening for Overnight Camps
Please contact ACA if you have questions.