Scouts BSA & Webelos Summer Camp 2020 + UseLetter 5 - CSR’s Response & Preparedness Regarding Coronavirus/CORVID-19

The following people received this email:

• Points of contact for Scouts BSA troops attending Summer Camp at Cherokee Scout Reservation in Summer 2020
• Parents/caretakers of Scouts BSA attending Cherokee as a Provisional Camper
• Points of contact for Webelos dens and Cub packs attending Summer Camp at Cherokee Scout Reservation in Summer 2020
• All people identified as a Cubmaster, den leader, or Webelos den leader in ScoutNet, as we are still uncertain of all the Cub Packs that plan to attend Webelos Camp at CSR this summer

The safety and health of our campers, Scouts, families, volunteer leaders, and camp staff are of the utmost importance to us.


Today, the executive officers of the Old North State Council cancelled all face-to-face Scouting activities at the unit, district, and council level through April 30. Read more about that here.


The purpose of this email is to provide an update on Cherokee Scout Reservation’s response and preparedness regarding coronavirus/CORVID-19.


The response outlined below was developed in collaboration with our health & safety committee, council physician, camp health supervisor, and the executive officers of our executive board.


Scouts BSA Summer Camp & Webelos Camp 2020

• For now, Scouts BSA Summer Camp and Webelos Camp 2020 will occur as scheduled and planned.
• We will continue to monitor the direction of federal and state health officials in making our plans.
• This means some things will remain uncertain, undetermined, and unclear until the national and state-level states-of-emergency are lifted.
• We will continue to keep you informed of our plans.

Payment Schedules

• The payment plans will continue as scheduled.
• We are unable to extend early bird dates out any further.
• However, acknowledging people’s personal budgets may become tight in the coming weeks and months, we will not enforce the late payment deadline.
• However, for us to have an accurate headcount and allow us to best plan, it is important that units and families submit their payments.
• Scouts BSA Payment Dates
  • Early Bird – Thursday, March 19
  • Payment 1 – Thursday, March 26
  • Payment 2 – Thursday, April 23
  • Payment 3 – Thursday, May 28
• Webelos Payment Dates
  • Early Bird – Wednesday, March 25
  • Payment 1 – Wednesday, April 8
  • Payment 2 – Wednesday, May 13

Payment Methods

• For Scouts BSA Summer Camp, the preferred method of payment is online using the merit badge enrollment tool – Summer Camp Systems.
• For Scouts BSA Summer Camp and Webelos Camp,
  • You are no longer able to pay face-to-face as the customer service counter at the council office is closed to the public until April 30.
  • You may submit checks payable to Old North State Council, 1405 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408
    • Include a note with unit type, unit number, and week of camp.
  • During this time, we will accept credit card payments over the phone (336-378-9166).

Refunds

• Should we not have summer camp due to coronavirus we will issue full refunds.
• Should someone not be able to attend summer camp because of a coronavirus issue we will provide a full refund.
• Otherwise, the refund policy remains in place.

Camperships

• For Scouts BSA Summer Camp, the campership deadline remains Thursday, April 23.
• For Webelos Summer Camp, the campership deadline remains, Wednesday, April 8.
• Should you discover a Scout/family has a need for a campership after the deadline, please contact me.

Rescheduling Out-of-Council/Out-of-State Units

• Should your state’s school end-of-year dates, prevention plans, et cetera, inhibit your unit from participating in Scouts BSA Summer Camp early in the summer, we encourage you to modify your reservation for later in the summer.
• Before cancelling your plans to attend summer camp, please contact me to discuss options.

Check-in Procedures Modifications

• For several years, the BSA has provide a pre-event medical checklist for unit leaders to use prior to departing for a Scouting event with the unit.
• It has been a recommended practice.
• For Scouts BSA Summer Camp and Webelos Summer Camp, we will require unit leaders complete the checklist and take Scouts and unit leaders’ temperatures prior to departing for Cherokee.
• We will conduct the pre-event checklist again upon the unit’s arrival at camp.
• We will take temperatures, for Scouts BSA and Webelos and adults, upon arrival at camp.
• We have adapted the checklist to include questions specific to coronavirus.
• It is available under forms on the Scouts BSA and Webelos portions of the https://www.csr.camp/ website.

Communicable Disease + Epidemic + Pandemic Plan

• As part of the BSA National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP), we must have a standard operating procedure for communicable diseases.
• With input from the health and safety committee, council physician, and camp health supervisor, we have updated the communicable disease standard operating procedure to address epidemics and pandemics, specifically coronavirus.
• Our health lodge protocols are reviewed and updated annually based upon the latest research and best practices
• In addition to following directions from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials, we follow guidance from the American Association of Camp Nurses and the American Camping Association.

Camp Physical Clinic

• The Camp Physical Clinic, scheduled for Saturday, March 28 is cancelled.
• We will reschedule.

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Pre-Camp Swim Checks

• The pre-camp swim check scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at Orange County Sportsplex, Hillsborough is cancelled.
• The pre-camp swim check scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at Bryan Family YMCA, Greensboro is cancelled.
• I anticipate that the pre-camp swim check scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at the Reidsville YMCA will be cancelled as it falls within the 8-week window recommended by federal and state officials for the quarantine.
• We will follow the direction of our pre-camp swim check location hosts and the guidance from federal and state officials regarding swim checks in late May and early June.
• I doubt we will be able to reschedule pre-camp swim checks.
• We will develop a plan to address the need of pre-camp swim checks but it may mean units coming to CSR during twilight or Saturdays during camp to complete them.
• It may also mean starting Sunday check-in earlier to accommodate the pre-camp swim check demand.
• Regardless, we will all need to be flexible with regard to the new, undetermined pre-camp swim check plan.

Unit Memorabilia Orders

• For Scouts BSA Summer Camp, memorabilia orders are still due on Thursday, May 14.
• For Webelos Summer Camp, memorabilia orders are still due on Wednesday, May 13.

Scouts BSA Summer Camp Specific Items

• Merit badge and activity enrollment will continue as scheduled – Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.

Webelos Summer Camp Specific Items

• The Den Adventure Request Form is still due on Wednesday, May 13.
• The Family & Visitors Night Hero Invitation Form is still due on Wednesday, May 13.

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