- All
- COVID Planning and Preparedness
- COVID-19: Screening and Response
- Payments and Refunds
- Preparing for Camp
- Questions for International Families
- What Might/Might Not Happen at Camp?
For numerous reasons, including safety, we will not offer busing to camp this summer. All families will be required to drop their own campers off at the landing. No carpools. We will still offer buses home at the end of each session. We will provide arrival day times and instructions at the appropriate time.
Yes. COVID-related expenses (PPE, testing, staff, etc.) are extremely costly. As such, there will be an additional required COVID-fee of $425 CDN.
Yes, but most likely only during the first two weeks. Within cohorts (i.e. your cabin), no masks are required. Cohorts are like households. Masks will only be required when people from different cohorts can’t maintain appropriate distance outside or anytime inside (except for your own cabin, of course). As time passes, we may be able to combine cohorts, and possibly eliminate the cohorting procedures altogether.
We have an incredible team of long-time Tamakwans and medical experts who are sifting through the ever-changing COVID landscape and crafting our procedures. Our directors, Vic, Leslie, and Jamie, are coordinating the team. Incorporating current and forthcoming guidance from public health departments and other relevant government agencies, Tamakwa’s plan will prioritize the health and safety of everyone onsite. While it’s impossible to make any guarantees, we have complete confidence that we can operate camp in ways that could make it a very safe place to be.
Last summer, many overnight camps in the U.S. were able to operate safely, while some others did not. The American Camping Association (ACA) has looked closely at those camps and developed a Field Guide for the 2021 season. In addition to studying that guide, we are members of the Ontario Camps Association (OCA), which has its own COVID-19 task force, and is developing its own Field Guide in consultation with the office of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. The OCA holds weekly town hall meetings to update members on progress.
In addition to the directors, our COVID Team includes
Dr. Janet Star – On-site camp doctor and consultant – Dr. Star is a pediatrician in Toronto, and has been a camp doctor for over 10 years. Dr. Star and her family are die-hard Tamakwans through and through!
Dr. Jeremy Marks – On-site camp doctor and consultant – Dr. Marks is a specialist in neonatology and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Marks and his family are also longtime Tamakwans. Dr. Marks has been a Tamakwa doctor for over 20 years. His wife, Dr. Beth Steinhauer, is a psychiatrist and a member of the legendary Tamakwa Steinhauer family.
Dr. Clare Hutchinson – On-site camp doctor and consultant – Returning for her 4th year as camp doctor, Dr. Hutchinson is pediatrician in the North York General Hospital’s Child and Teen Program. She has two young children; one is a camper, and the other will be soon!
Dr. Peter Lipson – Consultant – Dr. Lipson is an Internist in Farmington Hills, MI. He is also a former Tamakwan, longtime camp doctor, and a parent of a Tamakwa staff member.
Dr. Michael Warner – Consultant – Another longtime Tamakwan, Dr. Warner is the Head of Critical Care at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto. If you live in Ontario, you’ve probably seen a lot of him on the news discussing the pandemic. He even recently made an appearance on CNN.
Dr. Alanna Golden and Dr. Darryll Ginsberg – Consultants – Dr. Golden is a family physician at Kindercare Pediatrics, and Dr. Ginsberg is a hospitalist who currently runs the COVID ward at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital.
Anyone entering Canada is currently required to adhere to a federally mandated 14-day quarantine. There are VERY specific guidelines and requirements from the Canadian government about what is and isn’t permitted for this quarantine. There are also different guidelines if you’re flying vs. driving. You can view the quarantine guidelines here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation.
Unless the government allows some exemptions to their policies, campers and staff will not be able to quarantine at camp. So, if you are able to get into Canada, you will need to arrange a location where you camper can complete the federally mandated 14-day quarantine before your camper arrives at camp.
Canadian Families
Full refunds are currently available through June 5. After June 5, full refunds will be provided only in the event of camp being cancelled. In that circumstance, families will have the option to carry over fees paid to the 2022 camp season (locking in 2021 rates). Balances will be due on June 6 and processed between June 6 and 10 with the credit card on file.
U.S. and other International Families
Due to the ongoing uncertainty with the Canadian border, U.S. and other international families have the option to receive a full refund or cancel their 2021 registration and carry over fees paid to 2022 (locking in 2021 rates) until June 5. On June 5, if we are still not certain that the border will open before camp, we may need to cancel U.S. registrations. Staffing concerns, ordering, and other resource allocations simply cannot be addressed appropriately with such a short amount time before camp.
Any camper with a confirmed case of COVID within 10 days of coming to camp will not be permitted to enter camp. If a camper recently had COVID and the family can provide a copy of the PCR test results indicating that the infection occurred more than 14 days prior to camp (but less than 90), that camper may be permitted to come into camp.
Anyone who has had COVID in the last few months will likely test positive on any PCR COVID tests, but not on the rapid antigen tests. Any staff or camper who has recently had COVID will need to provide proof of their positive COVID test results taken between 14 and 90 days prior to entering camp. These test results must at least show that it was a PCR test, test date, result, and name. With this proof, the camper/staff will be exempt from camp testing and allowed to enter camp as long as they are fever-free and have no other symptoms.
If a camper or staff member tests positive for COVID, they will need to be picked up within approximately 12 hours. We will have response and isolation protocols in camp. For a number of reasons, campers and staff who must go home may not be permitted to return to camp after two weeks. Refunds for a portion of the missed session will be provided.
Tamakwa is in an amazing position to be largely isolated from the outside world. By limiting “ins and outs,” we will be able to minimize the risk of COVID entering camp once everyone is in. Our plan is to bring our staff in throughout the month of June, employing strict testing and mitigation measures (masking, distancing, etc.), and then bring in all of our campers at once on June 27. After that, we’ll essentially “shut the doors.” After the campers arrive, we’ll all be cohorted (likely in cabin groups), and everyone will be required to adhere to masking and distancing measures during the first 1-2 weeks. As time passes and testing results come back, our medical team may determine when it is safe to reduce these mitigation measures. Our ultimate goal would be to eliminate masking and distancing altogether (while keeping up with the good hygiene stuff!), but our local Public Health Unit and our medical team will determine to what extent reducing these mitigation measures is possible.
The idea behind cabin cohorts is to keep COVID from spreading. If there is a COVID case in a cohort, we can contain its spread by keeping cabins separated. We are anticipating that these cohorts will be able to expand/grow over time, beginning by combining a few cabins, and hopefully being eliminated altogether. Until the medical team gives us the “all clear,” everyone will need to follow the protocols, staying out of other cabins, masking up when in close proximity to others, and keeping socially distant. Luckily, camp is a pretty small place. You’ll probably still see your friends and family members a lot. Just maybe no hugging or crossing arms for taps for the first week or so of camp.
We are planning for every person entering camp this year to have multiple COVID-19 tests before and during camp. We have partnered with a medical services provider to assist with this process. We are still working on the specific details, but it will likely include a combination of PCR and Rapid Antigen tests in the days leading up to camp and during the first 1-2 weeks of camp. After enough time has passed, we may be able to scale back testing. We are also procuring rapid point-of-care (POC) PCR testing machines that will allow us to quickly test symptomatic campers and staff (with results in 15 minutes) throughout the summer.
Testing will likely be a mandatory part of the summer for everyone (unless guidance changes so that certain people are exempt). This means that if anyone refuses to take a test, they may be required to leave camp.
Yes! We fully intend for canoe trips to happen. We have purchased our permits and we’re developing a separate set of COVID-related protocols for canoe trips. As with everything this summer, nothing is for sure, but we don’t anticipate having to eliminate this incredible camp experience!
Baggage and medication? Easy! You can just bring all of that stuff when you drop off your camper on the first day of camp.
The testing we require 3 days before camp? Not as easy. We’re working on this one. There is an Ontario-subsidized asymptomatic PCR test program through select pharmacies where, in theory, one could go into one of these pharmacies, tell them that you’re going to camp, and they’d give you a free test and send the results to the camp. Unfortunately, we have not received any details as to how to actually implement this. Many of the pharmacies we’ve called have no idea what we’re talking about. So, we’re making some calls to other providers. It is pretty safe to say that if you will be near a decent sized town, there will be an option to get tested. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you’ll likely have to take a drive to get a test done. We are doing our best to facilitate (and pay for) this process in as many locations as possible. In the event that you have to pay for your own PCR test, just keep your receipt, send it to us along with your test results, and we’ll deduct that amount from your COVID fees. We will communicate more as soon as we know more.
As of now, unless you (or an immediate family member) are a Canadian citizen, you cannot come into Canada. There are a few exceptions, but they really don’t apply to our population. More information about who can enter to Canada can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html
Yes. Our What to Bring and Not Bring to Camp section of the Green Book doesn’t contain any COVID-related considerations. As of now, the only additional items that we will be asking each camper to bring are:
- 3-ply medical-grade disposable face masks. We suggest a box of 50.
- Optional: Cloth masks. If you send cloth masks, please also supply a small mesh laundry bag for washing them.
- Optional: A small bottle of hand sanitizer that can clip to a backpack or belt loop. We will have plenty of sanitizer to refill when necessary.
We will have an abundance of hand sanitizer and disposable masks all over camp as well.
No. Even if the federally mandated 14-day quarantine requirement is lifted, camp will still require a 7-day home quarantine prior to coming to camp (either by car or camp bus). Taking a flight or any other form of mass transit before coming to camp would negate any gains made during a 7-day home quarantine. Therefore, we will not be offering a shuttle from the airport this year. Any camper who needs to fly to get to camp will need to make arrangements to get to Toronto or Detroit (assuming the border opens and the 14-day quarantine requirement is lifted) at least 7 days prior to camp. We recognize that this may be a hardship for some families, which is why we have extended as generous a refund policy as possible.
As of now, we are planning to keep our plans to “bubble,” so no one would be allowed to enter camp after arrival day. Still, as the landscape continually evolves, forthcoming guidelines and advice from our medical staff could change that policy – or at least provide some exceptions under certain conditions. We’re not ruling anything out, but as of now, the answer would be “no.”
Currently, there is no differing guidance in Canada for those who have been vaccinated. While being vaccinated will offer peace-of-mind and an additional degree of safety for all, it will not exempt anyone from any rules or procedures.