Day Use of Connecticut Yankee Council Camps
By Scout Units, Groups, and Scouting Families Beginning June 27, 2020
General Information
- Council Camps are open to Scout units, groups, and in-council families.
- Only Scouts units that are registered to Chartered Organizations from within the State of Connecticut are permitted to access Council Camps at this time.
- At least one member of the in-council family must have a current registration with the Boy Scouts of America, with a unit chartered by Connecticut Yankee Council
- Scout units may invite prospective new members to participate. In-council families may invite guests; however, the number of guests may not exceed the number of family members.
- Camp Sequassen, Hoyt Scout Reservation, and Wah Wah Taysee are open 7 days a week; Camp Pomperaug is open Friday to Sunday.Deer Lake Scout Reservation will remain unavailable until mid-August.
- Camp properties will be open from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm, however Camp Pomperaug will be open Fridays from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Saturdays from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm, and Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- All groups must register at least 48 hours in advance so that group leaders can be updated on any area closings, current Council guidance and policies and federal/state/BSA regulations and guidance.
- Groups will select a specific site or facility.
CYC Responsibilities
- The Council will operate camp properties at 50% of normal capacity.
- The Council will disinfect the latrine area for the site or facility reserved at least 24 hours prior to arrival and again after departure. Units may only use the latrine for the reserved site or facility. There are no general use latrines.
- All CYC personnel, including Rangers and Campmasters, are authorized to enforce social distancing requirements, health and safety concerns, and camp restrictions on activities.
- All guests and visitors on camp properties must register and their names recorded to be allowed on the property.
- Upon registration, the Camping Registrar will email a parking permit to the group leader.The permit will display the usage date, group leader’s name and cell phone number, and the site/facility reserved. A copy of the permit must be placed on the dashboard of each vehicle.
Scout Unit, Group, and Individual Responsibilities
- For the purposes of these guidelines, group leaders and a responsible family adult should follow the same guidance as a unit leader.
- Scout units should have permission slips or electronic approval for each youth in attendance.
- The BSA “Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist” (attached) has been adapted by our council. It is recommended that unit leaders use this checklist prior to leaving for each activity.It is recommended that each participant’s temperature be taken before leaving home.
- It is recommended that units have a non-contact thermometer to assess temperatures prior to the activity. Individuals with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher are not permitted to attend the activity.
- No individual units/groups should interact or combine with other groups for competitions or activities such as meals, friendship fires or for the event/activity.
- Units/groups are not permitted to enter any other campsite, reserved venue area, or buildings.
- Units/groups agree to manage their own program and protocols for social distancing and use face coverings when unable to maintain proper distancing.
- Units/groups agree to provide disinfecting supplies necessary for the activity.
- Unit leaders agree to maintain an accurate roster of all participants, youth and adult, for each activity.
- When using a council property, a complete roster of participants must be submitted to the Campmaster/Ranger upon check-in. The unit leader should keep a copy of the roster of participants in case contact tracing is required.
- Unit leaders are required to report any confirmed or strongly suspected cases of communicable disease infections – including COVID-19, occurring within 14 days after the activity to Connecticut Yankee Council (camping@ctyankee.org). Unit leaders are also required to notify parents of Scouts who participated in the activity, as well as the unit’s Chartered Organization Representative.
Health and Medical Records
- Scout units should maintain a current Annual Health and Medical Record, 680-001 (2019 version) for all youth and adults participating in the unit.
- Part A (Informed Consent, Release Agreement, and Authorization) and Part B (General Information/Health History) must be updated and signed on or after May 1, 2020. No exceptions.
- BSA encourages anyone whose medical condition or history has significantly changed since their last physical exam to have approval from their health care provider prior to participating in unit activities.
- Units participating in programs sponsored by other councils must also follow the health and medical guidelines and requirements of those Councils, which may differ from the requirements listed here.
Recommended Gear, above and beyond typical Scouting equipment
- Non-contact thermometer
- Clean and dry face coverings and spares for each participant (participants should also bring their own)
- Sanitation wipes or hand sanitizer with each participant
- Readily accessible personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, disinfectant, etc.).Estimated 4-6 pairs of gloves per person of different sizes (used for handling trash pick-up, clean up, carrying gear, etc.)
- Extra trash bags for used wipes and gloves
- Water containers/basins to use exclusively for frequent hand washing with soap and water
Inclement weather
- Under severe weather conditions participants may need to occupy pavilions, porches, or buildings.Face coverings should be worn in those instances. After the extreme weather condition has passed, everyone should return to current safe distancing guidelines.
- Any buildings occupied for emergencies must be reported to the Campmaster/Ranger.
Illness while in camp
- Persons feeling ill during an activity shall be immediately isolated by the group leader and returned home as soon as possible. If the symptoms fall within the affirmative criteria for COVID-19 as described in the BSA Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist, ALL unit/group activities must stop, all participants must wash hands and the group activity must terminate. As soon as possible, the group must depart the camp.
- Units must check-out properly with the Campmaster/Ranger.
At the end of your stay
- All trash should be considered contaminated; participants should wear disposable gloves whenever handling trash.
- Units must check-out so the Campmaster/Ranger staff knows the latrines are to be cleaned.
- Everyone must wash their hands prior to getting into vehicles to head home.
Recommended Best Practices For Different Phases Of Your Group’s Day Trip
Pre-arrival and transportation
- Before leaving for camp, each participant should complete the BSA Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist and submit to unit leadership for that activity . The Checklist should be maintained by the unit for at least 45 days after the activity.
- Scouts should travel to/from the venue with their own parents or guardians; family groups should not mix.
- Medically ‘at-risk’ persons should not participate in activities nor provide transportation.
- Units should minimize late arrivals and early departures.
Packing in – packing out
- Members of units should confirm the arrival location in advance. After checking in with the unit leader, individuals should proceed directly from the arrival designated area to their site or facility. Participants should not congregate or wait for the entire group to arrive.
- Participants should be prepared to carry their own personnel gear and limit the gear carried to strictly that patrol/den. Participants should use work gloves when moving shared gear.
- Do not expect carts to be available since they must be disinfected each time a person uses them. If carts are available, it is recommended that cart users wear work gloves when handling carts and then wash or disinfect hands immediately after.
Cooking/meal planning
- Each participant should maintain their own utensils and mess kit (use disposable if unable to manage). Mess kits and utensils should not be shared.
- Participants should follow social distancing guidelines while eating.
- It is recommended that one Scout/adult ‘own’ the drinking/cooking water container operation for the entire event. No other person should touch it. If it is necessary to change the individual, items must be
- It is recommended that one Scout/adult ‘own’ the entire patrol box operation including cooking and serving food to others (recommend removing plates, bowls, cups and eating utensils). No other person is to touch anything in the patrol box. If it is necessary to change the individual, items must be disinfected.
- Remove dish towels from the patrol box and use mesh bag method for all patrol box contents to disinfect and hang dry.
- Each participant should bring their own camp chair with their name on it. Camp chairs should not be shared.
Activities
Depending on the facility, the following program areas may be available by reservation only.
- Rifle Range
- Archery Range
- Shotgun Range
- Climbing wall
- Handicrafts
- COPE Area
- Aquatics and paddlecraft
Games/skills/competition
- Many games require close contact. These activities should be minimized; however, the use of face coverings and work/game gloves will help reduce risk. Games using a ball or frisbee by multiple individuals risk the transfer of germs among the players; these games should be watched carefully and all participants must wash or disinfect hands frequently before, during and after play.
- Using sports gloves allows common surface game objects to be used. Sports gloves also work well for activities requiring finesse such as tying knots.
- It is recommended that Scouts bring their own piece of rope for related requirements and limit any sharing or hand-off of items. This is one example of ways to limit risk of infections.
Campfires and programs
- Each participant should bring their own camp chair with their name on it since there is usually limited space around campfires.
- Avoid close contact acting for skits
- Based on the known risks of the spread of germs, singing or cheers are not recommended at campfires unless both social distancing can be observed and face coverings are worn.
Axe yard
- The handles of all wood tools must be disinfected after each use by an individual. It is strongly recommended that everyone bring and use their own work gloves to do any work in the axe yard.
