FAQs for Summer 2021
In-Person Camp at our Campgrounds or Virtual Programming
Dear Parents,
For the summer of 2021, we have designed a summer camp program to meet the varied needs of our campers, whether they prefer attending camp in-person or want to experience camp fun from their home or – if necessary – even from a hospital bed. Both programs offer the same wondrous, magical camp experiences that have come to define Sunrise. To help you decide which program is best for your needs, we have put together some answers to frequently asked questions about this year’s upcoming programs:
FAQs - In-Person
Please select the one you prefer for most or all of the summer. This will allow us to plan for properly for both our camp programs. If you change your mind at any time, just call your camp registrar and they will make the switch for you.
To plan for a safe re-opening of our camp, we have been working with a specialized Task Force made up of the Medical Directors from all of our camps along with specialists in infectious disease and pediatric oncology. Working with this group, we have developed protocols for camp that are also consistent with CDC and ACA (American Camping Association) recommendations and local Department of Health regulations.
Our program and our staff will continue provide a creative and exciting camp program each and every day. The difference is that children will be enjoying their summer activities in smaller pre-assigned groups within their unit and, other than siblings being able to safely check in with each other as needed, groups will not be intermingling. In addition, campers and staff will be required to wear face masks on buses and at camp, except during swim, at lunch, and when engaging in certain outdoor sports activities where they can socially distance. While camp activities may look a little different due to these guidelines, it will be just as much fun. We will continue to offer both indoor air-conditioned and outdoor activity options, again in keeping with CDC and Department of Health guidelines. Details on these guidelines and more will be made available to you in your Parent Packet following the return of your registration forms, as well as at Parent Orientation.
Yes, but with numerous adaptations to maximize safety. Buses will be limited to less children than before, children, staff and drivers will be wearing masks, and outside of family members who live together, only one child will be placed in each row to allow for social distancing. Although we will make every effort to provide bus service for every child who needs it, we strongly advise parents who can drive their children to camp this year to please do so.
We know that this is important to many families, but at this time we are unable to offer this, as doing so would create yet another grouping where children would now be interacting with others from different groups. We are, however, continuing to research potential solutions and will apprise you should anything change.
Yes. We will identify and train all families in using the health screening app we have selected. If you are traveling to camp by bus, you will need to remain at the bus stop with your child until he/she has been checked in by the bus counselor and their daily screening reviewed. If arriving at camp by car, all occupants will remain in the car until your child’s health screening has been reviewed and approved.
We want you to be partners with us in the care of your child. As always, we will offer a parent orientation, which this year will be virtual. We will review the general camp program, and both our longstanding and new protocols for Summer 2021. We will also provide this to you in writing.
We are constantly monitoring both the global and local situation with respect to Covid-19, transmission rates, the vaccine rollout, variants, etc. As we get closer to camp, our Medical Task Force will again gather together to review the current situation and, if warranted, either upgrade or downgrade our protocols.
It’s always a possibility, but the trends we are currently seeing – coupled with the controls we are putting in place – make it unlikely.
It’s important for you and your child(ren) to be comfortable at our campgrounds. Depending on the individual camp and facility availability, we will either be offering socially distanced tours – one family at a time – or a guided virtual visit to our facility.
FAQs – Virtual Camp
The virtual camp program will consist of a combination of pre-recorded video activities provided by our camp staff, virtual games to play with their peers, and live sessions where they can interact with their fellow campers. Just like in-person camp, there will be weekly themes and a diverse choice of activities. Activities will be offered for different age groups at different times of the day.
As we get closer to the opening day of virtual camp, we will send you all the information needed to access the program, including a schedule of programmed events. If you checked off permission to contact your child with directly, they will get a copy of everything as well. And knowing how busy life can be at times, we’ll be sending out reminders during the summer so that your child doesn’t miss any scheduled activity.
Yes and no. Last year was our first year offering virtual camp, and it was also our only summer program. This year’s virtual program – while filled with all the fun and magic of last year’s – is being slightly reformatted based on all that we learned from last year. Additionally, our in-person camps – which are our primary summer programs – will be up and running again.
All told, this year’s virtual programs will have all-new Summer 2021 content, will operate for at least 7 weeks, and will favor pre-recorded programming that children can access at their convenience on either their laptops or on the new Sunrise Studios app (which is now available on all major platforms). There will also be plenty of live programs, though probably not as many as last year. Our expectation is that there will be many more opportunities this summer for children to be outside– whether they attend in-person camp or not – and so we will be structuring this year’s virtual camp to better align with that reality.
Please fill out that portion of our virtual application noting this, and we will get a device to you.
Should you wish to switch your child to in-person camp, please contact the camp registrar. The registrar will provide you with the additional application packet required for your child to be in attendance at camp, including a physician health form, all of which we will need that will need completed prior to your child’s attending. If you’re currently leaning towards virtual camp but think that you might want to make a switch during the summer, we strongly suggest that you secure a date for your child’s medical check-up soon, as not having a current medical form will delay your child’s acceptance into camp. Your camp registrar can provide a form for you to have filled out, just in case your plans change. Please know that there is a minimum 3-day wait after we receive your child’s additional registration forms before he/she may attend our in-person camp. This allows us to make all the proper transportation and group arrangements for your child, and for our medical staff to review their forms.
Download our Sunrise Studios App on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, phone or tablet, where you will find hundreds of pre-recorded activities for them to watch, participate in and enjoy. If you need assistance, just contact your camp registrar.