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🌞 Is Hidden Pond Day Camp licensed by Department of Health and/or American Camping Association? 🔼Back to Top
Yes, Hidden Pond Day Camp is licensed by the DOH and is a certified American Camping Association camp. We also must be in compliance to meet the standards of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
🌞 Does Hidden Pond Day Camp have a licensed Medical Staff to care for the children? 🔼Back to Top
Yes, we are fortunate enough to have Stony Brook University Hospital Nurses on staff along with certified EMT’s.
🌞 Does Hidden Pond Day Camp conduct background checks on staff? 🔼Back to Top
Yes. Every year we must conduct a New York State Sex Offender Registry and Criminal Enhanced Nationwide Criminal and U.S. Sex Offender Background check.
🌞 How will you be Cleaning/Sanitizing? 🔼Back to Top
We will be cleaning all frequently touched public areas throughout the day, including bathroom facilities. All Athletic and Creative and Performing Arts equipment that are shared will be sanitized and wiped down and ready for the next group to use them. We will be also using electrostatic fogging sanitizing machines.
🌞 How will you be social distancing my child? 🔼Back to Top
Our campers will be placed in “Pods” of 10 children. Pod’s will not be social distancing within the group. However, Pod’s will be social distancing from other Pod’s. All lunch tables will be at least 6 feet apart from another group and when traveling. There will be no large gatherings or special events this summer.
🌞 How large will my child’s group be? 🔼Back to Top
Groups will be no larger than 10 campers and have 2 counselors. If we have a group of 3 or 4 campers, they will have one counselor and a Counselor in Training.
🌞 Will the staff be wearing PPE? 🔼Back to Top
Yes and no. Currently, all staff are required to wear masks inside and outside. However, that may change for staff only wearing masks inside. Nurses and EMT are required to wear PPE when attending to children.
🌞 How many sanitizing stations will there be? 🔼Back to Top
Currently have 9 sanitizing stations labeled and spread out throughout the building. We also have sanitizer stations in the restrooms for a total of another 9.
🌞 How many area’s available for my child to wash hands? 🔼Back to Top
We have 11 locations and 50 sinks available to our campers and staff. Social Distancing practices will take place when anyone is in the restroom.
🌞 Why is Camp OK but School is not? 🔼Back to Top
Camp is primarily outdoors, and campers are primarily with their own group/pods throughout the day. They will not be close enough to physically touch other campers that are not in their group throughout the day. They will be kept 6 feet apart from people when stopped at an activity area, arrival, dismissal, buddy check during swim, tying skates, using restrooms, and eating lunch.
🌞 Why are the outdoors better than indoor? 🔼Back to Top
Outdoor is a much safer way to hold camp because of spacing, air flow and studies that show how ultra-violet light kills the virus. Indoor needs to have good ventilation, doors should remain open, and a fan should push the air through the building.
🌞 What is going to happen on Rainy Days? 🔼Back to Top
We are expecting the parents to have some shared responsibility and make the decision that is in the best interest for the family. On rainy days we will be open and using the entire Rinx building inside areas and outside areas covered by tents. We will also be asking our staff to wear long sleeve shirts while indoors; because we all know camp is a nurturing environment and campers tend to lean on and touch their counselors. Again, the parent or guardian needs to feel comfortable about sending their child to camp on a rainy day as we will be primarily indoors.
🌞 Is it safe enough to send campers on trips? 🔼Back to Top
We believe it is not safe enough to send our campers on trips, travel in buses, and be exposed to people who we do not know. Therefore, we are canceling all fields trips and outside entertainment for the 2020 season.
🌞 Can the camp keep your child safe? 🔼Back to Top
This is a personal decision; you must trust the people who supervise the campers and believe they will be following the proper protocols to ensure the safest environment for your child. We can assure you that when your child is supervised at camp, we are following all safety procedures recommend and that are mandatory from the State. However, this question needs to be answered by you, the parent/guardian based on your comfort level of having your child interacting with other campers and staff members.
🌞 Will you be having more Medical professionals on staff now than in the past? 🔼Back to Top
Hidden Pond Day Camp has always gone above and beyond regarding the health of our campers and staff. We always had more staff that was and will be required from any State or Local organization.
🌞 Will campers be required to wear masks? 🔼Back to Top
We know campers are currently not required to wear masks. However, all staff must wear masks when in close proximity to campers (less than 6 feet, and more than 10 minutes). Campers will not be required to wear masks indoors as well, however, staff will be required to wear masks indoors. This is may or may not change from the state.
🌞 Will there be additional waivers that parents must sign? 🔼Back to Top
We will not be requiring additional waivers.
🌞 How will Indoor rainy days look? 🔼Back to Top
We will be staying outdoors as much as possible as we usually do. On Rainy Days we will have groups socially distance from other groups as required and directed from the State. We will be having our staff wear gloves and masks, and the campers will be wearing gloves while playing and sharing games and masks if required by regulations we receive from the State.
🌞 Are you a special needs camp? 🔼Back to Top
We have been getting calls regarding children with special needs. We are not a special needs camp. If your child does have ADHD, Asperger’s, High Functioning Autism and receives a shadow in a school setting, the school may provide a shadow for camp. However, to answer the question if we are specifically a special needs camp, the answer is no we are not.
🌞 What happens if someone gets COVID-19 at camp? 🔼Back to Top
This year if your child has any symptoms that are listed as COVID-19 symptoms, your child will enter a tent located outside the nurse’s office and get screened by our camp nurse. Depending on the evaluation of your child, you may be called by the camp nurse to immediately pick up your child and may be asked to have your child tested for COVID-19.
If a child is diagnosed with COVID-19, that child is removed from camp and quarantined for 14 days. The child cannot attend camp unless they have a doctor’s note releasing them. This incident is immediately reported to the Suffolk County Department of Health. Anyone who was in close contact, (10 minutes or more, and less than 6 feet away, with or without a mask), with the person diagnosed with COIVD-19, will be asked to be quarantined for 14 days and not attend camp.
🌞 Will my child still skate? 🔼Back to Top
Yes. The ice rink will be divided into sections, one for each group. No group will come within 6 feet of another, and all staff will be wearing a mask.
🌞 Will my child be swimming and receive instructional swim? 🔼Back to Top
Your child will be having swim twice a day. The swim periods will be free swim only. We are not offering instructional swim because of the risk of exposure, due to the lifeguard touching campers from every group during swim lessons. We feel that we have set up the camp the safest way possible, and we do not want to change the circumstances just for instructional swim. We are focused on keeping everyone safe with little or no interaction with other pods.
🌞 Where will I drop my son or daughter for arrival at camp on a day that it is not raining? 🔼Back to Top
During arrival you will be directed by our staff to drive to the C, D, E or F-Lot. Our staff will be taking temperatures and you will have to fill out a daily questionnaire or hand them the questionnaire that was emailed to you. For your child to attend camp, they must have a temperature less than 100.4F and symptom free for COVID-19 including not having contact with a person who has COVID-19. Below you will find the parking lots for each Division. If you have more than one child attending camp, please drop off your child to the youngest child’s arrival area and we will make sure he or she gets to their group safely.
C – LOT
This lot is allocated for the freshman division. Grades Kindergarten through 2nd as of September 2020.
D – LOT
This lot is designated for the sophomore division. Grades 3rd through 5th as of September 2020.
E – LOT
This lot is designated for the junior. Grades 6th through 8th as of September 2020.
F- LOT
This lot is designated for the CIT’s. Grades 9th through 10th as of September 2020.
🌞 Where will I pick up my son or daughter from camp on a day that it is not raining? 🔼Back to Top
During dismissal you will be directed by our staff to drive to the C, D, E or F-Lot. Please report to the staff at the top of the parking lot and your son or daughter will be brought to you.
C – LOT
This lot is allocated for the freshman division. Grades Kindergarten through 2nd as of September 2020.
D – LOT
This lot is designated for the sophomore division. Grades 3rd Grade through 5th as of September 2020.
E – LOT
This lot is designated for the junior division. Grades 6th through 8th as of September 2020.
F- LOT
This lot is designated for the CIT’s. Grades 9th through 10th as of September 2020.
🌞 Where will I drop my son or daughter for arrival at camp on a day that it is raining? 🔼Back to Top
During arrival you will be directed by our staff to drive to the front entrance of the Rinx. Our staff will be taking temperatures and you will have to fill out a daily questionnaire or hand them the questionnaire that was emailed to you. For your child to attend camp, they must have a temperature less than 100.4F and symptom free for COVID-19 including not having contact with a person who has COVID-19. When you arrive at the top near the front entrance, we will open your car and escort your child to his or her group.
🌞 Where will I pick up my son or daughter from camp on a day that it is raining? 🔼Back to Top
Rainy day dismissal is the same as in the past. Please park in the C, D, or E lot and come into the building wearing a mask, and you will be directed where to go to pick up your child. You will be greeted by security in the front where they will be taking your temperature. If you have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you will not be allowed into the building and your child will be brought out to you by one of our staff members.
🌞 What is your ratio for counselors to campers? 🔼Back to Top
3 - 4 year old – 1:4 9 year old – 1:7
5 year old – 1:4 10 year old – 1:7
6 year old – 1:6 11 year old – 1:7
7 year old – 1:7 12-13 year old – 1:7
8 year old – 1:7 14-15 year old – 1:8