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COVID Guidelines

For 50 years Roughing It has been committed to the health and safety of our campers

What to expect for Summer 2022

  • All outdoors!
  • Stable groups
  • Daily health screenings
  • Staying home when sick or having flu/cold symptoms
  • Vaccines recommended for all eligible campers and required for staff
  • Masks required on the bus/shuttles. Outdoors masks optional.

Based on conditions in the community we may add additional protocols:

  • Masks
  • Physical distancing
  • Increased sanitation/handwashing
  • Program modifications as needed
  • COVID testing requirements

COVID Safety Information for Summer 2022

Updated 6/18/2022

Below are the safety protocols we currently plan to have in place for Summer 2022. We require all campers, staff, and camp families to follow these protocols for the safety of everyone at camp.

We will update our health and safety protocols as conditions in our community change and as we follow the guidance of our regulatory agencies. Modifications may include additional masking, physical distancing requirements, testing, and vaccine requirements. We align our health and safety requirements with the following agencies: Contra Costa Health Services, State of California, EBMUD, CDC, and ACA (American Camping Association).

Masks will be optional for campers and staff when outdoors at camp this summer. We understand our staff and families have a broad range of comfort with masking and we encourage each family to make the decision that is best for them.

Masks will be required on the bus for all campers, staff, and bus drivers. This includes bus rides to/from camp and shuttles to/from swimming. Please plan to send your child to camp with a mask each day.

The COVID vaccine is strongly recommended for all eligible campers and required for staff and junior counselors to keep our camp community as safe as possible. Roughing It follows the State of California vaccination requirements for children to attend school. Campers, staff, and junior counselors need to be up to date on their required vaccines in order to attend camp this summer.

California recommends that all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, get tested within 3-5 days of arrival to California. See California State Travel Guidelines

International travelers (Non-U.S. citizens) must be vaccinated to enter the US.

Campers will sanitize their hands before and after activities where there is shared equipment.

If a camper is sick or has any symptoms of COVID, cold, flu, or other illness:

  • They must stay home (or picked up immediately from camp) and tested for COVID.
  • They may return to camp if: the COVID test is negative, no fever, and improved symptoms.
  • If symptoms persist: they may return to camp if their primary care provider provides written documentation that rules out COVID.
  • If choosing not to test or see primary care provider to confirm symptoms are not COVID, camper may return 10 days after symptom onset.

If a camper tests POSITIVE for COVID (regardless of vaccination status):

  • They must isolate at home for 5 days and test again on or after day 5.
  • If they have symptoms: May return after 5 days have passed since first COVID positive test date IF symptoms are improving and there is no fever for 24 hours AND negative test is completed on or after day 5.
  • If they do not have symptoms: May return after 5 days have passed since first COVID positive test date AND negative test is completed on or after day 5
  • If unable to test on day 5 or after, or if repeat test on day 5 remains positive, camper must stay isolated until a negative test is obtained, or 10 days of isolation have passed.

If a camper is exposed to someone with COVID (regardless of vaccination status):

Campers who are exposed may continue to attend camp and participate in all camp activities unless symptoms develop or they test positive for COVID. The recommendations for campers who are exposed to someone with COVID is:

  • Test 3-5 days after last exposure
  • Wear a mask for 10 days after last exposure

Roughing It Day Camp follows the Contra Costa Health Services K-12 Guidelines for Exposure and Quarantine.

COVID and Refunds

There are no refunds for unused camp days if your camper is sick (including COVID), has to quarantine, or if Roughing It is not able to operate for any reason, including COVID. See our full refund policy.

Acknowledgment of Risk

We will do everything in our power to control what we can, but even with procedures and protocols in place we cannot control every risk. The very nature of personal interactions that take place at camp contain risks for spreading and contracting diseases and infections such as COVID-19. We will use our best efforts to keep your child safe from all illnesses, including the COVID-19 virus, while at camp. However, we want to make clear that we cannot promise or guarantee that this or any other pathogen will not enter our camp. We want you to be fully aware of this risk in making the decision to send your child to camp this summer and that you are willing to assume and accept this risk on your child’s behalf.

Additional Information

Thank you for working with us to make camp the safest possible experience for your campers and our camp community this summer. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us! We are happy to discuss our safety protocols and answer your questions.

For details on past COVID protocols, see Summer 2021 COVID Guidelines.

As we plan for Summer 2022, we expect the American Camp Association and CDC to release updates to their guidelines for camps later this spring. We will update our Camp Safety procedures for the upcoming season as these become available. We will post current information here and send to our camp families.