Crossings at Skycroft Health & Safety Plan

Updated May 19, 2021

All of these policies and practices are subject to change based on CDC, state, and local health department guidelines.

COMMITTED TO SAFETY

Safety continues to be one of our core values and we want you to know all that we are doing to keep your students safe during this pandemic. We want to love God well by being good stewards of all He has entrusted to us and love our guests well by providing a distraction-free environment to encounter the gospel.

IT STARTS WITH US

We are working closely with our state and local health department officials to follow the recommendations set forth by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health to equip our staff and guests to minimize the spread of germs. Our staff will be thoroughly educated in CDC approved sanitizing protocols.

LIMITING EXPOSURE

We have reduced capacity in housing, dining and meeting spaces for camp this year. This allows us to spread out within lodging and around campus. Depending on changes to CDC, state and local guidelines, we are currently planning to operate at 66% capacity in our dining halls and limiting camp registration to 70% of our standard overall camp capacity.

We will not be allowing any non-essential visitors on campus this summer. This excludes emergency situations. Additionally, we will not be offering the off-campus Missions Track this summer to minimize exposure off campus during the camp week.

HAND SANITATION PROGRAM

We will have hand sanitizing stations set up at strategic places around campus and encourage frequent use. We will also be encouraging all guests to wash hands as much as possible throughout the day.

RIGOROUS SCREENING PROCESS

All camper and adult participants will sign a medical release and complete a health questionnaire within 24 hours prior to leaving for camp stating that they exhibited no symptoms associated with COVID-19 during the 14-day period leading up to their arrival to Skycroft. Any guest who has shown symptoms in that time span will not be permitted on property but will have the opportunity to be refunded. Temperature checks will happen for every person prior to and upon their arrival on campus, as well as daily temperature checks for all participants and staff while at camp.

WE KEEP IT CLEAN

Our cleaning and sanitizing protocol will meet or exceed that which the CDC and Maryland Department of Health have set forth. High traffic areas such as public restrooms, entry ways and lobby areas will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times per day. All lodging accomodations will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before campers arrive. Dining facilities will meet or exceed CDC sanitizing requirements.

FOCUSING ON NPIs

We will be implementing various nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to help limit exposure, increase cleanliness and keep everyone at camp safe. This begins with basic mitigation methods such as face coverings, but we are also implementing more extensive measures to ensure the safety of our camp participants including (but not limited to):

  • implementing of the “cohort model” of camping, recommended by the CDC for summer camp programs and by the American Camp Association

  • prioritizing outdoor settings for as many activities and camp elements as possible (including outdoor dining options)

  • enhancing air filtration and purification in lodging areas

  • limiting shared items and materials

PARTNERING WITH GUESTS

We want our guests and other responsible parties to be fully confident and informed on the health protocols we have in place to keep our guests safe. If you would like additional information or clarification, please call us at 800-536-6759. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The Cohort Model 

What will the cohort model of camp look like?

Our top priority is making camp as safe as possible for students and adult leaders this summer.  

We feel strongly that using the cohort model for camp, as recommended by the CDC, American Camp Association and Association of Camp Nurses, is the best way to achieve that.

We will be grouping churches together as we normally do into Color Teams of approximately 50-60 participants total. This year, however, each Color Team will function as a cohort and will remain separate from the other Color Teams throughout most of the camp program.

The participants that make up a Color Team will be those campers that you experience different camp elements with, such as Circuits, Adventures and meal times. Other schedule elements such as church group Bible study will remain a time for church groups to meet independently (i.e. by themselves, no intermixing with other church groups).

For example, each Color Team will eat their meals at a specific time and place. They will participate in Circuits and Adventure options together as a Color, but separately from other Color Teams.

Worship and Large Group Bible Study will still be a large group setting with all Color Teams in attendance, however, each Color Team will remain generously distanced from each other in the gym.

Outdoor free time activities such as the pool, Gaga area, zip line, etc., will be open to all color groups at all scheduled free times. Indoor free time areas will be open on a rotation of color team assignments.

 

Why the cohort method?

This method allows us to host a larger amount of participants on campus, while still limiting exposure for individuals by keeping Color Teams separate from each other. We can operate in such a way that would keep us from having to shut down an entire week of camp in the rare case that a positive COVID case would arise. It significantly minimizes the chances of an outbreak, promotes efficient contact tracing and will minimize the number of people who would have to quarantine because of direct exposure.

In short, the cohort method allows churches to remain distanced from other groups while still providing a large enough pool of co-participants for larger camp activities (such as Circuits) to take place. This will be especially important for some of our smaller youth groups who attend camp as it will still allow student the opportunity to make new friends and interact with others outside their group but in a controlled environment. Students will get to do a lot more of the classic camp activities they know and love like Color Wars, Circuits and free time options.

What will a day at camp look like?

Each Color Team will be assigned a meal shift and specific seating location in one of our two dining halls. Within each Color Team’s seating area, individual church groups will be assigned specific tables for their group.  All participants will be encouraged to go through proper hand sanitization before and after each meal.

Meals will be served cafeteria style where masked and gloved Skycroft team members serve up a delicious plate from the food line. Plates are provided at the food line and individuals will be instructed to come up for a new plate for those who want seconds. Personal condiments (e.g. salt, pepper, ketchup, dressings, etc.) will be served in individual containers. Bottled water and milk will be available in addition to our normal drink lines in the dining hall, which will be cleaned and sanitized after each shift.

Though Maryland lifted all restrictions related to indoor dining on May 12, our dining halls will still operate with reduced capacity to allow churches and campers to spread out. Distancing will be maintained between tables. Our food service team will be cleaning and disinfecting all tables and chairs at the close of each meal shift using EPA-approved cleaners. 

We will provide optional outdoor dining locations for those who feel more comfortable eating outside, weather-permitting. 

 

Large Group Bible Study: Morning Celebration and Large Group Bible Study will take place in the gym at a reduced capacity. All participants will attend Morning Celebration at the same time, but each Color Team will have an assigned seating area, distanced from other Color Teams. Individual church groups will have their own assigned seating within the color group and will be appropriately distanced from other church groups.

The doors to the auditorium will be open 15 minutes prior to the start of Morning Celebration to allow ample time for campers to arrive and be seated. 

Church Group Bible Study: Each individual church group will be assigned a specific conference room or meeting area for church group Bible study (morning) and church group devotionals (evening). We will be working hard to make these assignments so that churches in the different color teams are utilizing different areas of campus.

Of course, churches are welcome and encouraged to hold Bible study time outside at one of many outdoor seating areas.

Worship will take place in the gym at a reduced capacity in alignment with current local and state guidelines. All camp participants will attend worship together, but each Color Team will have an assigned seating area, generously distanced from other Color Teams. Individual church groups will have their own assigned seating within the color group and will be appropriately distanced from other church groups.

The doors to the auditorium will be open 15 minutes prior to the start of evening Worship to allow ample time for campers to arrive and be seated.

Church Group Devotionals (following Worship): Each individual church group will be assigned a specific conference room or meeting area for church group Bible study (morning) and church group devotionals (evening). We will be working hard to make these assignments so that churches in the different color teams are utilizing different areas of campus.

Of course, churches are welcome and encouraged to hold their devo time outside at one of many outdoor seating areas.

This year, Color Teams will attend Circuits separately from other Color Teams. We will alternate the Circuit and Adventure schedule so that some Color Teams attend Circuits while other Color Teams participate in Adventures. This helps maintain the smaller contact groups and keep each Color Team separate as some Circuits will be held inside. 

Like previous years of camp, our schedule this year will still allow campers to attend three different Circuits on two days of the camp week – a part 1 and part 2 format.

While a priority will be placed on outdoor settings for Circuits, indoor Circuits locations will still be utilized and will be cleaned and sanitized before and after each use. 

 

This year, we will alternate the Adventure schedule so that some Color Teams attend Adventures while other Color Teams participate in Circuits. This helps maintain the smaller contact groups and keep each Color Team separate. 

Some Adventures will allow for individual church groups to particpate independently from other church groups. Other Adventure activities that require a greater number of players (e.g. Bazooka Ball) may mean 2 or more churches within the same Color Team are particpating in that Adventure together. Campers from different Color Team will not be intermixing for Adventures.

Color Wars will look similar to previous years of camp in that each Color Team will compete against other colors for points each afternoon. This year the daily challenges will allow for teams to all be present together on our spacious rec field but the games will allow each team to compete separately. For example, this could include a relay competition where each Color Team relay “lane” takes up a different corner of our large recreation field with plenty of room to remain distant from the other Color Teams. 

All outdoor free time activities will be open to all Color Teams at all scheduled free times. This includes the pool, zip line, water slide, and playground area (Gaga, 9 Square, etc.). 

Indoor free time areas, such as HeBrews snack shop, will be open to only one Color Team at a time. Group leaders will receive their assignments for use of these indoor spaces at check-in. Every Color Team will have multiple opportunities to utilize HeBrews throughout the week. 

Assigned indoor free time locations will be clearly marked with colored flags to delineate which Color Team is scheduled at that activity.

Cleaning & Safety Procedures

Lodging:

  • All accommodations will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to your group’s arrival using CDC recommended best practices and EPA-approved cleaners and disinfectants.
  • We encourage churches to bring cleaning supplies with them if they desire to clean their lodging space during the camp week. Skycroft will have cleaning caddies equipped with EPA-approved cleaners that may be checked out by group leaders and used to wipe down dorms and bathroom areas in private lodging mid-week.
  • Skycroft team members will not be entering your accommodations after your group checks in. Should an emergency arise (plumbing, spillage, etc.), staff will wear a mask and gloves when entering, and disinfect anything that they have touched prior to leaving. We ask that our team be given a courteous safe-distancing opportunity during their service call for safety reasons.
  • Participants should pack their own pillows, bed linens (or sleeping bag), and bath linens from home. Skycroft will not be providing pillows or linens for this event.
  • Motel rooms will be equipped with HEPA air purifiers. All HVAC systems in lodges will be upgraded with MERV13 filters (this is a high rating particulate air filter that will increase the level of filtration).
  • Read more about what housing will look like this summer in the FAQs.

Dining Hall:

  • Participants should wash and sanitize their hands before entering the dining hall. Hand sanitizer will be available in the dining hall lobby, near the public restrooms.
  • Meals will be served cafeteria style. Our serving methods and dining hall seating abides by all current local and state health department guidelines.
  • Dining halls will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in between meals. 
  • We will be utilizing meal shift rotations, reduced capacity and outdoor dining options. You can read more details about mealtimes in the section titled “What Will a Camp Day Look Like?”.

Meeting Rooms:

  • All meeting rooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the camp session.
  • These rooms may be used for both church group Bible study locations and some indoor circuits. Staff will be cleaning and disinfecting rooms before and after circuit use.
  • As much as possible, increased ventilation utilizing open windows and air units will be utilized.
  • High touch points in hallways, lobbies and conference area restrooms will be cleaned/disinfected as frequently as possible, a minimum of two times a day.

Common Areas and Public Spaces:

  • Hand sanitizing stations will be located through the property and in each lobby and common area.
  • All common areas, public restrooms and high-touch points (e.g. door knobs, faucet handles, handrails, etc.) will be cleaned and disinfected as frequently as possible, a minimum of two times a day. Our staff will be following CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting.
  • Our team is using cleaners from the EPA’s list of registered disinfectants effective against SARS CoV-2 to disinfect surfaces.

Worship Auditorium/Gym:

  • During large group Bible study and evening worship, church groups will sit together, appropriately distanced from other church groups within their specific Color Team.
  • Each Color Team will sit in a large section of the gym, more generously distanced from other colors.
  • High touch surfaces in the worship space (handrails, door knobs, etc.) will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each programmed use. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my group need to wear a mask?

(Updated May 19, 2021)

Yes, face coverings will be required of all camp participants and staff for indoor program elements, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated particpants.

Maryland still requires face coverings be worn inside for all child care programs including schools, day cares and camp programs. CDC-approved face covering should be worn at all times indoors (except in private spaces, such as lodging and personal rooms).

We are not requiring masks for any outdoor activities. We will be planning for as many program elements (e.g. Leadership Lab, Circuits, etc.) to take place outside as possible.

We encourage camp participants to pack multiple masks (consider packing two for each day of camp). We will have a limited supply of disposable masks on campus.

Will my group be required to be tested before arrival?

No, camp participants will not need to be tested prior to arriving at camp. Participants must complete and pass a prescreening questionnaire within 24 hours of arriving to camp. Temperature checks will be required prior to travel to camp and on a daily basis during the camp week.

Will I need to take my group's temperate each day?

Each participant’s temperature will be taken every day by a church group leader. Youth groups should pack their own thermometer to facilitate daily temperature checks. 

What if a participant or staff member is showing symptoms of COVID-19?

If any participant shows symptoms of COVID-19, they will be immediately removed from camp activities and moved to an isolation area on campus. The participant must be tested for COVID-19 or return home immediately (travel arrangements by a parent should be made within 4 hours).

If a participant tests positive for COVID-19, the participant’s parent or guardian should pick up, or have arranged to have picked up, the participant within 4 hours.

When an individual tests positive for COVID-19, we will notify the group leaders of all participants in that Color Team. Our staff, along with the group leaders and their adult chaperones, will help determine which other students have had close contact with the individual and must be quarantined. Tracking exposure begins at 48 hours prior to the sign of their first symptom.

The participants who had close contact with the individual who tested positive will need to also be picked up and leave camp within 4 hours in order to quarantine.

There are certain exceptions for not needing to quarantine after exposure. You must be able to show appropriate documentation to qualify: 

  1. A participant is fully vaccinated and is within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series. 
  2. A participant has recovered from a case of COVID-19 within the past 3 months. These individuals do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms. 
What will housing look like?

We will utilize reduced capacities in most of our housing units. We are recommending sleeping head to foot in each of our sleeping spaces.

We are working hard to keep church groups in separate housing.

In light of some of these changes, it is likely that we will be deviating from the traditional housing areas of females in motel accomodations and males in lodges. It is likely that half of our motel units will be used for male housing this summer, as well as some church’s female participants staying in a lodge.

What about visitors to camp?

We will not be allowing any non-essential visitors to campus this year. This excludes emergency situations. 

What additional items should our group pack to promote safety at camp?

We are encouraging attending churches to bring additional cleaning supplies (disinfectant spray, wipes, hand saniziter, etc.) to wipe down their lodging space during the week.

Skycroft will also have cleaning caddies that include EPA-approved cleaners and disinfectants that can be checked out by group leaders and used to wipe down dorm and bathroom areas in their private lodging.

We encourage camp participants to pack a personal bottle of hand sanitizer and multiple masks (ideally two masks for each day of camp, as recommended by the ACA).