Summer 2021

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WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN ASHEVILLE!

We are actively planning for a safe, fun, and transformative Jewish Sports Camp experience.

Please know that we will continue to update this page throughout the summer.

This page was last updated on July 15, 2021.

Our Teammates

Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC)
American Camps Association (ACA)
Camps who operated in 2020
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Asheville School
North Carolina Board of Health
Union for Reform Judaism Camping System

Vaccine Policy

All year-round and seasonal adult staff are required to complete a COVID-19 vaccination series prior to arrival and must provide proof of vaccination.
We are not requiring that campers complete a COVID-19 vaccination series, though we do strongly encourage and anticipate that many age-eligible campers will be vaccinated.
If your camper has been vaccinated, please upload a PDF of their vaccine card into CampInTouch.

Pre-Camp Expectations

The behavior of camp families before camp will contribute to our success or failure during camp this summer. We are requiring families to adhere to a set of behavior guidelines before camp, because ultimately, what families do in the two weeks before camp impacts how successful we will be in keeping COVID-19 out of camp. Please do not put your child’s summer experience, and those of everyone else in our community at risk by engaging in risky activities before camp.

Please avoid any indoor unmasked exposure outside your immediate family, even to vaccinated people.
Please participate only in necessary school, daycare, or camps, and only those that follow CDC guidance.
Please avoid all public gatherings of more than five people outside of your household.
Please avoid hosting overnight guests in your home who are not part of your immediate family or COVID-19 bubble.
Please avoid staying overnight in someone else’s home who. isnot part of your immediate family or COVID-19 bubble.
Please avoid all travel outside of your home region.

At-Camp Guiding Principals

To minimize the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, enhanced cleaning methods will be employed to reduce transmission risk. Protocols will include specialized cleaning of communal spaced, shared items, frequently touched surfaces, and overall hand washing and sanitizing.

RECOMMENDED PRE-CAMP TESTING

We recommend a PCR test 12 days prior to Opening Day. If the test is positive, the camper is required to quarantine for 10 days and if they are symptom free at the conclusion of that 10 day period, they will be allowed to come to camp.

Required Pre-Camp Testing FOR All Campers

ALL campers (vaccinated and unvaccinated) are required to submit results of a negative PCR test taken 3-5 days before the start of the session. Third session begins on Tuesday, July 20, so the earliest day you can schedule a PCR test is Thursday, July 15.

Please upload the results of your PCR test through your CampInTouch account. Click on “Forms and Documents” then “Pre-Arrival Screening”.

Required Pre-Camp Testing for Campers Arriving by Car

These policies pertain to anyone dropping off campers by car and includes families who are flying to Asheville together and then dropping off by car.

This summer, there are 2 parts – and 2 locations – to our opening day plan, all designed to minimize COVID risk to our campers and staff. Part 1 of Opening Day drop off will take place at Enka High School, approximately 10 minutes from camp, and guided by our camp staff.

At Enka High, each camper arriving by car will be administered an Abbot Binax Now rapid antigen test. The rapid test will take place in your personal vehicle, and the family will proceed to camp upon a negative test result.
- If there is a positive test on the rapid antigen test (which is following a negative PCR test 3 days earlier), we will re-test the camper again.
- If the camper is symptom free and the third test is negative, we will assume the first rapid antigen test yielded a false positive and the camper may proceed to camp.
- If the second rapid antigen test comes back positive, we will ask you to go to Mission Hospital to receive a PCR test.
We will not be testing parents, but we will require that every person in the car wear a mask throughout the drop-off process.
If you have not already shared your preferred arrival time to Enka High School, please do so here.

Required Pre-Camp Testing For Campers Arrival by Plane

Campers must take a rapid antigen test after 7pm the night before they get on a plane. Our recommendation is to purchase the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self Test, available at CVS, Walgreens, and other retail stores. Please email a picture of the rapid antigen test result to 6PointsHealth@urj.org.
If a camper tests positive on the rapid antigen test, a second rapid antigen test should be administered. If the second test is also positive, it should be followed by a PCR test, and they may not attend camp that session.
Campers must wear masks in the airport and on the bus and will sit distanced from each other.
All bus drivers will be vaccinated and are required to take an Abbot Binax Now rapid antigen test prior to transporting our campers
Campers traveling by plane will not be tested on Opening Day.

Required Pre-Camp Testing For Campers ARRIVING BY BUS (ATLANTA, Raleigh/Greensboro)

Campers must take a rapid antigen test after 7pm the night before they get on a camp bus. Our recommendation is to purchase the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self Test, available at CVS, Walgreens, and other retail stores. Please email a picture of the rapid antigen test result to 6PointsHealth@urj.org.
If a camper tests positive on the rapid antigen test, a second rapid antigen test should be administered. If the second test is also positive, it should be followed by a PCR test, and they may not attend camp that session.
Campers must wear masks on the bus and will sit distanced from each other.
All bus drivers will be vaccinated and are required to take an Abbot Binax Now rapid antigen test prior to transporting our campers
Campers traveling by bus will not be tested on Opening Day.

In-Camp Testing

Campers will take 2 separate PCR tests during the session. These will be conducted on day 3 (Friday) and day 6 (Monday).
We are partnering with Northshore Clinical Labs of Chicago to administer our in-camp testing program and provide professional testing crews on our site. Samples are collected via Anterior Nares swab – a simple front nostril swab (not the “brain-tickler” you may have seen before). You may receive an “Explanation of Benefits” (EOB) from your health insurance company for tests conducted at Camp. There is nothing you need to do. You will not be charged; it is not a bill. All costs for testing are being paid, whether your insurance company pays the claim or not.

Isolation Procedures at Camp

If a person tests positive, that person will be isolated in our second health center. We will ask families to arrange for the camper to be picked up from camp care until they are picked up from camp.
- The cohort will isolate, subject to further testing, and follow a shadow schedule

Intersession

Campers who are with us for either 2 or 3 sessions must attend intersession as it would be impossible for campers to leave between sessions and still adhere to our pre-camp testing protocols prior to the next session beginning.
All campers staying for multiple sessions must adhere to all testing procedures.

Masks

The URJ medical task force has determined that all campers and staff will be using disposable masks this summer.
We ask that you send six disposable masks per day for your camper.
We understand that disposable masks are not optimal for the environment.
When campers are with their cohort, they are not required to mask.
Masks at outdoor sports majors and electives will not be needed when athletes are distanced. When athletes are huddling or within 6 feet for drills, they will be masked.
Masks at indoor sports majors and electives will not be needed when athletes are working exclusively with other athletes from their cohort.
Masks at indoor sports majors and electives will be needed when cohorts are mixing.
Masks will not be worn at camp when eating, sleeping, showering, or swimming at camp.

Thank you for partnering with us!

COVID-19 FAQS

Pre-Camp Precautions

Why do we still have to adhere to pre-camp guidelines even if we are vaccinated?

There are still “break-through” cases, and we want to help make sure that you are not one of them.
There are other viruses out there that are not COVID. If you come in with one of those, we will probably have to rule out COVID by isolating you and your bunk while we test to see what you have.
Many viruses present with COVID-like symptoms. Quarantining with your family not only keeps your immediate family safe, but also helps to safeguard our entire camp community against COVID and other viruses that may make their way into camp. Thank you in advance for doing your part to help keep our community healthy this summer.

What if I have had COVID within 90 days before the start of my camp session?

Contact your camp in advance and bring the test results with you. After 90 days, if the camper is still in camp and if the camp is still in its testing week, the camper will pick up the same testing schedule as the camp.

What kinds of COVID tests do I have to do before my Camp session?

See the above section on “Testing” for specifics. If your test comes back positive, please let your Camp’s office know.

How Does Camper Luggage Get To Camp?

We strongly urge families to get their luggage to us ahead of opening day this summer.

We have partnered with a 3rd party company called Lugless that will help organize the pickup and delivery of luggage. Please click here to receive a $15 credit and visit our custom 6 Points/Lugless page to schedule your luggage delivery to camp.

Families may also use UPS/FedEx directly.

Families who are arriving by car and will be in Asheville on Monday night, we ask that you drop off your luggage at the front gate between 4pm and 6pm on Monday.

All luggage that is delivered to camp before Opening Day will be in your child’s room when they arrive at camp.

Vaccination Policies

Is URJ recommending that we vaccinate our campers 12 years old and older?

Yes. Our URJ Camps Medical Advisory Team strongly encourages the families of all who are eligible to join our fully vaccinated staff. The higher our percentage of vaccinated individuals becomes, the better for the camp community.
The FDA has approved under an EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-15. This adds to the EUA for teens and adults 16 and older. Vaccinations will provide an important tool to mitigate the risks of COVID at Camp this summer.

What if we cannot get both Pfizer doses for our 12+-year-old campers prior to the summer?

The ideal situation is to get both doses, three weeks apart, with the second dose administered two weeks before your session’s Opening Day. This will be easier for those campers arriving for Session 2 or Session 3.
If you cannot get the second shot, you are still protected two weeks after your first shot. The second dose can be given after camp.

Why do vaccinated campers need to be on the same testing schedule as non-vaccinated campers?

While vaccines are incredibly effective, they are not 100% effective.
The camper community is also not 100% vaccinated. Of the 2-dose Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, some eligible campers have had two doses pre-camp, some have had one dose pre-camp, and some have chosen not to vaccinate.
Because of the recent approval of the EUA, campers who have been vaccinated may not be fully immunized until partially through their camp session.

TESTING PROCEDURES

We are having trouble finding a PCR Test three days before opening day that will guarantee results by opening day.

We have arranged with Northshore Clinical Laboratories to mail all our families a home PCR test kit for each camper.
- Swab three days before camp.
- Send the samples via pre-paid FedEx to the lab.
- They will receive the next morning, run the test, and send the results to the Camp and you.
- There is no charge to you.

What if FedEx does not deliver to the lab in time to get the test results on opening day?

There is an extra day built in to the process so both camp and your family should feel confident in this process. You can track your delivery to the lab through FedEx.

What if our camper is flying in or Taking the Atlanta/Raleigh/Greensboro Bus for Opening Day?

If campers are leaving their parents at the airport and flying in, we will send you an Abbott Binax Now rapid antigen test for you to administer at home the day before travel and after 12pm. It is authorized for home use. Take a photo of the negative test and upload to your CampInTouch account.
If campers are flying in with you and being brought to camp, your camper will go through the regular Opening Day testing procedure at Enka High School.

What happens if my camper had COVID within the past 90 days but is testing negative for COVID? Do they still need to be in the same testing protocol as non-vaccinated individuals?

Contact us in advance and email the results to 6PointsHealth@urj.org. After 90 days, if your child is still in camp and if camp is still in its testing week, your child will pick up the same testing schedule as camp.

What happens if my camper tests positive for COVID during Opening Day?

You will not be able to enter camp. We will give you the address of the local clinic or hospital that has the capacity to conduct a PCR test so that you can obtain a negative test and return to camp.
If the PCR test confirms that your camper has COVID, we will try to make or find space for a later session.

What happens if my camper tests positive for COVID during PCR surveillance testing during the first week of camp?

You will be notified by camp by phone and asked to arrange pick up for your child.
We will forward the lab results of the test to you.
All positive test results are reported to your state of residence.

What happens if someone in my child’s mishpacha tests positive during PCR Surveillance testing or later if someone in their mishpacha tests positive?

You will be notified by the camp by email.
We will begin to test your child and all other campers in the mishpacha for a week.
The pod will participate in a “shadow program.”

PROGRAM POLICIES

How do you decide what guidelines are needed to keep camp safe and when to change them as CDC guidance changes?

There is a group of doctors and staff members at the URJ responsible for developing guidance for URJ Camps. They work together with subject-area specialists.

Who is advising URJ on medical and behavioral issues as we plan for the summer?

The Medical Advisory Group is a team of five doctors who have experience or specialization in public health and infectious disease.
They meet regularly to review and modify system policies.
Our camp has a Medical Director in addition to the physicians and nurses serving on-site during the summer.

What does it mean for Camp to be in a bubble this summer?

During each session, all campers are expected to arrive on time and not leave the camp grounds for non-emergency or non-business-oriented reasons.
If circumstances allow or the CDC recommendations change, we will review this policy.

What Masks Do I need to Pack?

Please pack 6 disposable masks per day that your child will be at camp.
We will only accept disposable masks this summer and will have extras for any child who needs.

Will all staff be living in Camp or will some be going home at night? How are you limiting that risk?

Yes, all camp staff will be living on campus this summer and are fully vaccinated.

What if a camper or staff member must leave camp for a medical emergency like an x-ray or dental problem?

Our staff member will be present the entire time. Both will wear masks, observe physical distancing, and visit a medical facility where strict COVID protocols are in place. They will be allowed to return to their mishpacha on return.

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