Yes! We require all campers to be vaccinated, and we strongly encourage them to be up to date with boosters. For staff, we require everyone to be vaccinated AND fully updated on boosters. We appreciate your understanding!

Current Plans for Summer 2023:

Since the COVID landscape is ever changing we will continue to monitor the situation and update our policies as appropriate. These plans apply to BOTH the 1st and 2nd session.

(Updated 4/26/23)

• We are requiring Covid and other Vaccinations to keep our campers and staff healthy and safe.
• We will require campers and staff to take a rapid test the morning that they depart for camp. We will ask to see a picture of the negative test. If the test is positive, please call us to discuss next steps.
• We will test campers and staff upon arrival to camp using rapid tests (reminder that we are asking all campers and staff to bring 4 rapid tests to camp, which are available for free until May 11th). Please have a rapid test accessible upon arrival to camp.
• We will test all campers and staff 3 days into camp using rapid tests, and will test symptomatic people throughout the summer.
• Everyone should bring a supply of masks to camp- we will use them during the first 3 days for large indoor gatherings (i.e. concerts).
• Campers will arrive throughout the afternoon at different times, depending on age group (see the “how will drop-off work this summer?” tab for more information)
• We WILL be having Trip Days this summer
• We WILL be having Family & Friends Day during both sessions, as long as all goes well during our sessions!
  • We will ask all guests to take a rapid test the morning of Parents Day 
  • During 1st session Friends & Family Day, we may ask all guests to wear masks while indoors on camp, (excluding meals).

Covid Precautions for Family & Friends Visiting Days

• Families should take a rapid test the morning of Family Day
• Families may be asked to wear masks while indoors during 1st session Family & Friends Day (excluding meals).
• We will announce whether campers may eat dinner off camp with their families closer to the start of camp.

About Family Visiting Days

Family Visiting Days take place on the final Friday of 1st Session (July 21st) and the final Saturday of 2nd Session (August 12th) and feature performances and workshops by all of our performing ensembles including theater groups. At any given time, several ensembles are likely to be performing in different locations, and many campers participate in several ensembles. We coordinate the overall schedule of the day carefully so that campers can get in all of their performances without conflicts.
 
A typical Family Visiting Day schedule is as follows:
 
9:30 am  Grab & Go Coffee and donuts from the main office porch
10:00 am Concerts and workshops begin
11:30 am Buffet picnic lunch begins and continues until 2 PM
 
Concerts and workshops continue through the day

2:00 pm Lower Camp Theater performance in the concert hall
4:30 pm Upper Camp Theater performance in the concert hall
   

Every camper should take a rapid test the morning that they depart for camp.

For Families and Campers Arriving by Car:
-Families must wear masks when indoors (cabin, bathroom, etc)

-Families are welcome to walk around camp and explore!

-Drop-off times:

11:00 am – CITs

1:30 pm – Seniors (finishing grades 9, 10, and 11)

2:30 pm – Intermediates (finishing grades 7 and 8)

4:00 pm – Lower Campers (finishing grades 3 through 6)

If you are bringing siblings in different age groups, we prefer that you arrive at the later time, unless one of them is a CIT, in which case, please plan to arrive at 11 am

In addition to the head staff which meets daily during camp to discuss all matters of camp including COVID protocols, we have a wonderful team of Registered Nurses! Our Nurses are committed to monitoring the health and safety of all of our campers. They communicate with the Bridgton Family Practice and are up to date with protocols suggested by the Alliance of Camp Health (ACH) and the American Camp Association (ACA). With their expertise and our experiences of successful 2021 and 2022 seasons, we are confident we will meet the challenges of 2023 with thoughtful preparation and skilled solutions.

Current Plans for Summer 2022:

Since the COVID landscape is ever changing we will continue to monitor the situation and update our policies as appropriate.

(Updated 6/10/22)

• As mentioned before, we require vaccinations.
• We will require campers and staff to take a rapid test the day before they arrive to camp (24 hours).
• We will test campers and staff upon arrival to camp using rapid tests
• We will test campers and staff 5 days into camp using rapid tests, and will test symptomatic people throughout the summer, in addition to anyone who is exposed.
• Everyone should bring a supply of masks – we will use them during the first 5 days for large indoor gatherings.
• We will have the same drive-thru and staggered drop-off times. If parents wish to enter cabins, they need to wear masks.
• We will not be taking campers off camp for trips
• We are HAVING Parents Day for both sessions, as long as all goes well during our sessions!
  • We will ask all guests to take a rapid test the morning of Parents Day (we suggest taking a test 1 day before and the day of if possible).
  • We will ask all guests to wear masks while on camp, except while eating.

Before Camp:

• Asked all campers and staff to limit activity for 2 weeks prior to arriving on camp (no indoor dining, no large gatherings, etc.)
• Asked all campers and staff to complete a 10 day symptom checker to be turned in on Drop-off Day
• All campers and staff had to be PCR tested within 72 hours of coming to camp with results turned in to camp (we worked with an outside testing company–Heed Health)

Drop-off Day:

• All family members were asked to stay in their vehicles and wear masks when interacting with staff
• We had a drive-through health screening with our camp nurses where we took temps, collected the symptom checker and confirmed the PCR test status. Anyone with a high temperature was given a rapid test
• Anyone who was flying in was given a rapid test

First 5 Days of Camp:

• We structured our camp around cohorts, which started as individual cabin cohorts. When you were with just your cohort, you were allowed to be unmasked. Any cross-cohorting required masking and distance.
• On the 5th day we retested the entire camp with PCR tests
• We got the test results back and each session they all came back negative!

During Camp:

• Once we had negative test results, we expanded the cohorts to upper camp and lower camp.
• All meals were eaten outdoors when weather permitted
• We rehearsed outdoors in tents as much as possible
• We asked all wind and brass musicians to have playing masks and bell covers
• Singers wore masks when singing
• Concerts were often staged differently to maintain distance requirements
• During indoor All-Camp activities audience wore masks
• Staff were allowed to leave camp but were required to stay away from groups of people (i.e. a large line or outdoor dining area)
• Campers adjusted to this ‘new normal’ easily and we had a great time!

Pick-up Day:

• We did not have our usual Parents Day performances, but the campers performed for each other! Those performances were recorded and shared with families in the fall.
• Pick-up procedures were the same as drop-off.