What is Camp James 2020 looking like?

UPDATED June 26th – The CDPH Covid-19 Industry Guidance: Day Camps

Need more information?  Email directors@campjames.com for the fastest response; we are in the office weekdays and returning calls as fast as we can but encourage emails so we can get back to you faster as well as on weekends.

We have had a great first session and are learning as we go on how to create camp during the pandemic.  Our staff are eager to make this a fun and memorable summer for our campers!  In order to plan for this summer, refunds will not be given but rather a credit that can be used in the future.  Thank you for understanding.

In response to COVID-19, changes to allow camp to operate safely have been made based on recommendations of the CDC and the American Camp Association.  Here is a Letter to our 2020 Camp Families.

Camp is now offering 5 set sessions of camp.  It is recommended by the CDC that camp groups be as homogeneous as possible so creating a camp where the groups have the same kids for 10 days at a time will help achieve this.  Camp sessions being offered are

Session 1: June 15th -June 26th

Session 2: June 29th – July 10th

Session 3: July 13th – July 24th

Session 4: July 27th – August 7th

Session 5: August 10th – August 21st

As of now, our Team will be expected to wear a mask while at camp with the exception of water activities, lunch, and any other activities where it is deemed necessary.  Due to the nature of our work and the heat, we will monitor the mask policy to keep everybody as safe as can be. Campers are not required to wear masks BUT STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO but that is at each family’s discretion. We would like masks that have straps that allow a child to remove it but it hangs around their neck as this will prevent masks being fully removed from the body and possibly lost.  We have spare masks available as well.

Camp will now operate in 5 different base camp zones instead of 1.  This will allow groups to space out more during the morning drop off, lunch time, and pick up.  Extended daycare will be NO longer be offered since it does not permit for these homogeneous groups.  

As required by the CDC, we will be doing a health screening each day using contactless thermometers .  Parents will remain in their car and not come into camp.  We will be doing a drive thru pick up this summer. Your patience and understanding with this new drop off and pick up process will be needed. It will take some time as we implement this new system.  

Camp group capacity has been reduced.  As has always been our practice, we will not overfill a group.  This is with the safety of everyone in mind.  Our overall camp size is expected to be half the size of our typical summer.  This also means we will fill up quicker than ever.   Parents are eager for their children to get back to the important business of play.

Hot lunches will only be sold in advance either online within your account or by emailing the directors to add it.  Lunches must be purchased at least the night before.

Camp hours are now 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, with the main camp activities from 9:45 am – 3:30 pm.

Campers will be asked to bring their own water bottle and younger campers encouraged to have a sunscreen face stick for easy application by them (or with a little help).  Children will need to be able to put their own shoes on, clothe themselves, keep track of their water bottle, clean up after themselves, and understand that they must keep their hands to themselves.  It is time now to foster this independence and we will support that continued learning at camp.

Camp will be adding additional hand washing stations as well as mandatory hand washing times throughout the day.  The camp team will be taking extra steps between camp groups to sanitize any equipment or tables as well as a focus on planning activities that allow campers to spread out and have their own supplies for a project.

As of now, most of camp activities will still be able to be offered.  It is our intention to have all of our water activities, but we cannot control if the bay is closed and or if the Newport Dunes decides they cannot safely open their waterpark.  Water activities are  just a small portion of a camper’s day and refunds will not be given based on removal of activities.

These guidelines and procedures are subject to change based on information from the CDC, government agencies, and the American Camp Association.  Our website will be updated on a regular basis and emails sent to our registered families.

Registrations taken from May 20th and on will not be eligible for refunds for any reason, including camp is not able to operate.  A credit will be left on your account for next summer/future summers.  In order to move forward planning for this summer we must be secure of our finances.  Thank you for understanding.

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