Penn State has issued rules and precautions which follow, or may in some cases exceed, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It is your child’s sole responsibility to follow these protocols and acknowledge that failure to do so may result in your child’s removal from the Program.
Parental Acknowledgement
I acknowledge and agree that attendance at any public event, including Youth Programs, involves certain unavoidable risks such as exposure to or infection by transmissible diseases, viruses, and other illnesses (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and its variants). On behalf of myself and my child, I assume any and all such risk and acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, severe complications, permanent disability, and/or death to my child or others. I agree on behalf of myself and my child to adhere to all applicable University policies including, but not limited to, those intended to mitigate the spread of transmissible illnesses. I understand it is my and my child’s responsibility to practice basic health, safety, and sanitation measures to avoid contracting or spreading transmissible illnesses. I further agree that my child will not attend the event if they are symptomatic of any commonly spread transmissible illness.
Note: While the current guidelines do not require campers to wear masks in the spaces that will be utilized for this camp, we are fully supportive of mask-wearing for those who choose to do so.
Vaccination Status
- Although Penn State is a pro-vaccination organization, vaccination is not required for participation in this camp.
- Camp staff can neither make room assignments based on vaccination status nor share contact information for other campers or their families.
- A very limited number of single rooms may be available upon request and are not guaranteed.
COVID-19 Infection during Camp
Although COVID-19 cases have declined and we are hoping for a healthy camp season, there is always a chance of a camper being infected with the virus while they are participating in the program. For this residential camp, the following guidelines will be followed:
- If a camper develops symptoms of COVID-19 during camp, camp staff will call the parent(s)/guardian(s) and inform them of the situation.
- The camper will be asked to self-administer a rapid test that they have brought to camp.
- A trained counselor or parent/guardian (via Zoom) will supervise the camper as they self-administer the test.
- Extra tests will be available for those who need one.
- If the camper tests positive, they will be immediately isolated from the other participants and asked to wear a mask.
- To mitigate the potential spread to others, we require that a parent, guardian, or designated emergency contact come pick up the camper according to the following timelines:
- If the camper was driven to camp, pick-up is required within 10 hours. Campers who drove themselves to camp can drive themselves home immediately if feeling well enough to do so.
- If the camper flew to camp, pick-up is required within 24 hours.
- This may require parents/guardians to make local lodging arrangements to wait out the isolation period with their child before flying home.
- Please consider whether you have a trusted friend or family member within driving distance of University Park who could pick up the camper in this situation.
- In cases where pick-up before bedtime is not possible, the camper will be required to isolate in their dorm room. Their roommate will be moved.
- Meals will be delivered during isolation, and camp staff, who will be housed on the same floor, will routinely check-in with the camper via cell phone.
- Note that the camper will be alone in their room and unable to leave until they are picked up other than to use the restroom.
- If a camper is extremely ill, they will be taken to the nearest healthcare facility.
- Because of the possibility that a camper may be required to isolate for a period of time until they are picked up, we ask that you consider your child’s mental and emotional preparedness for this situation as you decide whether to register them for camp.
- Campers should bring 1–2 rapid COVID-19 tests and well-fitting mask to camp in case they need to be used per these guidelines.
COVID-19 Questions
If you have questions about COVID-19 topics at the University, please review the resources available on Penn State COVID-19 Information website to see if your questions already are answered, or for camp-specific questions or concerns, please reach out to your program manager.
Faculty, staff, and students across all Penn State campuses can contact the Penn State COVID-19 Call Center at 814-865-2121 or submit an online contact form. The Call Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. The Call Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.