Camp Akita COVID Policies
(Updated:  October, 2023)


COVID remains a threat to the health of our camper and staff, although (thankfully) vaccines are widespread and cases are often mild. COVID is a highly contagious virus that can quickly spread in a close-knit community like Camp Akita. We will continue to enforce the following COVID policies even if they are stricter than schools or other institutions.

Camp Akita will continue to follow guidance from…

The American Camp Association (ACA)
Alliance for Camp Health (ACH)
The CDC: COVID-19 Toolkit
The CDC: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
The Ohio Department of Health Guidance for Residential Camps


Before Camp

  • If a camper is ill (fever, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea) or has been exposed to COVID, that camper must please stay home. Please review this symptom checker prior to arriving to camp check-in:  CDC: Symptoms of COVID
Vaccines
  • COVID-19 vaccines are not required of campers or staff; however, we strongly urge campers and staff to receive the vaccine if they are eligible to help protect our full-camp community.
Masks
  • Masks are no longer required at Camp Akita or Check-in. Anyone is welcome to wear a mask, and those who choose to do so will be respected.
  • Masks may be required in certain camp locations, such as inside the Infirmary, just as they might be in a physician’s office. In these cases, masks will be provided.

What happens if a camper develops COVID symptoms?
  • Campers who become ill at camp with any potentially contagious symptoms, including suspected COVID (fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, body aches, and/or other symptoms), will be quarantined and will return home as soon as possible. In prior summers, we would “wait and see” if campers felt better over time; “wait and see” is no longer a best practice for us, and instead, campers will return home to receive care from parents/guardians.

  • Parent/guardians should plan to pick up their child within 2 hours of receiving a call from Camp Akita. In the meantime, campers will wait in the Infirmary or quarantine area.
  • Camp Akita will not issue COVID tests to campers, even if the camp nurse finds their symptoms are consistent with COVID. We encourage families to take their camper to receive a COVID test through your physician’s office.
  • If a camper returns home due to suspected COVID, all cabin mates (regardless of vaccination status) may remain at camp as long as they are not exhibiting symptoms.

If my camper goes home due to COVID, what is the refund policy?

Although it is unfortunate, some campers do leave Camp Akita during a session due to illness, injury, or other extraordinary circumstances. We do not reimburse or pro-rate a refund due to a camper leaving mid-session as we will have already incurred the costs for the camper at the time of their arrival. This includes any campers who are sent home due to potential COVID symptoms.

If First Community Church/Camp Akita determines that a camp session will be canceled prior to the start of that session due to a COVID-19 outbreak, a full refund minus the non-refundable deposit will be issued.


May a camper leave during their camp session and return to camp that same session? 

  • If the camper left due to illness, then tested positive for COVID once home … no. We require campers to complete the full 10-day quarantine and isolation period prior to returning to Camp Akita.
  • If the camper left due to a potentially contagious illness … maybe. The camper must be fever-free for 24 hours, exhibit no further symptoms, and have proof of a negative COVID test.
  • If the camper left due to an injury or any other non-contagious reason … yes.
What other COVID policies will remain? 

We put new policies into effect in Summer 2021 for COVID purposes; after trying those policies, they have become best practices! Although these are no longer necessary from a public health perspective, we plan to continue the following:
  • The Tent. For the last three years, we rented a big-top tent to move more activities outdoors. We loved it! This summer, campers will see the tent in the gravel circle again.
  • Eating together. Cabins will continue to eat together in the Dining Hall. Having an assigned table for each cabin dramatically decreased anxiety in the Dining Hall; campers knew they would have a seat with friends and did not feel rushed to find a place to sit. Counselors will rotate tables so that campers get to know more and different staff throughout the week.
  • Quick good-byes at Check-In. Adults accompanying their camper(s) will be asked to leave the church upon completing Check-In; campers will stay with Counselors in Grace Hall (the final step of check-in). Adults are welcome to wait in the parking lot to wave good-bye but may not linger indoors, or on the patio, after dropping off camper(s). We saw a dramatic decrease in tears at Check-In due to these quicker goodbyes.