The Council Room

[DavidAyars]

I’ve thought often the past couple of months: what would have happened to Wyanoke if we’d had a pandemic during our summers at camp? The last comparable event, the Spanish flu pandemic, surely affected at least early summer seasons 1918 and 1919 at Wyanoke.

I’ve been visiting the websites of camps my kids and their friends attended. Oddly (to me) not one camp has made any mention of their plans for the summer of 2020 in light of the virus on their homepages. The camp websites all still seem in normal recruitment mode, as if nothing unusual is going on. I doubt that’s working well to drive in new enrollments at this point, or since mid-March for that matter, but You Do You, summer camps. I'm sure they're in contact updating families that have enrolled.

An article about the summer camp business in the covid-19 era ran in the Boston Globe today. I'll summarize it below. Note: an unusually aggressive paywall will typically block you from reading a second article and possibly even this article a second time if you navigate away from it, but here’s the link: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/14/nation/summer-camps-are-limbo-causing-more-hardship-operators-parents-kids/
The article discussed what’s going on behind the scenes in the summer camp business. As it indicates, social distancing and summer camps aren’t a very good fit.

A few weeks ago, the federal CDC was reportedly on the verge of issuing guidance to summer camps among other businesses, but their document was shelved on orders from above. So the American Camping Association is working with medical experts to develop its own set of guidelines for camps.

States are developing policy which will in some cases be stricter than ACA guidelines. Connecticut will allow day camps (limited to 30 campers per program) but not overnight camps this summer. Maine has decreed that camps may open this summer but only limited to gatherings of no more than 50 people total. Also anyone coming to a Maine summer camp from another state must immediately quarantine for two weeks. That policy in NH would certainly have changed things at Wyanoke.

Per the Globe article, some camps have heard what’s coming and have recently said, we can’t run our model consistent with these restrictions and are canceling the 2020 summer season. Some have said, we can do it; we will clean shared surfaces constantly and check temperatures of campers and staff daily.

The material in this paragraph was not in the Globe article, but I'll note: even checking for fevers daily is no guarantee with a virus that generally has a 2-14 day lag of being asymptomatic but is probably contagious. Roughly 15% of patients may never develop a fever or show other symptoms. Also the latest guidance suggests that this virus is most easily contracted by close proximity to aerosolized droplets from sneezing, coughing, singing or talking animatedly, rather than touching a contaminated surface and then touching the face. The latter can transmit the virus but is apparently less common. If that is correct, constant cleaning of shared surfaces is not as useful a preventive measure as simply avoiding the unmasked sharing of space with a sick person, especially longer than momentary sharing of space. Longer-than-momentary shared proximity with other people in an enclosed space is hard to avoid at an overnight summer camp.

Back to the Globe article: one idea that’s been floated for overnight camps is bringing everyone in and locking the camp down. No one goes out. No one else comes in. If they make it through that initial immigration without people getting sick, so goes the theory, they’ll be fine. That could work, but a camp can’t completely isolate from deliveries of food and other supplies and services. And the camp would need some luck with no medical emergencies like a fracture or appendicitis symptoms.

A summer camp that has to shut down and forgo tuition income still has expenses such as property tax and maintenance, typically with little savings or endowment to get through a rough patch. It’s likely some camps will not survive canceling even one summer season.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[DavidAyars]

The CDC did release covid-19 guidelines for summer camps yesterday.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/summer-camps.html and especially scroll to the bottom for the material specific to overnight summer camps, but I'll summarize it below.

Following these guidelines at a camp like Wyanoke could certainly test courage and loyalty. Besides what I would have expected about cleaning common surfaces, washing hands, and wearing masks, CDC guidelines for overnight camps call for grouping people from the same geographic localities together in tent/cabin groups, and then keeping them together and sharply limiting interactions between the smaller units. To comply campers would do activities with their tent or cabin group, run by the councilor and JC for that group. Of course camp staff don't know how to teach all activities equally well.

Large camp-wide gatherings like campfires, movie night, or Sunday service would not occur. Mountain climbing trips to AMC huts would not occur. Intercamp sports and Sunday afternoon etc. excursions to other destinations that could not be run while maintaining social distancing would be out.

Meals would be served outdoors or in the tents and cabins rather than in a communal dining hall. Beds would be spaced six feet apart with plastic shields separating beds and bathroom stalls, where the six foot distance could not be maintained. Sharing camp equipment and personal possessions would be discouraged.

Someone who tested positive but was asymptomatic would be isolated at camp. If somebody got sick with the virus, they would be sent home, and their tent or cabin group, kids and staff, would be sent home too. You need to plan a way to get people home.

Eeeesh.

Camp directors are in a tough spot. Those who follow these guidelines risk disappointing campers and parents who signed up for more. If some number of people at camp get seriously sick or worse, besides that tragedy, those camp directors who have ignored significant parts of the guidelines have got a potential public relations and liability problem. Those camp directors who duck the trap by preemptively closing the camp for the summer and have to refund a lot of money may be financially unable to reopen.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[DavidAyars]

AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) announced two days ago that all eight of their high-mountain huts in the White Mountains, where many Wyanokers stayed over the years, will remain closed through 2020. They've never before closed their hut system for an entire calendar year.

https://www.outdoors.org/articles/a-look-back-amc-closes-all-eight-high-mountain-huts-for-the-first-time-in-132-years

It's not surprising, since the huts are too small for social distancing. Hut sleeping quarters are generally shared bunk rooms. It would be fairly easy for many guests in a bunk room to get sick if one guest had the virus.

In earlier news, officials tried keeping Mt. Washington skiing going a couple of weeks past mid-March when everything else was shutting down, but gave up and closed the Mt. Washington area to all use in early April:

https://mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/R9-22-20-02-Restricting-Public-Entrance-Into-the-Cutler-River-Drainage_ClosureOrder.pdf

This action was taken after a weekend in Tuckerman Ravine reportedly looked at peak like Frat Blowout Central. (All the other ski areas nearby had shut down early for the season.)

Whether that closure will be lifted this summer for day hiking is unclear. Officials remain concerned about having to do emergency rescue.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[Bob Kennington]

I was reading that YMCA camps on Lake Winnipesaukee will open. Now, finding that information again isn't working out.

Newest first, here's a couple of discussions on this year's COVID-19 in New Hampshire and on Lake Winnipesaukee:
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25705&highlight=camps

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25656&highlight=camps

[DavidAyars]

Here is the guidance from the New Hampshire state taskforce on reopening, specifically for NH summer camps, issued May 19, 2020, as summarized by NH Public Radio:
https://www.nhpr.org/post/reopening-taskforce-recommends-steps-nh-camps-sports-museums

Day and overnight summer camps may operate in NH this summer. O-nite camps must screen all at check-in, staggering arrivals and minimizing lines. Staff will wear masks at check-in and in certain other situations. Kids do not need to wear masks. Unlike Maine, there is nothing in the article about quarantining camp arrivals from out-of-state for 14 days.

NH camps will follow the part of the CDC guidance where campers are grouped, maximum 12-16 campers, though there's nothing in the article about grouping by home location. NH will permit meeting outside the small groups such as for activities, provided that the activity can be run with social distancing.

Field trips and all-camp activities/assemblies are not permitted, though that could change later in the summer. Nothing in the article about how meal service should be done, but it would seem that the all-camp assembly prohibition would rule out service for all simultaneously in a dining hall. Also the guidelines stress being outdoors as much as possible.

Not really the camp experience we knew, but the restrictions seem reasonable. Less strict than Maine or Connecticut.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[David Bentley]

David, your posts are excellent. Because of the COVID restrictions I have not been able to sit and talk with a friend here in town who is deeply involved with a camp, but I am sure he is wrestling with the same issues.

Personally, I am very relieved to not have to make this decision. The scales are loaded on both sides with credible reasons for acting in either direction, however, my personal "risk tolerance" is very low, so, if pushed, I would probably come down on the side of extreme safety and not operate camp this summer. I understand the implications of this decision, but to put 250 (or so) people at risk, even minimally, is not worth the benefit to me.

Trying to think back 45 years complicates my decision because I was not involved with the business end of the camp. I feel strongly that my father would have struggled with his decision, but he did have to recognize the hard cold facts of what would be the consequences if something happened during the summer and Wyanoke became a "hot spot". I think he would feel there are too many "ifs" in the equation, and would opt to not open.

I can honestly say that there are so many factors to consider, and the time difference (45 years), that this may be a question that can not be answered.
_________________
C-1 49 J-7 52 S-3 55 J-10 58
C-7 50 J-7 53 S-2 56 J-8 59
C-8 51 J-4 54 S-7 57 (JA) J-8 60 - 64
1965 - 1968 Military service
Pine Cone 68 - 75 (with wife,Sherry,
and daughter Tracey)
Wolfeboro - full-time since 1997

[Bob Kennington]

I'd take that risk!

I was just reading that COVID-19 fatalities run 4 per thousand. With 250 campers, you'd only lose ¼ of a camper.

[David Bentley]

I question your math; but, at any rate, this risk is unacceptable.

Now, this isn't to say that on opening day of any past year there wasn't risk, but, that was unknown risk, whereas COVID-19 presents a real risk, not necessarily a sure-thing, but a real risk. Summer camps are almost a breeding ground for risk, but the staff is usually competent to the point of managing that risk so as to keep it under control. Archery, riflery, rock climbing, swimming, bug/bee bites - you name it, it is there.
_________________
C-1 49 J-7 52 S-3 55 J-10 58
C-7 50 J-7 53 S-2 56 J-8 59
C-8 51 J-4 54 S-7 57 (JA) J-8 60 - 64
1965 - 1968 Military service
Pine Cone 68 - 75 (with wife,Sherry,
and daughter Tracey)
Wolfeboro - full-time since 1997

[DavidAyars]

Yes, David, I agree, it's a very tough decision, and I too believe your dad would have wrestled with it long and hard. I wouldn't want to have to decide either.

Adding to the heartbreak for your current camp director friend is the notion, which many articles about the issue have mentioned, that if ever there was a summer in our lifetimes when kids could benefit from a great summer camp experience, it's this one. That's a factor but doesn't necessarily make opening the best decision.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[DavidAyars]

Maine announced today
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/proof-of-negative-covid-19-test-can-be-ticket-into-maine-mills-announces/97-355371e4-8da1-4bbe-8063-e987d0170a8b
that in lieu of a 14-day quarantine, people entering Maine from out-of-state (including but not just those on their way to summer camp) can bring written proof of a negative covid-19 test administered no more than 72 hours before entering. Alternatively they can obtain a covid-19 test in Maine while quarantining only until the results are determined to be negative. Also announced today: VT or NH residents do not need to be tested and no longer need to quarantine upon entering Maine. Which would certainly piss me off if I was a VT or NH resident who had entered Maine on Memorial Day and had dutifully quarantined myself through yesterday LOL!

Where I live covid-19 tests are still relatively uncommon, and most people need to meet certain criteria to get one, which doesn't include traveling. We have seen an uptick in cases the last week or two since tourists have been allowed in without restriction. So far it's just a trickle of new cases (three yesterday in our county, among others last week), but through mid-May we'd gone several weeks with no new cases, so any uptick in incidence is concerning.

Maine has had relatively few cases and fatalities but is aware that many of its visitors come from high-incidence states like Massachusetts and New York, so they've been cautious, but in Maine as elsewhere, tourism interests are pressing to open things back up.

Keep in mind that covid-19 testing has been relatively unreliable with considerably more false negative as well as false positive results than good medical tests generate.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[Bob Kennington]

I am not in this discussion, which is copied from the www.winnipesaukee.com site:

"Also In Wolfeboro, Camps Bernadette and Fatima in Wolfeboro will not be open, Birchmont plans to open but later than usual and the longest session will be 4 weeks instead of 7.

Despite how disappointing no camp this summer surely is to all who were looking forward to it, as well as the financial losses to the owners, I think that it was a mistake for Sununu to allow overnight camps to open and that the camps who decided not to open made the right decision. My son and I loved our combined 21 years as both campers and counselors, mostly in NH and Maine, but I can't imagine how a kid could have a rewarding camp experience under the current circumstances or how the camps can even function with the restrictions imposed. (There are additional restrictions on campers and counselors from out of state; air travel to camp is prohibited but campers and staff from abroad are not specifically prohibited?)*

Sununu has been fuzzy and inconsistent on many things since the beginning, including the 14-day self-quarantine “request” for out-of-staters which has appeared practically nowhere outside of NH news outlets — in other words, the intended targets wouldn't even know about it unless they're on a forum like this or in the habit of checking NH news outlets. States that were serious about restrictions on out-of-staters posted it prominently on their official websites; I scoured NH's — not on any Home Page or tab for Visitors or anywhere that a tourist would see it — and had to Google for Sununu + quarantine to find his March 28 “request.”

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/...52090b7a5.html

“He gave the green light to summer day camps to start June 22, with overnight children’s camps allowed to open June 28.”

This whole thing is mind-blowing:

https://www.covidguidance.nh.gov/sit...ht-camps_1.pdf


*For example:

“Camps are committed to transportation options that limit exposure of out-of-state campers and staff to their local NH communities including:

i. Direct-to-camp/direct-to-home parental/guardian transportation

ii. Only staff and campers that are able to drive to the camp and be

picked-up by car or other privately chartered ground transportation.”

“Camp administrators should be aware of the infection potential of campers and staff traveling from high infection transmission areas and are advised to consider limits to participants from these areas and/or in accord with the State and local agency requirements for regional, interstate, and international travel. If allowed, staff from these areas must quarantine in small groups (<10) for at least 14-days prior to arrival of campers or before introduction to camp and participate in pre-arrival screening.”

Last I heard, Belknap isn't opening and Wolfeboro Camp School is not opening.

Some Camps Will Be Open

Brookwoods in Alton plans to open June 28.

Robindel is closed.

https://www.robindel.com/blog/summer-2020-update/

Tecumseh closed.

https://www.camptecumseh.net/from-the-director-2015/

Camps Lawrence and Nokomis on Bear Island also closed.

Any updates on local camp openings?

The reason I am asking is that the Moultonborough BOS voted to suspend the Rec Dept. summer camp program this year, which I found to be a logical move given the pandemic. However, pushback from parents wanting their children to enjoy the summer is expected.

Curious, I checked out Tecumseh and Robindel sites, both residential camps, and there was nothing about their being closed. If any of you have information, please share with us. I know that Rockywold is closed for the season."

___________________________________

All that said, "Rioting, pillaging, burning, and looting is permitted"!

[DavidAyars]

Interesting info, Bob.

Since I said above that the Mt. Washington area was closed to the public in April, I will update: though I haven't seen any official statement rescinding that policy, and though White Mountain backcountry travel including Appalachian Trail through-hiking is still officially "discouraged," again partly because of concern for volunteers and first responders who might need to do rescues as well as other limited support services, the area has begun to reopen in various ways:

--After over two months of images with no one in sight, I'm seeing people again on the Mt. Washington summit cam ( https://www.mountwashington.org/premium-content/webcam-videos/observation-deck.aspx ), though not at typical June levels yet

--New Hampshire's stay-at-home order officially ends effective June 15th (but is not being observed strictly, anyway)

--The Mt. Washington Auto Road reopened for self-driving to the summit June 11th, though not yet for guided tours.

--The Mt. Washington Cog Railway reopens June 20th, with reduced capacity for social distancing

But as noted above, the AMC huts will remain closed for all of 2020.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[DavidAyars]

Many overnight camps chose to bag the summer (or their state chose to bag it for them). Some are running using the bubble technique, nobody in or out once the season starts, and apparently, things are going well at many of those. At least they're not hitting the news.

But here's a detailed, chilling report from CDC about what went wrong at one o-nite camp in Georgia. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e1.htm

The closure of this camp made the news a month ago when it happened, but what wasn't widely known until today was that after people got home and got tested, a staggeringly high infection rate was found among staff and campers who were only there for about one week.

This is a big camp, named as a YMCA camp at some news websites. Over 260 people were on staff, and over 360 campers were attending at the start of the season. Fifteen people could be in one cabin. The camp complied with many state recommendations for summer camps, including requiring negative covid tests from staff and campers before entering and doing activities by cabin group to limit mixing, but did not follow two state recommendations to require masks to be worn and cabins to be well-ventilated. Precamp began June 17th, the camp season started June 20th, and after an outbreak, by June 27th everyone had been sent home, and the camp closed.

At the time of the report, 58% of this camp's population, staff and campers, are Georgia residents who have been retested, and 76% of those people, or 260 Georgians who were at this camp, including over half the staff, tested positive for covid-19. Other positive cases would be expected among out-of-state attendees but are not documented. Some of the covid-19 patients may have gotten sick from exposure while traveling home or after they returned home, not necessarily at camp. A quarter of these Georgia cases have been asymptomatic. The report does not mention hospitalizations or deaths.

News sites are linking the CDC report about this camp to concerns of teachers and parents about reopening schools and universities this fall, particularly those that house students. You can't use the bubble technique as well in school settings.
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[DavidAyars]

What happened to Al Neagle's fine post discussing the Georgia Y camp? Was it nuked by the dreaded sidehill gouger??

This week the CDC reported on four overnight Maine camps running one session that operated successfully between June and August 2020. Among the just over 1000 campers and staff attending the four camps combined, there were only a small handful of isolated covid cases, easily dealt with, with no outbreaks or community spread seen in any of the four camps. Among the procedures followed:

--Everyone tested before camp; those testing positive delayed their arrival
--Everyone asked to socially isolate for at least 10 days before traveling to camp or before joining camp sessions in progress
--Travel was allowed and did occur from other states and countries into camp, with guidance for limiting exposure during travel
--Everyone tested at least one more time, about seven days into camp
--Everyone checked daily for symptoms and fever
--Isolation within camp of anyone becoming symptomatic or testing positive after the start of the season
--Activities, at least early in the season, only within cohort cabin/tent groups
--Activities limited to those in which social distancing is possible
--Use of face coverings
--Outdoor time maximized
--Meals served outdoors when possible, or indoors in staggered cohorts
--Staff days off occured in-camp only; and only one session was run per camp (This is as close as the CDC comes to saying the bubble technique--no one in or out after the start of the season--was used, so I suspect a bubble technique wasn't followed more strictly than listed here, at least at all four camps. Were there any field trips? Any visitors? Did any staff ever go into town? The CDC doesn't say.)
--Enhanced cleaning of hands and commonly used surfaces

So it is possible to run overnight summer camp safely in the covid-19 era without following even stricter policies that were recommended last spring. Not included within the scope of the CDC assessment is any discussion of the quality of the camp experience as modified. But if we should be in this position again next summer, more camps would likely open and run, following these procedures.

Note that the level of compliance with the procedures was not measured. I'm sure it was less than perfect. These were just the policies the camps reported trying to follow. Here's the brief CDC report:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6935e1.htm
_________________
Camper: J-8 1965 (Kevin Ryan), J-8 1966 (Mike Freeland), S-6 1967 (Russ Hatch), S-3 1968 (Jeremy Cripps), and JA-2 1969 (Dan Mannis).
JC: J-2 1970 (Bill Bettison) and J-3 1971 (Gene Comella). Councilor 1972, J-5 1973, and JA-1 1974 & 1975

[David Bentley]

David has, again, presented excellent information relating to summer camps and COVID. I am sure that public officials struggled long and hard with the problem of what to do about summer camps, and, then, how to insure compliance.

Summer camps, no matter what their configuration or operating model, have certain characteristics that are what contribute to them being so enjoyable and challenging. Among the leaders of these characteristics is spontaneity.

So, camps are/were faced with how to navigate the intersection of rigid rules designed to promote health safety and the loose and flexible camp life-style of spontaneity designed to promote interaction and excitement.

As David points out, the studies and reports did not address the question of compliance, so, therefore, it is a little difficult to fairly apply their standards to the camp world. However, even in the face of this question, I do feel, personally, that camps run too great a risk of havinfg health issues. Most camp camper-populations run between 7 - 15 years of age, an age time period when youth need to able to "stretch", need to meet all kinds of new people, and probably don't have the self-discipline to follow CDC rules. A camp program needs flexibility in order to meet the challenges of weather, or other influences, all in the effort to provide a meaningful summer.

At the end of the summer a camper cannot be sent home with his only memory being that he was 6 feet away from everyone else, and wore a mask 12+ hours a day. Not exactly the type of experience his older brothers, uncles, or father told him about.
_________________
C-1 49 J-7 52 S-3 55 J-10 58
C-7 50 J-7 53 S-2 56 J-8 59
C-8 51 J-4 54 S-7 57 (JA) J-8 60 - 64
1965 - 1968 Military service
Pine Cone 68 - 75 (with wife,Sherry,
and daughter Tracey)
Wolfeboro - full-time since 1997