Camp health care practices and adaptations associated with COVID-19

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes in camp health care implementation. This study evaluated camp providers’ COVID-19 management practices following the summer of 2021 to inform future communicable disease planning. Online questionnaire data were collected from camp leaders and health care providers (n = 321). Reported COVID-19 cases were very low among both campers and staff. Most camps encouraged camper and staff vaccination before camp, with only a quarter requiring staff vaccination. NPIs used most frequently included cohorting, enhanced cleaning procedures, and scheduled hand hygiene. Camps also reduced the number of campers served and relocated dining, camp health care, and other activities outdoors. A positive correlation was found between requiring staff COVID vaccination and no positive COVID-19 cases. These findings offer insight into communicable disease mitigation strategies and organizational planning that can continue to keep camp populations healthy during communicable disease events like COVID-19.