We have more options for traveling to camp this year. Camp families will receive detailed instructions surrounding specific arrival information for your family depending on how you travel to camp. 

Irrespective of your mode of transport, we ask that you conduct  symptom screening before your departure to ensure that we do not introduce illness to camp, COVID-19 or otherwise. We’ll send you a handy checklist of what to look for. Any child who does not pass symptom screening will be required to isolate, away from camp, until meeting clearance by testing and CDC guidelines.  

We’re asking families to administer a rapid antigen test the morning of their travel day before arriving at the bus stop, airport or to camp. Bring proof of your negative test with you to help us fast-track boarding and entry to camp. We are coordinating with our testing partner to ensure that all families have a rapid test available to them.

Campers taking the NCC Bus to camp:  NCC will be chartering a bus to camp this summer for interested families.  You’ll receive directions and details in the week prior to camp. Simply bring proof of your negative test to board the bus.  

Campers arriving by personal car: Families who choose to drop their child off at camp will be given a pre-established arrival time window. Similar to last year, we will be asking parents to check-in at the camp entrance with their negative antigen test before entering camp property.  

Campers arriving by air or other public transportation: Although mask regulations on airlines and public transportation were recently relaxed, we are asking that all campers traveling to camp on shared/public transportation of any kind wear a well-fitted (preferably non-cloth disposable surgical mask, KN95 or KN94) that covers your child’s nose and mouth. If you are interested in learning more about masks, the CDC website has useful information. While others around them may not be masked, your child’s mask still is effective in reducing risk of infection/exposure during travel.  

 Our normal airport shuttle service will be available.  

To our international families: Please familiarize yourself with Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States | CDC. We welcome international families to contact us about potential plans and options for arrival. 

Workgroup Pre-Camp: We will be running a pre-camp for workgroupers this summer. The arrival date will be June 23rd. We will not be coordinating transportation for workgroupers to camp this summer, as the Adirondack line is not currently running.  Parents of workgroupers will need to plan to get their children to camp independently.  

All workgroupers must have a negative PCR test for COVID-19 72 hours prior to arrival.

All workgroupers must also test negative on a rapid antigen test, the day of arrival.

A second PCR test will be done for all campers, including workgroupers, approximately 7 days from the official start date of camp.

For the 2022 Camp season The North Country Camps strongly encourages families to have their children fully vaccinated prior to the start of the summer.  COVID-19 Vaccinations for children have been shown to be safe, effective and protective.  Vaccination decreases risk of infection and will help us achieve a Covid-free summer.  Our survey of camp families showed us that the overwhelming majority of campers will arrive fully vaccinated.

NCC defines “fully vaccinated” for children aged 5-17 years old as having received the 2-shot Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series, plus the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster for children aged 12-17 if it has been > 5 months since their second shot.

You’ll notice that the required isolation policy for contacts of a positive case is different for unvaccinated campers. This is based on the much higher risk of unvaccinated people getting sick after an exposure.

Covid-19 testing is required for all campers and staff. We will continue to follow public health guidelines and recommendations from our camp medical team to determine our specific testing protocols.  Our testing plan includes the following:

Prior to camp: All campers and staff must have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arriving at camp.  We have a plan, with our testing company, to provide rapid antigen testing as an alternative for children who have had Covid 19 recently.  We will be partnering with Heed Health to make sure everyone has access to the test and that results are easily checked.  We will administer a second PCR test for all campers, about a week into the camp season. 

Upon arrival: An on-site health screening will be conducted at the bus stop or at camp depending on how your child arrives. Any child that does not pass the health screening will be asked to isolate and follow additional testing before being allowed on camp property.  We ask that a rapid antigen test be taken the morning before departing for camp. (See more details under transportation section)

During Camp:  Aside from the pre-arrival testing and the week one PCR test, we plan on conducting regular rapid testing of both campers and staff throughout the summer. We will be vigilant with symptom screening, monitoring and testing. 

In the event of a positive case, that camper must leave camp for 10 days to isolate.  Parents will need to have a plan for picking up a positive child within 24 hours.

While the CDC “permits” individuals who are vaccinated to go out and about in a mask after 5 days, this cannot apply to camp because of shared eating, shared sleeping, etc. when it will not be possible to stay masked.

What will happen if my child is exposed?

Unvaccinated Campers: Unvaccinated campers have a higher risk of developing Covid after an exposure, which could then lead to an outbreak at camp.  For that reason, in the event that an unvaccinated camper is identified as a “close contact” with a positive case, they will need to quarantine at home for  10 days, and can return to camp if they have no symptoms and have a negative PCR test.  

Campers should obtain testing at least 5-7 days after their exposure and have their results prior to return to camp. Although CDC guidelines for unvaccinated close contacts suggest 5 days of quarantine followed by strict masking, it is, unfortunately, not feasible for camp to accommodate unvaccinated campers given their higher risk for developing covid and the nature of our living and eating arrangements. 

Vaccinated Campers: Vaccinated close contacts may remain at camp, but will cohort with other vaccinated members of their cabin group, for 5 days, going to their own activities, etc.  After 5 days, if asymptomatic and with a negative rapid test, they will be permitted to rejoin the regular camp program, but must remain masked for the next 5 days when around others.  We will continue with serial testing of this cohort through day 10 after exposure.

We expect to have a much more “normal” feel to camp than last summer. Our plan is to cohort campers in small (one-three cabin groups), age-based cohorts during the first week of camp.  This will involve some mask-use when sharing spaces with other cohorts, primarily in indoor settings. We will then administer a PCR test for everyone at the end of week one and assuming negative results for all, we will then transition to a normal camp program without cohorts, or masking. 

We do not plan on having multiple sittings for each meal, so everyone will operate on the same schedule. We will also have a full service breakfast bar and salad bar at lunch and dinner with vegetarian and gluten-free options available at the counter, but will ask that campers are masked if they leave their table to obtain food at the salad bar or counter.

Will there be wilderness trip programs this year?

Yes, we have every intention of running a fun and adventurous trip program as we did last summer.  

Will there be mixed activities this summer?

Yes, we will have mixed activities after our second test results return. Distanced check-ins with siblings at Lincoln and Whippoorwill can be arranged with the directors during the first week of camp.

Yes, we plan to hold Visiting Day this summer, on Saturday July 30th.  We anticipate that the schedule will be similar to our traditional visiting days, but with greater Covid mitigation precautions, such as requesting that visitors perform Covid testing prior to arrival.  We will communicate more details as we get closer to that date about expectations for guests.

If a child needs to leave camp due to Covid, NCC cannot offer a refund on camp fees because we have already incurred the vast majority of expenses necessary to open and operate camp.  However, our insurer has indicated that if families are interested, there is travel insurance available which would cover such a situation.  They provided us with this link where quotes can be obtained: https://www.amskier.com/peaceofmind-insurance/