2024 COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN

We are currently monitoring the Covid-19 regulations and best practices for health and safety provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Town of Nantucket, the Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), and will be modifying the policies and procedures accordingly for Summer Discovery Camp 2024. 

Please reference our 2021 policies, for insight on our past Covid-19 protocol and response.

2024 ADDENDUM COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN

**All policies subject to change per state regulations in Massachusetts** 

Maria Mitchell Association: 2021 Covid-19 Response Plan

In order to comply with new Covid-19 regulations and best practices for health and safety provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Town of Nantucket, the Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) has modified the policies and procedures for Summer Discovery Camp. 

For the summer, we have: 

• Reduced the number of total camps we traditionally offer and number of children permitted in each session, 
• Changed from bus to van transportation, 
• Staggered drop off times for morning check-in, 
• Set up a process for daily wellness screenings, and 
• Established mask wearing protocol.
  

Parent Expectations

Parents are asked to support the Maria Mitchell Association in providing a safe space for our members, staff, and all program participants by informing the MMA of any changes to their child’s health or community exposure to Covid-19. If a child exhibits any symptoms of fever, runny nose, coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat, gastrointestinal is, or loss of smell and taste, parents are asked to keep them home until their symptoms have subsided for at least 120 hours without the assistance of medication. If you are able to provide proof of a negative COVID test, and their symptoms have subsided for 24 hours, then they can return to camp. Parents and campers are expected to follow our mask wearing protocol and to answer a verbal health questionnaire daily. 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up 

In order to reduce the long line of parents and children waiting to check-in on Monday mornings with the Camp Directors, we will be staggering arrival times on this day. Please refer to the chart below and be prompt. For parents with multiple children, you can arrive at the time designated for your youngest child. The remainder of the week, you are welcome to arrive at our standard time between 8:40-8:50 am. Instead of going to the Camp Director’s table, bring your child directly to the clearly marked, designated check-in teacher for that group. As you wait to be checked-in, please stay at least six feet from other parents and campers and make sure your mask is on correctly.

Wee Explorers (5-6 years) – 8:30-8:40 am

Habitat Hoppers (7-9 years) – 8:40-8:50 am

Eco Investigators (10-12 years) – 8:50-9:00 am 

Junior Historians (7 - 10 years) – 9:45 am (at 2 Vestal St in the yard of the Research Center)

For pick-up after camp, groups will be spaced apart. Please go directly to the clearly marked, designated check-out teacher for your group. Please DO NOT go directly to your child at pick up. A teacher will bring them to you once you check in. While you wait, please stay at least six feet from other parents and campers and make sure your mask is on correctly. Please be prompt for your 1pm or 3pm pick up time. Parents who arrive more than 15 minutes late will be charged a fee of $25 and will need to pick their child up at the MMA offices at 4 Vestal St and make your payment at that time. Please understand we have fewer teachers and need them to return to the MMA promptly so our other programs can run smoothly. 

Protocol related to arrival and departure for the Pre-wee Explorers at 33 Washington St. and the Naturalist Leadership Program will remain the same with the exception of mask protocol. Please refer to the general Camp Policies & Procedures packet you received in your emailed receipt upon registration and to the detailed email you will receive the Friday before your session begins. 

Camper Expectations 

Campers participating in Discovery programs are expected to follow camp policies surrounding behavior, hygiene, health practices, social distancing, and any recommendations outlined by the CDC. Campers must follow instructions from camp staff in order to ensure their safety and the safety of other campers and staff. Campers who show disregard for camp policies or exhibit intentional disruptive behavior may be asked to leave the program and refunds will not be given. 

Wellness Screening 

Each camp group will have a designated drop-off and pick-up station that will be clearly marked. Adults dropping off or picking up a child must go there first with the exception of Mondays. On Mondays, you must go check in at the Director’s table first before heading towards your child’s camp group. At the check in station for your camp group, you will be given a verbal questionnaire with the following questions: 

• Has your camper had fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea in the last five days? People with these symptoms may have COVID-19. 
• Has your camper been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? 
• Have you or your camper traveled out-of-state or, internationally in the last two weeks? 

If the adult dropping off the child answers yes to any of these questions, the camper will not be admitted into the program. The camper will be allowed to return when adults are able to respond, “No,” or once a negative test result can be submitted.

As for older campers coming by bikes or on foot, we will screen the campers and ask that the parents be available by phone during the first hour of camp so we may check in with them as well, and on a daily basis. These health questions must be verified by an adult. 

Health Concerns at Camp 

If a camper exhibits signs of illness or experiences any symptoms during the camp day, staff will: 

• Do a visual assessment of health concern and ask screening questions to determine symptoms 
• Take temporal temperature as needed (while wearing gloves and mask) 
• If the child has a temperature of 99.5 or higher, they will be moved away from other campers and the parent/guardian will be called for immediate pick up. The child must be fever and symptom free without medication for 120 hours before they will be allowed to return. 
• If there is no fever but the child is experiencing any symptoms that seem concerning, per discretion of the Camp Director, the child will also be sent home and can return once symptom free without medication for 120 hours and they pass the screening test. 

General Hygiene 

The Maria Mitchell Association will require all campers and staff to follow CDC recommendations for reducing transmission, maintaining healthy business operations, and a healthy work environment including, but not limited to: 

• Wash hands – prior to arrival at camp, upon entry and exit of MMA facilities, after using the restroom, before/after eating, before handling food, before handling craft supplies/teacher resources (teachers only), after outdoor play, after using shared equipment such as tablets, game pieces, instruction cards, etc. 
• Stay at least six feet from another person. Campers will not be allowed to hang on each other or the counselors. 
• Do not touch your face. 
• Cough and/or sneeze into a tissue or inside of elbow. 
• Stay home if sick and won’t pass the wellness screening. 
• Staff and campers will be expected to wear newly washed clothes and masks daily. 
• All staff and campers are asked to leave personal items at home. Staff cell phones will be sanitized daily and upon entry to any MMA vehicle or facility. 

Lunch and Food Safety 

During snack and lunch, teachers will adequately social distance children before they begin eating and will make sure their hands are sanitized before they begin. Our other food policies remain the same: 

• All snacks, meals, and water should be brought from home. 
• There is absolutely no food sharing allowed. 
• Please check the detailed email you receive the Friday before your child’s session begins for any food allergies in that group and plan meals accordingly. 

Absentee Policy 

If for some reason your child will not be attending camp on any given day due to Covid-19 symptoms or exposure to someone with it, you must contact the Maria Mitchell Association at (508) 228-9198. 

Should someone test positive for COVID-19 within Discovery Camp, the following measures will take place: 

• The individual should let the Camp Director know by calling (508) 228-9198 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the following websites: 

Center for Disease Control - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Travel in MA - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

COVID Policies for Nantucket - https://nantucket-ma.gov/1657/Covid-19 

A Healthy Summer 

The success of the Summer Discovery Programs is dependent on families and the Maria Mitchell Association working together to do our parts to ensure a healthy summer for all.

If you have questions regarding the Summer Discover Camp COVID-19 policies, please email the Director of Science and Programs, Jónelle Gurley at jgurley@mariamitchell.org or call (508) 228-9198 ext. 103.

If you have questions regarding the Junior Historian COVID-19 policies, please email the Curator of the Mitchell House, Jascin Leonardo Finger at jfinger@mariamitchell.org or call (508) 228-2896.