Health Dept. Releases FAQs List Regarding Contra Costa County Summer Camps

The following is a “Frequently Asked Questions” list from the Health Department regarding summer camps for children in Contra Costa County.

Will summer camps for children be allowed to operate?

Yes, but they should follow our guidelines for other types of childcare settings. We recommend that children be in the same camp (with the same fixed cohort of 12 children or less) for at least four weeks at a time, and not switch camps every week.  Click to view the Guidance for Modified Childcare During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Am I eligible to send my child to daycare or camp if I work from home?

Your child can attend daycare or a camp if at least one of the parents is an owner, employee, volunteer, or contractor for an essential business, essential governmental function, outdoor business, or meets one of the Minimum Basic Operations to work as allowed under this Order.

To meet the requirements of Minimum Basic Operations, you must be performing business activities that:

• Maintain and protect the value of the business’s inventory and facilities; ensure security, safety, and sanitation; process payroll and employee benefits; provide for the delivery of existing inventory directly to residences or businesses; and related functions
• Allow employees of the business to continue to work remotely from their residences, and to ensure that the business can deliver its service remotely.
• Childcare establishments, summer camps, and other educational or recreational institutions or programs are intended to provide care or supervision for children so that parents can tend to their jobs.

What constitutes a camp? What activities can a camp include?

Just about any activity can be provided in the form of a camp as long as:

• They are carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer children (“stable” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day).
• Children don’t change from one group to another.
• If more than one group of children is at one facility, each group will be in a separate room and groups won’t mix with each other.
• Providers or educators have to remain with one group of children

Are contact sports and play structures allowed in a camp?

Use of shared equipment and contact sports (including gymnastics) are allowed during a child/youth educational or recreational activity if:

• The rules regarding stable groups of 12 or fewer children contained in the health order are followed.
• They cannot compete with other teams or have members who come and go from one group to another.

What is the difference between camps and childcare?

For the purpose of this order, camps and childcare are very similar. Both must follow the Guidance for Modified Childcare During COVID-19 Pandemic. Childcare generally refers to the out-of-home care of a child in a consistent place for an indefinite period of time. Camps generally provide recreational and athletic activities for children during summer vacation or other shorter durations. However, the order strongly suggests that camps consist of the same cohort of 12 children for the duration of at least four weeks.