May 7, 2021

We’re pleased to share the following update, based on new guidelines from the CDC, American Camp Assn, state and local authorities, to help you plan and anticipate this summer’s experience. While we continue to adapt facilities, food service, program and staff requirements to help decrease the spread of Covid-19, we ask that you partner with us in the following ways. Please read this information carefully and remember that as guidelines evolve, we may modify these protocols.

Pre-Camp

More than ever before, we will be looking to camper families to insure their children arrive at camp healthy! To that end, we’re asking families to provide the following:

• Pre-Camp Screening – A Pre-Camp Screening Form will be provided for you to fill out for the 10 days prior to your child’s session. It will require you to take your child’s temperature and watch for potential Covid-19 symptoms and exposure. Along with a few other Covid-19 related questions, it will remind you to choose “low-risk of exposure” activities prior to your child’s session. The completed form is to be turned in at drop off on the first day of your child’s session.
• Negative Covid-19 Test – All campers will be required to provide proof of a negative PCR (molecular) test within 72 hours of the start of the session. We have contracted with a testing company that will allow families to register, order easy-to-use tests to be sent to your home, and then Fed Ex the test to the lab. Results will be provided to families, as well as directly to camp. Both a swab and saliva test option will be available. Campers without these test results will not be allowed to join their session on opening day.  Registration information will be provided closer to your child’s session.

During Camp

• Screening Upon Arrival – A brief health screening will be conducted for all campers when they arrive at the Orange County charter bus stop or at camp for driving or airport campers. This will include a temperature check, and a series of questions regarding symptoms and possible exposure to others with Covid-19.
• Daily Screening – Our camp nurses will conduct a daily health screening of all campers and staff during the session to check for temperature and potential Covid-19 symptoms.
• NPI’s – YSSC will remain committed to observing recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI’s) to reduce the spread of Covid-19. The key NPI’s include holding activities outdoors or with increased ventilation, cohorting and distancing between cabin groups, frequent handwashing/sanitizing and masking when necessary. Masks will not need to be worn by campers when they are only with their own cabin mates/counselor including at meal times, during many small group activities and when swimming or sleeping.
• Mid-session Covid-19 Testing – At this time, mid-session testing for Covid-19 is recommended for campers in programs lasting 2 weeks or more. Directions for ordering mid-session tests and bringing them to camp will be provided at a later date.
• Symptomatic Campers – Should a camper present with Covid-19 symptoms while at camp, they will be cared for at the health center (“Club Med”) and parents will be contacted to determine if a test is appropriate to rule out Covid-19. Cabin mates will continue to participate in camp activities separate from other cabin groups

If A Camper Tests Positive – If a camper tests positive for Covid-19 while at camp, parents/guardians will be asked to pick up their camper within 24 hours so they can recover at home. Camper will receive a pro-rated tuition refund for their session days missed. We will be in touch with families of cabinmates regarding additional testing.

Transportation

• Charter Bus Service from Orange County – We are delighted that we are able to offer charter bus transportation from Irvine Valley College in Orange County. After check-in and screening in their cars, campers will be asked to mask up and assigned travel to camp on a bus specific to their cohort. Please remember to bring a sack lunch, beverage and snacks as we will not stop at a food court for lunch. Rather, we will have lunch at a Rest Area away from crowds. We will send a text to families once buses have arrived at camp.
• Driving to Camp – Families who will be driving their campers to camp will be assigned an arrival time on the first day of the session. Campers will be checked-in and screened at their car and connected with their counselors who will unload luggage and escort them to unpack in their cabin. Family members will be asked to stay with their car. Unfortunately, families may not tour or linger onsite or help campers move into their cabins this year.
• Campers Flying to Camp – Campers arriving at Fresno International Airport will be picked up by YSSC shuttle for the 1-hour drive to camp. Once they arrive, campers will be welcomed by their counselor, checked in and be screened by the camp nurse.

More information and helpful reminders will be coming as your child’s session comes closer. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in making camp the healthy, growing and fun experience our campers crave.

March 17, 2021

Check out this video from owners and Executive Directors, Steve and Sara Kuljis.

February 24, 2021

As Summer 2021 comes a bit more into focus, Covid protocols including cohorting, distancing, masks (some of the time), increased hand washing and moving most activities outside will be in place for the summer. Even with these accommodations, we remain confident that YSSC will still hold the belonging, fun and growth that campers are longing for.

Transportation will look differently this year compared to past summers. Charter bus transportation will only be offered from Orange County (Irvine Valley College) this summer, with extra screening happening for campers before they board busses and head to camp.  We regret that we will not be able to provide pick up in Pasadena or Valencia. Families who choose to drive their children to camp will be given specific time frames for arrival and pick up to minimize interaction between staff, campers and guests. Upon arrival at YSSC, family members will be required to stay with their car during camper screening and forego moving their camper into cabins or touring camp grounds. Shuttle service will still be available to and from Fresno International Airport. With 2021 Sessions starting on Monday and ending on Saturday, families should take traffic into consideration as they make their plan campers’ travel plans.

Self-screening will be required for 10-14 days prior to your camper’s session. We’ll provide families with a form to record daily temperature, potential Covd symptoms and exposure occurrence. We will also ask families to make choices to lower risk of exposure (such as mask wearing and distancing, avoiding large gatherings and indoor group activities, etc.) during this self-screening period in order to decrease a camper’s chance of bringing Covid-19 with them to camp.

Testing will also be a part of this summer’s camp admission in order to help ensure we bring together as healthy a session of campers as possible. Proof of a negative PCR Test administered within 72 hours of arrival will be required. We know this may be burdensome for families and we appreciate your partnership in this effort. Details about testing will be provided later this spring.

Thank you for your patience as guidelines from various authorities evolve in the coming months.

January 26, 2021

With the new year well underway, we continue to refine our 2021 Health Action Plan to incorporate evolving guidance from the CDC and practical experience shared by camps in other states that operated successfully in 2020. While some recommendations may evolve through the spring, campers can expect to see many non-pharmaceutical interventions in place this summer at YSSC. These will include: 

• robust cleaning and sanitation
• daily health checks
• increased hand hygiene
• small group cohorts
• social distancing
• prioritization of outdoor activity
• staggered mealtimes
• mask requirements during some activities 

We do anticipate that campers will not need to wear masks when they are in their own cabin groups and, by holding more activities than ever outside, we will still get to experience many of our favorites including the Variety Show and dance parties. Families should also expect that they may be requested to do pre-camp preparation/screening and testing before their camper arrives at camp. We will be able to be more specific about this as the summer comes closer. Finally, we are hopeful that charter bus transportation can be made available for campers coming from Southern California. However, we are not yet certain if state guidance will allow this. Please be assured we will advise families as soon as we know for sure. 

While no place is as safe as staying home, kids are craving summer camp and are desperate for a remedy for this isolation. We remain committed to provide as healthy an environment as we can for our campers this summer. So keep your eye out for monthly Health Action Plan updates!

November 5, 2020

Our sights are set on Summer 2021! While the state of California did not allow resident camps to operate in Summer 2020, we were able to fully plan for an adapted summer camp program which ensured the health and safety of our campers while keeping the heart and soul of the YSSC experience intact. As the coronavirus landscape continues to evolve, we will continue to update our operational plan to meet advancing guidance and mandates while also studying Covid-19 protocols practiced by camps that operated successfully in other states this past summer.

The bottom line for our families is we will be ready to provide an intentional and healthy environment for campers to play and grow come Summer 2021. We know kids need summer camp more than ever and we welcome your family’s partnership in this effort. We’ll continue to post health related information on this page in the months ahead.