INTRODUCTION
The health of CU Science Discovery program participants, staff and community partners is our number one priority. Science Discovery is committed to an intentional, collaborative, and expert-informed plan designed to limit COVID-19 exposure to all individuals at all program locations.听听
This plan takes into account specific industry risks, risk tolerance and specific operational risks. This is considered to be a working document and is designed specifically for CU Science Discovery's school year program operations.
This plan is informed by guidance and guidelines from many sources, including the University of Colorado Boulder, the American Camp Association (ACA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Boulder County Public Health and the State of Colorado.
COVID-19 presents a number of ever-evolving challenges, often requiring sudden adjustments and adaptations to previously developed plans. For this reason, the plans outlined in this document are intended to remain in draft form, allowing for future flexibility.
CU Science Discovery and the University of Colorado Boulder are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will modify this plan as needed to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR SUMMER 2021:
This summer CU Science Discovery will be offering in-person, field, outdoor, virtual and hybrid programs for grades K-12. A number of precautionary measures will be taken to ensure that all staff, partners, parents and participants remain as safe and healthy as possible while engaging in in-person,听field and outdoor camps and high school classes.
- Masks are required to be worn for all in-person and outdoor/field鈥�听programs.听Masks should be听appropriately sized to cover the child's nose and mouth.
- All in-person and outdoor/field program participants will听receive a short health screening and a thermal temperature check upon arrival to the check-in area each day.
- In order to limit possible exposure for all involved, Science Discovery is听limiting adults at pick-up/drop-off to one.听Those dropping off and picking up participants will be asked to wear masks and keep a safe distance from staff, other parents, and other children. In an effort to not share writing utensils, staff (not caregivers) will sign children in/out with permission of the caregiver.
- Program participants听will stay with their cohort throughout the entirety of each day and will not intermingle听with other students听during drop-off, pick-up, snack听or听lunch time.
- Staff will take every possible measure to make sure that proper physical distancing is occurring at all times - including during snack and lunch times. While eating lunch, participants will:
- Will remain in their cohort for the duration of their program
- Remain outdoors
- Remain a minimum of 6 feet apart
- Each program participant will receive their own individual Science Discovery materials kit to be utilized for the duration of their program. Science Discovery materials kits will be properly sanitized between individual student use.听
- All in-person and outdoor/field program participants are required to bring a backpack for carrying personal items and class materials to/from each session.听Note: In order to limit individual interactions, all participants will be required to carry their own items.
- All classrooms and听furniture听used for in-person camps and classes will be properly sanitized at the conclusion of each day.听听
- In-person program weeks will be staggered with virtual weeks. This will ensure that there is not an overlap of staff working in-person with more than one cohort of students within a 2-week time period.
Science Discovery will follow all state and county guidelines for youth programs regarding camp and class capacities, social distancing听and mask wearing. If guidelines should change prior to the start of summer programs, adjustments will be made to meet the updated requirements.
Note: CU Science Discovery听reserves the right to transition an in-person program to a virtual format, if necessary. If a program is听still able to be offered听virtually, no refunds will be issued.听
Please continue reading for a听detailed outline of CU Science Discovery's COVID-19 safety plan.
CONTROLLING EXPOSURE TO COVID-19
Screening:
Staff: Before arriving to work each day, staff will complete an online health-screening using a form and guidelines set forth by the University of Colorado Boulder. In addition, staff members will receive a daily temperature check upon arrival. Finally, all Science Discovery staff members are required to wear masks at all times. If a staff member does not have a mask of their own, one will be provided for them.
Students: Prior to the start of a Science Discovery program, we ask that families do their best to limit student exposure and conduct health screenings for 7 days prior to the start of the child鈥檚 program. Although this is not a requirement, it will go a long way towards limiting exposure and ensuring the safety of students and staff. All program participants are required to wear masks at all times. If a participant does not have a mask of their own, one will be provided for them. Please ensure that your child鈥檚 mask is in place prior to approaching a Science Discovery staff member. At the start of each day, participants will receive a health screening and a temperature check.
Parents/兔子先生传媒文化作品ors: 兔子先生传媒文化作品ors will not be allowed during any program.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up:
In order to limit possible exposure, Science Discovery is limiting adults at pick-up/drop-off to ONE. Those dropping off and picking up participants will be asked to wear masks and keep at least a 6-foot distance from staff, other parents, and other children. In an effort to not share writing utensils, staff (not caregivers) will sign children in/out with permission of the caregiver. Please see note above regarding daily health screenings and temperature checks. 听
LIMITING COVID-19 TRANSMISSION THROUGH EDUCATION
Educating Science Discovery Staff:
Staff Training: All staff will receive detailed training to cover guidelines outlined in this document, including procedures around screening, hygiene/hand washing, personal protection equipment (PPE) and social distancing.
Sick Leave Policy: Science Discovery staff members are not permitted to work if they are feeling sick, have had a known exposure to COVID-19, or have any active signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Science Discovery staff (employed for 30-days or longer) impacted by COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test are eligible to receive up to two weeks of paid leave at their full rate of pay. Affected staff members are instructed to contact a CU Science Discovery core staff member for details.
Educating Parents and Students:
Science Discovery staff will serve as health educators to all program participants, reviewing:
- The correct 鈥�20-second鈥� protocol for hand washing.
- How to sneeze into the elbow; staff will have tissues available.
- How to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- No sharing of any equipment or personal items, including food.
Pre-Program Communication:
All program partners, participants and parents/guardians will receive a copy of this Safety Plan and additional COVID-19 educational materials via email prior to the start of their program. Additionally, if your child is participating in an in-person Science Discovery program, you will receive a phone call that gives a brief overview of the key items within this plan.
Signage at Science Discovery-Led Programs:听
Science Discovery will provide educational signage at every in-person event. The signage is designed to remind program attendees of the importance of proper PPE and physical distancing.
Physical Distancing:
Science Discovery will follow current state physical distancing guidelines at all times.
Participants and staff will make best efforts to maintain a distance of 6 feet between one another. Given the nature of children, it will not always be possible to physically distance group members from each other. Activities used in Science Discovery programs will not require shared equipment or physical contact.
Enhanced Cleaning:
Frequently touched surfaces and all equipment will be disinfected using University of Colorado approved solutions and recommended procedures. Science Discovery staff will disinfect common areas and equipment before and after each use. Again, shared equipment will be avoided between participants, but we feel the extra precaution is necessary.
Personal Hygiene:听
All participants and staff are required to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water:
- Upon the start of each day with Science Discovery
- Before and after snack and lunch
- After an 鈥渦nguarded鈥� sneeze or cough within 6 feet of group
- After using the restroom
- At the end of each day
Staff will make sure that hand washing happens with a continuous flow of water to ensure the correct hand washing protocol is met.
Food Safety:
Science Discovery does not provide snacks or lunches during any of its programs. The being said, staff does facilitate snack and meal breaks during some programs. Staff members will make every effort to ensure there is no sharing of food between participants.
When food is present:
- All staff and participants will wash their hands before and after eating.
- All food surfaces will be sanitized following University of Colorado guidelines.
- During times in which food is not being consumed, participants and staff will wear proper face coverings. Adding an extra layer of precaution, Science Discovery staff will wear gloves.
EXPOSURE RESPONSE PLAN
Clear Guidance:
Each suspected case, positive case, or exposure to COVID-19 will be treated as individual and unique events. As a result, responses may differ. Science Discovery is keeping abreast of reporting and tracking guidelines as put forth by the University of Colorado Boulder and Boulder County Public Health officials. Proper reporting and tracking directives will be followed in all situations.
Tracking:
Positive COVID-19 cases will be reported to the University of Colorado Boulder via the Daily Health Questionnaire and Illness Reporting Form. As an added precaution, we will inform the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Contact Tracing unit.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, Science Discovery will follow all steps as outlined by the CDC.听
Note: CU Science Discovery听reserves the right to transition an in-person program to a virtual format, if necessary. If a program is听still able to be offered听virtually, no refunds will be issued.听
Contact Tracing:
As a presumed or confirmed case is discovered, Science Discovery will work with the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Contract Tracing unit and county public health officials to determine if any individuals outside of participants and assigned staff were in contact during the duration of the specified program. Proper notification guidelines will be followed regarding all parties involved.