SPI SESSIONS will offer modified summer programming in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), City of South Padre Island, The American Camp Association (ACA) and State guidelines for operating youth programs and services to assist in protecting participants and families from COVID- 19.

This document covers COVID-19 modifications to the existing guidelines of our Programs Parent Handbook. Please review the Summer Camp Programs Parent Handbook for more detailed information regarding SPI SESSIONS’ responsibilities and guidelines.

 

Please note program guidelines and participation requirements are subject to change at any time based on local health conditions and guidance as provided by local health authorities. Any changes to program guidelines and participation requirements will be communicated appropriately. Furthermore, program schedules may be changed or cancelled at any time based on the business need of the City of South Padre Island, Cameron County Office,  or public health safety concerns. 

 

RISK FOR EXPOSURE   

While SPI SESSIONS will take necessary precautions and follow approved guidelines in accordance with the CDC and State/Local health authorities, this cannot fully eliminate the inherent risks of exposure to COVID 19 that are associated with being around other individuals who are outside one’s household. The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. While the risk of serious illness or loss of life is greatest in those 65 years of age or older with pre-existing health conditions, persons in every age group can become infected with COVID-19 and some may become seriously ill or even die. By participating in SPI SESSIONS programs you understand this risk and agree to follow all safety and wellness guidelines as outlined by the Department.

MODIFIED PROGRAMMING AND SCHEDULE

Modified summer programming will include indoor and outside activities, physical activities, arts and crafts, games, nature education and various other fun activities. Physical activities will include but not be limited to surfing, paddleboarding, running,skateboarding, (all action sports)  throwing, catching, and alike activities. Please note the need for program modification on the registration waiver so that SPI SESSIONS Inclusion Services can be notified.

Per the guidelines of City of South Padre Island, CDC and both local and state authorities, all participants will be required to thoroughly sanitize or wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds prior to entering program areas. Participants will be required to wash/sanitize their hands frequently throughout the day as well prior to eating, after visiting the restroom, after returning indoors from playing outside, and following any exposure to respiratory droplets such as coughing or sneezing. Physical distancing (6 ft.) will also be required of all participants throughout the program. Participants will be placed in a pod or camp group and stay with an assigned group throughout the day/week. 

BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES

SPI SESSIONS reserves the right to remove any participant from a program or facility without warning when it is determined that the participant’s behavior poses a direct threat to other participants, themself and/or staff. Practicing and maintaining social distance and good hygiene is an expected behavior and any disregard or inability to follow may result in removal from the program. In accordance with our modified program and participation guidelines, SPI SESSIONS  has adopted eligibility requirements necessary for participation. Please read the section below titled Essential Eligibility Requirements for more information. 

REGISTRATION WAIVERS

It is imperative that parents/guardians fully complete the program registration/waiver form for each participant and include any medical conditions that will impact participation in the program. To ensure safety of the participant, please provide notification of any modification that the participant may require under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

PRESCREENING PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION

ALL ON-SITE PROGRAMS

• If you have someone at home who is considered high risk (heart condition, elderly, lung issues, etc.) consider the risk prior to participating.
  
• Parents/guardians must answer general COVID-19 Health Question each day to satisfy admission into the program. If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, you and/or your child(ren) will not be able to participate.
  
• All youth program participants over the age of two (2) are not required to wear a cloth face covering (mask) during program hours, while outdoors. FAce mask covering  must be provided by the parent/guardian.
  • Face coverings should not be placed on:
    ▪  Children younger than 2 years old
    ▪  Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious;
    ▪  Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance
  • ▪  A child with a significant behavioral or psychological issue undergoing treatment that is
    exacerbated specifically by a face covering;
    ▪  A child with severe autism or with extreme developmental delay who may become agitated or anxious wearing a mask; and
    ▪  A child with a facial deformity that causes airway obstruction
  • Note that face coverings are not required for individuals who : ▪ Have a medical or behavioral condition or disability and cannot wear a face covering

(including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the face covering without assistance.

• If staff or parents have questions as to whether an individual’s medical or behavioral condition or disability precludes them from wearing a face covering, they are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider or with their district’s medical director.
  
• Although the CDC does not recommend that face shields be used for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings, individuals who cannot wear a cloth face covering may consider wearing a face shield.
  

• All program participants must wash/sanitize hands at a designated station(s) upon entering the program area or facility each day.
  
• All program participants must maintain and practice social distance and hygiene while participating in the program.
  
• All program participants should bring their own meals and a reusable water bottles.

INDOOR YOUTH CAMP PROGRAMS

• Parents/guardians are required to pick up and drop off youth participants outside of the facility. Entry will only be granted in a legitimate and/or emergency basis. Youth program participants will be escorted into the facility by SPI SESSIONS staff.
  
• All youth programming participants will have their temperature checked prior to entering camp. Should their temperature exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they will not be able to participate.

ILLNESS WITHIN THE PROGRAM

Any participant who is sick, has a positive confirmed case of COVID-19, or showing signs of sickness such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, to stay home and not attend programming. Individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health care provider for immediate assistance. All positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 should be reported to SPI SESSIONS  program staff immediately.

Should a participant start to feel ill, or begin to show symptoms of COVID-19 during SPI SESSIONS programming, the following steps will be taken:

• Participant will immediately be separated from the group and moved to a designated isolated area away from others
  
• Parents/Guardians will be contacted immediately and asked to pick up the ill individual
  
• All individuals will be provided APH Nurse Line contact information for assistance with health monitoring and access to COVID-19 testing
  
  If a participant has symptoms of COVID-19, or is a close contact of someone with COVID-19, they may be permitted to return to PARD programming only when the following conditions are met:
  

• • If the participant has had a fever, cough, or shortness of breath and has not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, they should stay home and away from others until 24 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms resolved. If symptoms worsen during that time, contact your healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested for COVID-19.
    
  • If a participant is diagnosed with COVID-19, they must remain out of the facility for a minimum of ten (10) days after the onset of first symptoms. The participant may return under the following conditions:
    

If they had a fever, 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication AND they see an improvement in their initial symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath); and

o Ten (10) days after symptom onset
• If a participant believes they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 but are not currently sick or

showing symptoms, they should monitor their health for fever, cough or shortness of breath during the 14 days after they last had contact with the sick person with COVID-19. Public gatherings, such as camp and participation in programs, should be avoided for 14 days.

IF POSITIVE CASE IS CONFIRMED WITH A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT OR STAFF

SPI SESSIONS staff will follow guidelines set forth by the CDC, City of SPI, local and state authorities. If a COVID-19 exposure or risk occurs in any of our programs, health authorities will be notified and PARD will follow their directives which may include cancelation of programs and closing the facility immediately for deep cleaning, quarantine of staff and participants in their own homes and other steps as required. All parents/guardians will be notified of any confirmed COVID-19 exposure and recommendations to follow at the time PARD receives confirmation.

ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with our modified program and participation guidelines, the following participant eligibility requirements are in effect for all SPI SESSIONS youth programs and services.

All individuals must be able to:

• Maintain a safe social distance from SPI SESSIONS, volunteers, other participants, members of the general public, etc.
  
• In accordance with state and local guidelines, wear a mask or face covering, except while eating, drinking, or during designated mask breaks while indoors.
  
• Perform all aspects of personal care, to include but not limited to toilet hygiene, bowel/bladder management, changing clothes, etc. independently of SPI SESSIONS staff, volunteers or other participants.
  
• Perform all aspects of eating or feeding independently of SPI SESSIONS staff, volunteers or other participants.
  
• Self-administer any routine medications or medical care needed during program participation. Please refer to our medication release and standards in the Parent Handbook for more information.
  
• Practice positive hygiene related to personal cleanliness (using tissues for sneezing/coughing) and handwashing, including the ability to wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and dry hands after washing, independently of physical assistance from SPI SESSIONS  staff, volunteers or other participants.
  
• Self-manage behaviors and reactions to a variety of situations and environments that may elicit various physical and/or emotional responses without the physical intervention of  SPI SESSIONS staff or volunteers, or without physical contact with other participants. Please refer to SPI SESSIONS behavior management policy found in the Parent Handbook for more information.
  
• Maintain specific proximity to the SPI SESSIONS  staff and facility space as designated without physical intervention of SPI SESSIONS  staff, volunteers or other participants.
  
• Move safely in program environment, around facility and outdoor spaces on varied surfaces, on/off toilet, etc. without the physical assistance of SPI SESSIONS  staff, volunteers, or other participants.
  
  Eligibility requirements will be applied to all SPI SESSIONS  youth programs and services until the recommendations related to COVID-19 have been removed or reduced. If an individual registered for a program demonstrates the inability to follow the requirements noted above, they may be removed from the program and may not be allowed to return for the duration of the program. If the participant is removed, a parent/ guardian will be expected to pick up immediately. The participant will be withdrawn from the program and a full refund will be granted.
  
  ADA ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS:
  
  Participants requesting ADA accommodations or modifications to participate in SPI SESSIONS programs should do so at the time of registration by selecting “yes” to Accessibility Accommodation Request on the registration form, or at any time by contacting the SPI SESSIONS Inclusion Unit at 956.455.5238 or via email at spisessions@gmail.com.  Participants may disclose specific disability and/or medical information at the time of registration to assist program staff in best meeting the needs of the individual. Due to operational guidelines and safety measures outlined above, as related to COVID-19, SPI SESSIONS  may not be able to offer specific accommodations and supports to assist participants in meeting the eligibility requirements. Accommodations or supports provided will be done so during recreation program components only. Please contact the SPI SESSIONS Inclusion Unit directly to discuss the participant’s support needs, and the available accommodations under our current operational guidelines.