Subject to change. Last updated July 8, 2022.

The TAF 2022 COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan & FAQ will be updated as regularly as possible, based on changing guidelines and information.

Jump to: COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan | FAQ

Introduction

The health and safety of our TAF community is of paramount importance to us. In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, TAF is committed to fulfilling our mission of fostering personal growth and developing servant leaders so we developed our risk mitigation plans and policies to reunite our community in 2021 and were able to successfully host our annual summer conference with no reported cases of COVID-19 among our staff and TAFers.

Our 2022 COVID-19 protocols reflect a balance of returning to a new normal with increased socialization and interaction between programs. We still have strict protocols in place for any attendee when illness is suspected at TAF.

This TAF 2022 COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan details our policies to meet our goal of limiting COVID spread using the latest data and strategies from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Camp Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, while following Manchester University and local public health authorities requirements. This 2022 COVID Plan will continuously evolve as we re-evaluate best practices and adapt to any new conditions and guidance.

The 2022 COVID Plan relies on the strict implementation and layering of multiple evidence-based measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission such as masking, physical distancing, and the use of cohorts to limit large group interaction. This forms the basis of our operational strategy, in conjunction with vaccinations, health screenings, and testing when needed.

While we are taking measures to mitigate the possibility of infectious disease spread, we cannot guarantee a completely risk-free environment. We understand some families may be hesitant to attend TAF this summer, and this plan is intended to equip TAFers with the information needed to make their own decisions.

For more information on TAF 2022 plans, please refer to TAF 2022 or contact a member of our team.

President Ho Chie Tsai, MD hochie.tsai@tafworld.org
Medical Director Karena Lin Woo, RN medical@tafworld.org
Executive Director Shannon Sung, shannon.sung@tafworld.org
Conference Director Andrea Lin, andrea.lin@tafworld.org

COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans

Jump to: Health Screening, Vaccinations, and Testing | Masking | Physical Distancing | Small Groups and Program Capacity | Housing and Rooming | Daily Morning Screenings |  Dining and Meal Times | Communications

COVID Health Screening, Vaccinations, and Testing

All TAF attendees will be required to securely share additional health information as part of registration. Everyone will be screened for symptoms upon arrival either at TAF-operated bus stops or at Manchester University. Please do not attend TAF 2022 if you have any symptoms of illness.

• Any camper or attendee is subject to screening as needed throughout the week if they are exhibiting any illness.
• All TAF staff and attendees are required to become fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 before attending camp.
• We highly encourage TAF parents and any other household members to become fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) as well.
• Parents who are dropping-off or picking up their camper in person may be asked to undergo screening measures as well.

Registration Requirements

All attendee will be required to submit proof of the following before arriving at TAF, including the Weekend Program:

1. Full and up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination* before arriving at TAF. 
2. TWO COVID tests before arriving at TAF.
   1. The first test, either a PCR/NAAT test OR a home antigen test, will be done 72 hours prior to the first day of your arrival.
   2. The second test, a home antigen test, will be done within 24 hours of your arrival to TAF.

All tests, especially at-home rapid antigen tests, should include the TAFer’s name, date, and time in which the test was completed. Please upload a photo of the negative test results to the confirmation page from registration.

You may claim free tests from the government if you have not done so already. We believe that this serial testing strategy will help us more actively monitor potential COVID spread.

Note that parents who are spending time on campus during drop off on Sunday, July 24th are asked to complete the COVID pre-screening testing.

Parents will be able to submit the required information by visiting their Registration Confirmation page and clicking on their Health History Follow-Up Form button when it is live. Our staff will conduct a screening for these completed requirements as part of the Check-In process when TAFers arrive. More information can be found in the Orientation Packet.

Any households that have not been fully vaccinated by the week of TAF are encouraged to plan for appropriate precautions, potentially including quarantine or testing measures.

Vaccine Requirement

* “Full and up-to-date” vaccination means all doses in the primary series and at least one booster shot when eligible, but recommendations may vary depending on personal and health factors. Please refer to the TAF 2022 Vaccination Deadlines below, in addition to the CDC guidelines, on what a “full and up-to-date” vaccination means for the attendee.

• Attendees who will have begun their vaccine series prior to TAF, but are not sure if they will meet the vaccination deadlines or fulfill all requirements, should indicate their status during Registration, consult with TAF’s Medical Director, and obtain approval for participation.
• Attendees who are unable to meet the vaccine requirement will automatically be placed on the waitlist. Final notifications for waitlist acceptance will be sent by July 1, 2022.

COVID Testing Requirement 

All campers and attendees are required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test result via PCR or NAAT testing within 72 hours prior to arriving at TAF.

Individuals who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 after April 20, 2022 are allowed to attend TAF if they meet the following requirements:

1. Submit proof of their confirmed positive PCR or NAAT test.
2. Submit proof of a negative rapid antigen test (an at-home kit or monitored test), taken within 72 hours prior to arriving at TAF.
3. Pass a COVID symptoms screening (displaying no symptoms), in the 72 hours prior to arriving at TAF.

Regardless of symptoms and vaccination status, individuals are considered a positive case at the time of testing and assumed to be currently contagious. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to attend TAF 2022 if they have not finished the CDC-recommended period of 5-10 days after their positive test result, in addition to meeting the requirements above.

Masking

During TAF, we will be reinstating and strictly enforcing our indoor mask policy during all programming. Masks will be mandatory except during meal times, sleeping, and the water fight.

Furthermore, we are requiring masking for any attendee while traveling through airports or other public transportation during the week prior to TAF. We thank you in advance for your help in keeping TAF 2022 safe.

TAFers may choose to bring appropriate reusable masks for their personal use.

• TAF will have a limited supply of disposable masks for TAFers’ use throughout the week of TAF.
• If a TAFer brings their own reusable mask, they will be responsible for maintaining their own masks.
• Personal reusable masks must follow TAF dress code requirements, in addition to adhering to effective mask guidelines

Physical distancing

Manchester University is hosting conferences at full capacity, and TAF will be the sole conference on site. TAF programming may still include social distancing measures for large-scale gatherings such as camp-wide programming. 

Small Groups and Program Capacity

The Small Group structure will be used throughout the week, as cohorts (aka pods) have been shown to reduce risks of transmission and allow us to be able to conduct contact tracing, if necessary. All programs will implement a camper capacity limit, to ensure standards of safety and quality programming. 

• No more than 10 campers and 2 staff in a Small Group, with final camper-to-staff ratios depending on program capacity and attendance numbers. 
  • Sprouts Program may have up to 6 campers in a Small Group.
  • Juniors Program may have up to 8 campers in a Small Group.
  • JH and Youth Programs may have up to 10 campers in a Small Group.

Housing and Rooming

Campers are housed with their respective Programs, and assigned rooms at the Program Directors’ discretion. Parents/guardians may make a note during the registration process to request other rooming accommodations related to any camper needs for medical reasons. Although TAF cannot guarantee all requests, Program Directors will do their best to provide reasonable accommodations whenever possible.

Manchester University residence halls have spaced beds six feet apart; there will be no more than two individuals living in a room together. 

The Sprouts Program will be housed in Oakwood Hall. The Juniors Programs will be housed in Helman Hall. The JH Program will be housed in East Hall. The Youth and Labs Programs will be housed in Garver Hall. Other staff and attendees may be housed based on their involvement and responsibilities.

Manchester University will disinfect community-style residence hall restrooms daily.

Daily Morning Screenings

Each program will ensure that all campers are screened for any illness both upon arrival to TAF, and prior to leaving their residence hall building every morning such as temperature check or observable symptoms. If the camper feels ill, a review by on-site medical personnel may be completed. 

All staff and adult participants will conduct a self-screening for symptoms before leaving their room every morning. 

Dining and Meal Times

Programs will have staggered dining times scheduled.

Communications

Upon successful registration, you will receive a confirmation email. In the following weeks, registered families will also receive via the TAF 2022 Orientation packet (PDF) via email, including essential information detailing our COVID-19 plans, measures, and safety protocols.

Before the week of TAF:

• All registered participants will be required to review a virtual orientation hosted by TAF Senior Staff. The virtual orientation will cover arrival and pick-up procedures, COVID-19-related expectations to set with their children, and what to expect in daily schedules.

During the week of TAF:

• Daily health updates, including any illness or COVID-19 positive test results.
• If anyone is identified with a confirmed case of COVID-19, our medical team will directly notify any campers, participants, and associated families who may be considered a “close contact” with the individual. Close contacts will be monitored for any potential symptoms.
• Arrival and pick-up procedures will be emailed to parents with reminders for any households that have not been fully vaccinated to take appropriate precautions, potentially including quarantine or testing measures.
• Camper-Parent contact (via phone) is encouraged every day, especially for younger campers. Counselors will assist those who do not have a personal mobile device.
  

After the week of TAF:

• We will maintain full transparency with regards to TAF health updates, including any exposure notices upon confirmed COVID-19 test results while withholding any identifiable health information. Therefore, any family members or staff who test positive for COVID-19 immediately after TAF are encouraged to communicate with our Medical Director, the Executive Director, the Conference Director, or TAF President, Dr. Ho Chie Tsai, MD. 

We encourage everyone to make the decision that is best for your family. If your child is sent home early from TAF due to medical or COVID-19 related reasons, we will issue full refunds this summer. Refunds will not be given for early dismissal due to homesickness or misconduct/bad behavior.

Additionally, we will do our best to keep all parents informed through email announcements, newsletters, and social media (Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Instagram).

In the event that your child needs to be sent home early for any reason, you will be immediately notified and expected to pick up your child as soon as possible. Parents/guardians should be prepared to make arrangements in advance.

FAQ

Jump to: COVID-19 Preparedness | Financial Information | Registration & Programming | Transportation

COVID-19 Preparedness

My child and/or someone in my immediate family is immunosuppressed (i.e. higher risk for severe illness). Can we still participate this summer?

Out of an abundance of care and precaution, TAFers with any comorbidities or living as part of a higher-risk household should consult a physician before deciding to participate in TAF. Though we are taking appropriate actions to keep the community safe, TAF is not able to guarantee that a TAF participant will not be exposed to COVID-19. If you have any concerns, please contact medical@tafworld.org to set up a time to discuss how we can help.

How will TAF respond to a potential COVID-19 case or positive test during camp?

These protocols are subject to change. We will be testing close contacts and any campers and staffers who display symptoms of any illness at TAF with an on-site, rapid antigen test, and isolating those individuals as appropriate. The Medical Team may also request and authorize the camper/staffer to be driven off-campus for a confirmatory PCR/NAAT test.

Once an individual has a negative COVID-19 test and has been cleared of any infectious disease by our on-site Medical Team, they may return to normal camp activities.

• If the camper tests positive for COVID-19, parents will need to make arrangements to pick up the camper as soon as possible, and contact tracing will begin with testing of close contacts (roommates and small group members).
• If the camper tests negative with a fever, the camper will remain in isolation until the rapid COVID-19 test AND an NAAT/PCR test are negative. If symptoms are improving and the camper has been fever free for 12 hours, the camper can return back to activities wearing an N95 or KN95 mask, which we will provide.
• If the camper tests negative without a fever, isolation continues until the Medical Team determines it is safe for them to resume activities. If the symptoms were potentially respiratory, the camper may be required to wear an KN95 or N95 mask, which we will provide.

All final determinations are to be made by TAF’s Medical Team and Medical Director.

What resources does TAF have in place to respond to illness at Camp?

As in previous years, we will have a full-time Medical team who will be on site for the duration of TAF. They will be available 24/7 for medications, injuries, and illness. We will be dedicating additional resources for on-site testing and PPE, as well as allocating staff and/or parent volunteers to ensure full compliance with our COVID-19 safety protocols as well as caring for the safety and comfort of affected TAFers.

Who will be entering Manchester campus this summer beyond campers and staff?

To ensure we keep the TAF quarantine “bubble” intact, we are requiring all TAF attendees and visitors to provide proof of full vaccination with booster and TWO negative COVID tests done prior to TAF.

Note that parents who are spending time on campus during drop off on Sunday, July 24th are asked to complete the COVID pre-screening testing.

Will campers be required to quarantine prior to coming to camp?

We will suggest that TAFers and their families use appropriate COVID-19 precautions in the 14 days prior to TAF.

Do parents need to get tested before dropping their children off?

Parents who are spending time on campus during drop off on Sunday, July 24th are asked to complete the COVID pre-screening testing.

If my PCR/NAAT test result is not back before TAF starts, will I still be able to go to TAF? 

If the TAFer initial test is a PCR/NAAT which has not resulted prior to the initial first day of TAF, the TAFer may still attend as long as the rapid antigen test within 24 hours of the first day at TAF is negative.

Will masks be provided?

We encourage that TAFers bring their own masks and change them daily throughout the week.  If a TAFer runs out of masks, we will have a limited supply available.

Will there be on-site tests available? 

The TAF Medical Team will have some on-site rapid antigen tests available generally reserved for suspect cases or those who we deem as high-risk. Please bring additional tests if you would like to optionally test before leaving TAF.

What happens if I test positive while I am at TAF?

Any TAFer who tests positive at camp will immediately trigger the COVID Isolation Protocol and will be immediately sent home from TAF. Please have emergency arrangements for transportation so that the TAFer can be safely brought home.

Where can I find rapid antigen testing?

Rapid antigen tests can be found at local pharmacies, ordered online, or you can request your free kits from the government. We suggest that an order is placed now to receive kits for TAF pre-screening.

If I was recently positive for COVID, should I do a PCR test?

Only two serial negative home antigen tests are required if a TAFer recently tested positive for COVID within the last 90 days, as the more sensitive PCR test may still remain positive COVID even though the TAFer is no longer contagious or infected.

If I want to drop off my child on their first day of TAF, should I test for COVID? 

We are asking parents to follow the same testing protocol as full week attendees if they wish to drop off their child at Manchester. We ask that parents upload their negative test results along with their camper’s test results into the registration portal.

Why are you requiring 2 serial tests?

We are requiring 2 separate tests in order to ensure that false negatives or subsequent COVID exposure after the first test may be detected. Please try to limit possible COVID exposure pre-TAF and take all precautions while traveling to TAF.

Financial Information

Will the rates increase for 2022?

We are not increasing the TAF 2022 registration rates. Details can be found here on our Rates page. We offer a limited amount of financial aid to support TAF families in need.

Will I get a refund if camp is canceled or my child needs to come home early?

If we have to cancel TAF before the first day of the session, we will provide a complete refund.

If your child is sent home early from TAF due to medical or COVID-19 related reasons, we will issue full refunds this summer. Refunds will not be given for early dismissal due to homesickness or misconduct/bad behavior.

Registration & Programming

How do I register and when is TAF?

TAF 2022 Registration is open from May 22 through June 18, 2022. TAF 2022 will take place July 24th through July 31st.

Will TAF offer online programming this summer?

TAF will not have online programming coinciding this year with our in-person conference.

What will the daily schedule look like?

Daily schedules will closely resemble programming held in person from previous years. TAF programming may still include social distancing measures for large-scale gatherings such as camp-wide programming. 

Some program activities may be altered or not offered based on the county/state health recommendations at the time of camp.

Will TAF still have large all-camp events such as family time?

Yes, TAF will still hold large all-camp events, with precautionary adjustments. Masks will be required during camp-wide events (e.g. inter-programming, night market, TAF Night) to help decrease the risk of infection. Camp-wide programming may still include social distancing measures.

Will TAF be running camp programs at full capacity?

Yes, we will be operating at full capacity out of Manchester University’s facilities. All programs will still implement a program camper capacity limit to ensure quality programming and safety.

How will TAF Night work?

TAF Night will be held in Cordier Auditorium, where it is traditionally hosted. Further precautions and guidelines regarding TAF Night performances may be set by the Medical team, CoCos and/or TAF Night Coordinators, as we monitor overall camp health during TAF.

Transportation

Will TAF offer bus transportation to camp?

TAF will offer our traditional bus transportation options, as well as a new return bus service. More details can be found on our Transportation page.

Can campers fly from out of state or out of the country to camp?

We may be able to accommodate campers who wish to fly in from out of the country, depending on the CDC guidelines, which could contain restrictions on travel from specific areas. Please check with your local health department guidelines for current travel recommendations. Testing to enter the U.S. is no longer required.

Can my child fly into Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) and be transported to camp from there?

Yes, we will still have the Manchester University shuttle service running to/from FWA. More details can be found on our Transportation page.