Ask the Expert

4 Tips for Camp Preparedness during COVID19

How will you communicate new standards to your campers and their families?  Everyone has questions as we work to plan for camp season and are required to consider social distancing to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). DAVID CHAN, FirstCharter Bus Sales Consultant with 10 years’ experience with summer camps, shares some insights on how to help camp directors acclimate to the changing times.
FirstCharter staff have worked with more than 6,000 camps throughout the country.  As a part of our quoting process, we have learned the importance of taking the time to explain important topics with our customers.  When it comes to COVID-19, we’ve gathered some best practices for planning camp transportation during a pandemic:

1. Look for customized transportation to meet your camp’s needs.  From offering various bus sizes to support social distancing, to bus sanitation efforts, FirstCharter provides your camp and its campers with various transportation options.

2. Schedule your transportation dates early.  Our team of transportation planners are available to answer your questions and plan your trip.  Reach out early in the season to discuss your travel needs. As a rule of thumb, it’s easier to cancel transportation than it is to book last minute transportation.

3. Make sure your transportation provider is credible.  Selecting a transportation partner with experience navigating pandemics can help you build trust with your campers and their families. FirstCharter has experience dealing with pandemic planning, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic that also affected summer schools and camps, and similarly we have deployed a national COVID-19 process that adheres to CDC guidelines. This standard operating procedure addresses how our fleet is disinfected and what to do to minimize risk of exposure and what to do if someone who rides one of our vehicles is infected.

4. Ensure your transportation provider has a plan for social distancing.  FirstCharter provides seating charts, bus sanitization guides, and encourages riders to wear a facial covering while on board the bus.  Communicating current procedures to riders, parents, and campers is vital during this time.

David Chan’s suggested resources

• Check with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for the most up to date information on COVID-19 related topics.
• See Which States Are Reopening and Which Are Still Shut Down, The New York Times.
• COVID-19 – Resource Center for Camps, American Camp Association.
• CDC Guidance for Day and Residential Camp Responses to Influenza during the 2010 Summer Camp Season, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Check out our other resources on making transporting campers easy and the difference our bus drivers make.