This Week

Hello Sailing School Families!

As the state begins to reopen, I’m sure many of you are wondering how we plan to address COVID 19, your children and sailing this summer.  The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has issued summer camp guidelines as part of its ReOpen RI campaign. You can read the summer camp guidelines at reopeningri.com. The ESS specific plan has been completed and will be available for viewing in hard copy posted at our front desk.  

Now it’s time to put those plans into action as we prepare for summer sailing and welcoming your children back to Edgewood!  

Here are a few highlights:

DROP-OFF / PICK-UP:

• A plan for drop-off/pick-up zones with staggered timing will be emailed to families once assigned.

• We will provide a brand new Edgewood labeled, packaged “buff” style cloth face covering.

• During drop off and pick-up, we ask drivers, families, and friends to remain in their vehicles. An ESS staffer will escort your camper(s) to and from your car.

• All camper(s) must remain in your car until the following steps have been completed every day:

• An ESS staffer has come to your car to conduct the required COVID-19 self-attesting health questionnaire regarding your camper(s). 

• An ESS staff has taken your camper’s temperature via a touchless thermometer. 

NOTE: If a camper has any health symptom that isn’t allergy-related, he or she will not be allowed to come to camp. (This holds true for instructors and staff, too.) They will need to be cleared by a physician or to test negative for COVID-19 before returning.

• Visitors to the EYC grounds and the Sailing School (including families and friends), will be strongly discouraged. In the rare instance that a visitor is allowed, they must check-in with staff, sign the School’s contact tracing log, and complete a self-attesting health questionnaire. They will also be required to wear a mask at all times.

DAILY CAMPER EXPERIENCE:

• Each class of sailors will be in stable pods of 15 or fewer for the duration of the class. These stable pods are to be kept 14 feet apart from other pods at all times.

• All sailors will be assigned the same boats for the entirety of their two-week class session. 

• Each pod will be assigned to a defined area; each area will have a picnic table, teaching materials, and a board game or two available for the entire class period. All surfaces will be wiped down routinely with a disinfectant. 

• There will be staggered sailing start times on the dock for each pod to prepare their boat, allowing staff to maintain a minimum of 14 feet between each group. Lunch breaks will also be staggered.

• Unlike in past years, we will cancel programming if severe weather is forecast for a sustained period. We will make the call the evening before class if sustained stormy weather is predicted, or by 12:00 PM the day of class if sustained afternoon storms are predicted. We will communicate cancellation plans via text, email, and social media.

STAYING HEALTHY:

• Instructors and ESS staff will wear face coverings when unable to social distance. Sailors will not be required to wear masks while in their pods, but they will be encouraged to wear face coverings when moving about the EYC facility (eg. when walking in common areas such as bathrooms or docks.)

• Hand sanitizer will be available in multiple locations at all times, but we also ask that parents/guardians supply their sailor(s) with some personal supplies as well, kept in their own backpacks.

• All restrooms and each pod area will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Thank you for remaining flexible and patient as we work to keep your children and our instructors/staff as safe as we can. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Stephanie Van Patten l ESS President   youthsailing@edgewoodsailing.org

Chris Crane l ESS Youth Program Director chris.crane@edgewoodsailing.org

Rhiana Menning l ESS Youth Program Coordinator rhiana@edgewoodsailing.org