6/15/21: COVID 19 Update:
Greetings,
We are so excited to have officially started Athena Camp’s 10th summer, and to have your girls here at Athena Camps with us this week! The reason you are receiveing this email is to address any questions or concerns you may have about the updated Covid-19 mask wearing policies as released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health.
In accordance with the updated CDC’s Guidance for Operating Youth Camps, and California Department of Public Health, “day camps where everyone is not fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks outdoors unless in areas of substantially high transmission”.
Beginning next week at Athena Camps, campers will be allowed to take off their masks during sports stations, outdoor play time, and during art stations. We will ask campers to keep their masks on their person, (on wrists or around necks), and we will ask them to put them on when using the restroom and in areas of cross traffic.
Campers will continue to stay in their pods to allow for social distancing, safety and contact tracing.
We ask that parents and anyone coming onto campus continue to wear masks all times. Specifically, for check-in, check-out and Friday Family Finale. If you are uncomfortable wearing a mask, or have any questions, please let us know.
Thank you for helping us keep our campers and staff safe!
Sincerely,
Athena Camp Directors and Coaches
7/20/20: COVID 19 Update:
The County came out with new directives for all businesses on July 13. We are proud to report that we have been in compliance with all of the guidelines since our first camps in June and will continue to operate at this highest level of safety precautions. One change for summer camps that affects us is:
“Childcare, Summer Camps, and Children’s Activities” guidelines:
- Children ages 6 through 11 should be strongly encouraged, but are not required, to wear face coverings within their stable group.
- Children/youth ages 12 and older must wear face coverings at all times.
- Students 5 and under are not required to wear a mask
With the following exceptions:
(7) when children/youth are actively exercising outdoors provided that they remain at least 6 feet distance from others at all times; and (8) when engaged in activities during which wearing a face covering may pose a danger. In addition, children/youth may remove their face covering for a short period of time if they are experiencing difficulty wearing their face covering.
Here are the full guidelines: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/mandatory-directives-programs-serving-children-or-youth.aspx
Therefore, we are asking ALL of our campers, Mini, Junior and Middle School, to comply with the directive to wear a mask when not at sport stations, and continue social distancing to keep everyone safe.
Please send a mask(s) will you daughter to camp.
6/16/20 Update: 2020 Athena Camps COVID19 Operations Plan
We are excited to announce that we have just been approved to hold Athena Camps this summer at San Jose Christian School and Covington in Los Altos! We will be offering our camps on a limited basis for the safety of our campers and staff.
We will continue to offer all 9 weeks of camp in San Jose and 6 weeks in Los Altos, but are reducing all of our camp sizes to 12 to 24 girls per week, a maximum 36 girls per site. All of our Middle School camps have all been moved to our office in Willow Glen and will be limited to 12 girls maximum. You can find our updated schedules on our website.
Visit our website for a detailed plan Athena Camps COVID19 Operations Plan. Here are the highlights of the safety measures we are implementing this summer:
- Masks will be worn by all Directors, Coaches, Interns, and Junior Coaches, as well as campers over the age of 13 (update June 6)
- Stable groups of 12 or less (Pods) with the same coach for the entire week
- Each Pod will be assigned it’s own area on the large school property for their use only.
- Campers will be reminded of social distancing requirements by ground markers, chalked or roped-off boundary lines, as well as verbal reminders by supervising Coaches.
- Each station area has a site staff member that disinfects all equipment that may be touched by campers.
- Individual art supplies and assigned cubbies for the entire week, spaced 6’ apart
- No RR corner or Lounge this year
- All opening, affirmation and closing circles will be outside “socially distanced”.
- In person Family Finale is cancelled this year
We will send out our Parent & Camper Handbook the week before your schedule camp session with any updated protocols.
We are excitedly planning for Athena Camps in smaller, safer numbers, and training our staff on new protocols.
We look forward to a fun summer with your daughter!
With Gratitude,
Aby Ryan
Athena Camps, Founder & CEO
5/15/20 Update:
We will be offering our camps on a limited basis for the safety of our campers and staff. We will continue to offer all 9 weeks of camp in San Jose and 6 weeks in Los Altos, but we are reducing all of our camp sizes to 12 to 24 girls per week, 36 maximum per site. All of our Middle School camps have all been moved to our office in Willow Glen and will be limited to 12 girls max. You can find our updated schedules on our website.
Here are some of the safety measures we are implementing this summer:
- Masks for all Directors, coaches, interns, and Junior Coaches and Campers over the age of 6
- Stable groups (Pods) of 12 or less with the same coach for the entire week
- Cleaning of all surfaces, multiple times per day
- Individual art supplies and assigned cubbies for the entire week, spaced 6′ apart
- No RR corner or Lounge this year
- All opening, affirmation and closing circles will be outside “socially distanced”.
- Individually assigned sport equipment
- More to come…
As we are all waiting it out, wondering what summer holds, we would like to offer you the opportunity to submit an enrollment online to hold a place in camp.
We are excitedly planning for Athena Camps in smaller, safer numbers, training our staff on new procedures, and anxiously awaiting the opening of Phase 2 in Santa Clara County.
We look forward to a fun summer with your daughter!
With Gratitude,
Aby Ryan
Athena Camps, Founder & CEO
5/4/20 update:
We are happy to report, despite all that is currently happening, that we are still planning to operate this summer!
Given what has transpired over these past few months and the potential impacts on mental and social health on our girls, we are more committed than ever to providing an exceptional camp experience for our girls. While summer camp has the ability to benefit campers in countless ways, camps matter now more than ever and will be in the unique position this summer to deliver the much needed social, creative, and outdoor experiences that will provide respite from a spring spent isolated and inactive.
We are eagerly awaiting a publication (coming soon) from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Camping Association (ACA) which will provide us with guidance and best practices for summer camps to operate this summer. We will keep you informed of the increased safety measures we will be taking to protect our campers and staff in the coming weeks.
Finally, we have hired some wonderful new and returning staff members whom we will introduce to you soon.
We deeply appreciate the trust that is granted to us to care for your girls and we are working diligently to provide the safest possible camp experience for our entire community.
Our deepest gratitude from all of us,
Aby
4/24/20 update:
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we are listening to our leadership at the state and local level. Presently, in talking with our school partners, we expect to have camp this summer. We will work closely with our school hosts, local and state public health authorities in following their recommended health guidelines as they evolve. Your daughters health and safety is a top priority at Athena Camps. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
4/14/20:
This is an unprecedented time in our community and our world. Your safety and health is and always will be our top concern.
Currently, we are preparing for summer camps all the while following closely the latest guidelines on health and safety, cleaning and preparedness from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the local department of health where we operate camps.
Currently, we expect to run camp this summer as planned. We will continue to work closely with our school hosts and local and state public health authorities as recommendations evolve. In the event that we must close a camp, we will communicate immediately with camper families and staff.
As the news continues to evolve, we’ll all keep making the best decisions we can for our families and communities. At Athena Camps, we love providing a nurturing community through our unique combination of athletic, creative and social-emotional activities for your girls—and we’re looking forward to doing just that this summer.
We will get through this together as a community.
Warmly,
Aby Ryan
Founder & CEO