COVID-19 INFORMATION
Important: The following information is based on the 2021 season. As soon as new directives from public health authorities will be made available, this section will be updated.
Important: The following information is based on the 2021 season. As soon as new directives from public health authorities will be made available, this section will be updated.
Are Edphy day camps open this summer?
Following the success of summer 2020 in terms of compliance with measures and the extremely limited number of COVID-19 cases in day camps, the government authorized, on January 26, the planning and organization of our activities for the summer of 2021. Very motivated and excited for this new season, our team is already at work and can’t wait to see you again.
If my child is already registered, is his/her place guaranteed?
The government directives requiring us to govern ourselves according to the same framework as last year, the number of places available has been set in accordance with these guidelines, which ensures a place to the families currently registered. However, we reserve the right, as usual, to cancel any program if the minimum number of registrations is not reached or for any other reason, beyond our control, which does not allow us to ensure a quality program in accordance with our standards.
If all the weeks I wish to register my child for are currently full, is there a waiting list?
Yes, if our available places at camp have already been taken, it is possible to request that we add you to our waitlist by sending us an email at [email protected] (please specify the name of the camp and the desired weeks). It will also be possible for us to verify if any places are left in another Edphy camp close by.
What are the measures put in place for the safe operation of your day camps?
The measures presented in the Guide to relaunching camps in the COVID-19 context, developed by the Quebec Association of Camps, in close collaboration with the Association du loisir municipal et le Réseau des unités régionales loisir et sport du Québec and approved by the Director of Public Health, answer to four guidelines in order to operate camps since the summer of 2020:
1. Physical distancing: Take the necessary measures to ensure a distance between bubbles and set up the environment to maintain the recommended distance between personnel and children.
2. Outdoor activities: prioritize outdoor spaces and limit the use of indoor areas to rainy days, heatwaves or for activities that cannot be moved outdoors.
3. Limit physical contact: reduce the amount of direct and indirect contact between individuals and different bubble groups.
4. Hygiene measures: apply and respect all sanitary rules including cleaning and disinfecting all classrooms/areas and material, furniture and sanitary installations, as well as individual hygiene such as hand washing (staff and children).
Are free-swim activities still taking place? What about swimming lessons?
The free swim periods will be held as usual, but may be less frequent since the number of groups that can be at the same time in the pool, with respect for distancing, is limited. Water games will also be organized daily.
Regarding swimming lessons, the Canadian Red Cross sent its partners the “Guide to relaunching the Canadian Red Cross aquatic programs – Quebec” in June 2020. The guidelines related to COVID -19 which are presented require that each swimmer – Junior 4 and under – be accompanied by a parent, to promote physical distancing between the children and the swimming instructor among others. Unfortunately, as it is impossible for us to be subject to such a condition, we are unable to offer this combo this summer.
Are children and staff required to wear a face mask?
As of June 28 (beginning of being in the green zone), wearing a face cover or mask is no longer compulsory for all participants. The animation team, on the other hand, must wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be respected (inside and outside).
Is my child, who is currently registered for day camp, in danger with the COVID-19 virus still spreading?
For 55 years, the health and safety of participants and staff has been at the heart of our concerns. This is why our team is putting in extra efforts to apply public health regulations and implement all sanitary measures that will allow campers to live unforgettable experiences this summer, all while remaining safe.
In addition, according to the data available in Quebec,children (campers) and adolescents (counsellors) represent a small percentage of cases (less than 5%), and seem unlikely to transmit the virus to their parents or to other children, according to a new study published in the Pediatrics magazine,which makes the camp an ideal context to allow young people to slowly resume their summer activities.
If a child develops symptoms which resemble those of COVID-19 (fever, cough, extreme fatigue) what will be the procedure to follow?
A child presenting symptoms will immediately be taken out of their group and placed in a room set up for this reason (red zone). Parents will be contacted and will be required to pick up their child immediately in order to be brought to a testing clinic. The child will not be allowed to return until he/she has obtained a negative test. Otherwise, a call will be made to the regional office of the Director general of Public Health, which will take charge of the file.
Is there a specific cancellation policy in regards to this situation?
Seeing as the government has authorized the holding of day camp activites in January and our preparation is going well, our normal policies apply. If your child or another member of your family sharing your household is suffering from COVID-19, we will reimburse the costs related to the portion of the stay whose services cannot be received, upon presentation of a medical report.
Is it possible to request pairing for my child and his/her friend?
For a pairing to be accepted and completed, it is obligatory that both participants be registered in the same age group, program/combo.
Given all the sanitary measures put in place to allow campers to participate in day camp activities safely, even if our coordination team will do everything they can to allow as many children as possible to be paired with their friends this summer, we cannot guarantee that all pairing requests will be accepted.
Are daycare services still offered to parents despite the current situation?
Parents who need, have the possibility to register their children for daycare service between 7 AM and 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM. However, to ensure that we can limit the amount of people who will be in contact with each child, the regular counsellors will be present as of 8 AM and until 5 PM.
In order to be eligible for daycare service before 8 AM or between 5 and 6 PM, an email must be sent to the day camp management team the week before in order to reserve your place. This will allow the team to get organized and ensure a safe welcoming for all children. Also, children will have to bring their own toys (books, crayons, puzzles, for example) in a zipped school bag, that cannot be shared and will have to be put away once their counsellor arrives.
What is the procedure to follow in the event that my child loses a personal belonging?
At the end of the week, each counsellor will accompany his group to the table where all the lost and found objects are located, to allow them, if necessary, to recover an item that belongs to them.
If you find that an object belonging to your child is missing when they return home, an email must be sent to the management, describing the object and stating when it was lost. If it is found, it will be returned directly to your car.
Will Edphy International Val-Morin welcome campers during the 2021 summer season?
The Association des camps du Québec announced on May 7 that public health has given the green light for the reopening of sleepaway camps this summer. Edphy International summer camp will therefore welcome campers in 2021.
To offer a quality experience and ensure compliance with the protocol relating to the measures to be taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to reduce our capacity and our weeks of activities to four weeks:
Mini Camp (Sunday to Wednesday): July 4, July 11, July 25 and August 1
Club Explo (Sunday to Friday): July 4, July 11, July 25 and August 1
Multiple Activity Camp: July 4 to 16 and July 25 to August 6
Is it still possible to register a child for the summer camp?
The current context has forced us to reduce the number of places available for the summer of 2021 and, although we were still awaiting the lifting of the ministerial decree prohibiting the holding of sleepaway camps, the registration period began on March 25th. Despite everything, there are still some availabilities in each of the programs. We therefore invite you to book as soon as possible via our registration assistant or by contacting us by email at [email protected].
What measures will be put in place to ensure a safe reopening of the summer camp?
The protocol relating to the measures to be taken in camps due to the COVID-19 pandemic was presented on May 14. However, some measures may change, depending on the development of the situation and the vaccination campaign and an update will be made here if necessary.
Before camp
At camp
Transport
How many children will the bubble groups be made up of?
The groups will be formed taking into account the age of the children and the usual ratios prescribed by the Association des camps du Québec:
Will there be any changes to the regular summer camp programming?
Activities requiring the mixing of bubble groups, as is the case for specialized options and outings among others, cannot take place. For large group activities such as the Olympics, campfires, dancing, etc., we are currently coming up with a new formula to offer children equally interesting alternatives.
To find out more about the daily activities planned for each program, we invite you to view the Presentation section of each program: https://edphy.com/en/summer-camp/basic-programs/
What will the procedure be if a child has symptoms similar to COVID-19?
A decision tree and all the necessary care protocols, which specify when to put a person and / or a group in isolation, when to perform tests and when to send people home, have been developed by the Association des camps du Québec and validated by the Public Health Department.
The symptomatic child will first be immediately removed from the group and placed in a room provided for this purpose (hot zone) before going to a screening clinic. All participants / bubble group facilitators will then also have to take a test and the local Public Health Department will be contacted.
Will there be a cancellation and refund policy specific to the current epidemiological situation?
As the government has given permission for the summer camps to operate, our usual policies apply. If your child has COVID-19, we will reimburse the costs related to the portion of the stay for which services cannot be received, upon presentation of a medical report.
Will international campers participate in the summer camp activities in 2021?
Due to the current pandemic situation and strict measures regarding travelers from outside of Canada, we will not be welcoming any international campers for the 2021 summer season.
For more information, we invite you to keep an eye out for our future newsletters, and to regularly visit our website and our Facebook page.