Coronavirus Response

Davidson Summer Programs: 2021 Coronavirus Response

February 19, 2021

It’s with much disappointment for us to deliver bad news in a year already posing challenges for parents and students. Unfortunately, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel the in-person programming this upcoming summer. Many, many factors were part of this decision. It weighed heavily on us trying to balance the need for some normalcy and in-person connection while ensuring a safe and rewarding interactive experience. Given numerous constraints outside of our control presented by COVID, in addition to a wide variety of unknown factors affecting travel restrictions come summertime, we could not move forward with offering summer programs in person as we had hoped would be possible when we began planning months ago.

While we are incredibly disheartened to not be able to offer a residential program experience to students, who were very much looking forward to joining us, we are able to offer an alternative. We are excited to offer online versions of STARS, REACH, and THINK this summer.

Davidson Summer Programs is planning to move forward with in-person programs for summer 2021. The health and safety of our participants is always a top priority, and we will be implementing protocols and plans to address the unique circumstances of this summer. We will continue to follow the guidance of the American Camp Associations and public health experts. As the coronavirus situation and recommendations evolve, so will our planning and response. We are committed to adapting our safety plan and protocols as needed.

This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Additionally, any changes to this page will also be sent via email to families enrolled in STARS, REACH, or THINK.

Current Measures in Place
We have many protocols and plans that are regularly in place each year and have also taken this opportunity to strengthen them. The following are the measures that will be implemented this summer: 

• Following our communicable disease plan (see more details on the Health and Wellness page of your program of interest). This plan includes:
  • Staff training
  • Student orientation
  • Daily preventative practices
  • Addressing an outbreak, when one occurs
• Health screening of participants and staff
• Heath records, physical, and immunization records collected and reviewed by health supervisor (see immunization policy under Health and Wellness page)
• Increased, scheduled sanitation of frequently touched objects/areas
• Handwashing and sanitization available prior to meals
• Increase accessibility of sanitation and handwashing available throughout campus
• Student orientation to include increased training on healthy practices and policies 
• Staff training to include:
  • Practices for recognizing and self-reporting potential symptoms of illness
  • Methods for recognizing and reporting potential symptoms of illness in participants
  • Strategies and procedures to encourage and implement healthy, sanitary practices within small-group settings

Possible Measures
Due the changing landscape of the coronavirus, we have many possible additions to our current practices and will implement these as needed. Should we need to add additional measures, this page will be updated, and enrolled families will be notified. These additions may include:

• Additional health screenings (prior to arrival and/or daily)
• Negative COVID test prior to arrival
• Wearing masks
• Smaller cohorts within program that do not mingle
• Staggered dining and activity participation
• Quarantine of staff and participants prior to arrival
• Reduced contact arrival and departure (“kiss and go” drop-off/pickup)
• Additional vaccine requirements
• Reduced participant capacity (possibly resulting in cancelation of course offerings due to low enrollment)

Additional Resources:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. State Department

American Academy of Pediatrics 

University of Nevada, Reno