Introducing the Camper Cohort Model

As human beings, we draw on our own experiences to navigate an unfamiliar situation. This tenet of behavior was illustrated very clearly during my early days on the Camp Kudzu Team as the “new kid on the block” putting together my first family camp program. After answering several emails and a lot of phone calls, I concluded that the word “cabin” has many, many connotations. From those discussions, the cabin housing is described in detail in the registration material so that everyone understands that there isn’t a fully stocked kitchen, 1,000 thread count linens, potential of bear visitors, or outhouses.

During our in-person programs in the 2021 Season, we have made some changes to how we will have campers physically at camp eat, sleep, and do activities at camp. Collectively, these changes are part of what we are calling the “Camper Cohort Model”.

How We Arrived at the Camper Cohort Model for 2021

The Camp Kudzu Team has been gathering information and resources to stay informed and make the best decisions with the best information throughout this entire pandemic. We are a mighty team of professional staff AND volunteers who share their wisdom year-round from our board members to our medical volunteers to our parents to our cabin counselors to our head staff. We are so fortunate that, when the week of camp is over, these talented people are still in our camp.

We have gathered information from our Medical Core Team and Medical Advisory Board, combed through the American Camp Association Publications and Research and CDC Guidelines for best practices and recommendations, engaged the guidance of our insurance partner, The Redwoods Group, and listened to the wisdom of our network of fellow camp professionals across the country who have done in person programming and our planning for more programs this year.

What Does Camp Kudzu Mean by “Camper Cohort Model”?

In a nutshell, the camper cohort model will keep the same small group of people together throughout the camp session. This small unit will have times, places and staff uniquely assigned to them that won’t coincide with the presence of another cohort group. A cohort may have 1 or 2 cabins of campers.

As we begin to get our feet dirty again (literally!), we have made six changes to the camp day to make this happen. (Disclaimer: As camp time gets closer, you will receive up to date details and protocols about your camp session, additional items may be added to this list.)

1. Fewer bodies sleeping in the cabin.

There will be empty beds in each cabin. With fewer campers and staff assigned to a building, the extra space will help with distancing. For example, Cabin 1 and Cabin 2 have four campers and two staff in each of them. Collectively, this is referred to as the Purple Unicorn Cohort. These 12 persons, along with two medical staff, will be together exclusively during that camp session—from activities to meeting with the clinician to grabbing evening snack.

2. Camp activities and the leadership of the activities is specific to each cohort.

Physical distancing and mask wearing will occur when the cohort is indoors (except for sleeping). When the Purple Unicorns are at tye-dye, that’s the only group there. When campers need help making designs and adding more rubber bands, their counselor will help them with advice from the activity staff monitoring the activity versus the arts and crafts staff directly helping the camper.

3. Cohort activities have taken the place of All Camp activities.

Instances in which we have typically gathered together as a single group will instead have each cohort sitting in assigned areas for the activity. Each cohort will have their own array of colored powders for a celebration at the end of Color Wars versus us all coming together tightly for the toss.

4. Outdoor over indoor gatherings.

We will emphasize activities and cabin meetings taking place under the shade of the tree and not in the confines of a building. This will allow for more mask breaks and the circulation of fresh air.

5. Meals in Motion.

Think of the shorter lines at the salad bar! Whether it be picnic on the dock, a grill full of burgers, or multiple shifts for the dining hall space, mealtime gatherings will be with cohorts and not everyone in the same space at the same time. The creativity and variety of options is very exciting around breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

6. The majority of camper check in and camper check out functions will take place without exiting one’s vehicle.

Many of our returning families are doing backflips now after reading this. Sunday check ins tend to take a couple of minutes of getting through the lines and the Georgia heat does not make those lines any shorter. For our new families, this makes the unknown more unknown. We will have tours and meetings in advance of the start of the camp session to help break the ice and help ease the first-time jitters.

Our Plan in Action

During our most recent Teen Retreat Program, our families were asked to monitor their camper’s symptoms 14 days prior arrival at camp, given a temp scan upon arrival and all campers were tested for COVID-19 via a mid-nasal swab administered prior to entering camp. Our staff followed these same steps, too.

While our summer camp protocols have not been adopted as of this writing in totality, we will strongly recommend that both staff and campers engage in low to moderate risk activities as defined by the CDC two weeks prior to the start of the session. Please keep that in mind as you plan your out-of-school time as summer starts.

We Can’t Wait!

I speak for the entire Camp Kudzu Team when I say we are willing to modify what we have done in the past so that we can be at camp. We have missed our campers! The addition of mask wearing, physical distancing, and a lot of hand washing combined with the camper cohort model will drastically reduce the number of people each camper/staff member “mixes” with each day and control the spread of illness if that were to occur.

See you on Opening Day!

-Kat Shreve
Associate Executive Director