Navigating the reopening of child care and day camps, both home-based and centre-based, is a challenging task and will require a team effort. Lambton Public Health is here for every person involved with this reopening and will provide continued support.
This section provides the resources and tools for Lambton County child care and day camp operators to successfully reopen.
Child Care Centres
Recommendations & Guidance
- Criteria for Returning to Daycare/Day Camps
- Additional Considerations for Before and After School Programs
- Ontario Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak: Child Care Reopening
- Lambton County COVID-19 Child Care Operations Manual – Version 3
- Child Care Reopening Checklist
- Ontario Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak: EarlyON Reopening – Ontario Ministry of Health
- Policies and Guidelines: Before and After School Programs Kindergarten – Grade 6 – Ontario Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Guidance: Summer Day Camps – Ontario Ministry of Health
Staff Education
- Mandatory Staff Training – English
- Mandatory Staff Training – French
- Staff Training Webinar (recorded June 22, 2020)
Resources
- Safer Child Care Centres – Guidance for parents with a sick child – Lambton Public Health
- Building on How Does Learning Happen? Pedagogical approaches to reopening licensed child care
- PPE Recommendations
- Screening Tool
- Physical Distancing Poster
- Child Care Reopening: Frequently Asked Questions – Lambton Public Health
- Parents & Caregivers – Lambton Public Health
Contacts
Submit inquiries to Lambton Public Health.
For operations/funding inquiries contact County of Lambton Social Planning & Children’s Services Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Province of Ontario has stated that summer camps are permitted to open in July and August of this year. When summer camps do commence they are going to look starkly different than they did in years past to ensure the health and safety of staff and participants alike. So, what are some things you can expect if camps are allowed to open to ensure your camper’s safety?
• Overnight camps will not run this year. COVID-19 is primarily spread through sustained droplet exposure. Due to the sustained closeness of overnight camps, they will not operate this summer.
• As a parent you may be asked to perform daily screening and assessments of yourself and your child prior to arrival at camp each morning, including a daily temperature check. Be on the lookout for COVID-19 symptoms.
◦ Camp staff will also be required to perform daily self-assessment and will not be permitted to work if symptoms are present.
• Some camps may choose to screen all participants upon arrival or require an online screening be completed before campers can participate for the day. Participants may be denied if symptoms are present.
• Camps will be required to follow all COVID-19 infection control and prevention protocols, including but not limited to:
◦ Camp staff are ensuring participants are maintaining safe physical distancing practices, which includes a 2 meter buffer between participants, staff, and guardians.
◦ Increasing frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of all items and surfaces which may be shared.
◦ Limiting indoor activities, especially singing and other boisterous activities which may cause increased droplet spread.
◦ Staff are ensuring and monitoring proper hand hygiene and washing techniques.
◦ Some camps may require Face coverings (non-medical masks) if physical distancing is not possible between groups.
• Day camps will be broken into small groups of no more than 10 people, including staff and camp participants, to adhere to provincial gathering guidelines. These groups will remain consistent throughout the duration of the camp and will not mingle with other groups.
• Campers are reminded to not share items and should come prepared with their own supplies such as sunscreen, water, food and other items which may be needed through the day labelled with their name.
• Each camp should have a completed risk assessment for the day-to-day function of camp operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document lays out how the camp will operate under the provincial health and safety guidelines to ensure camper safety. This document should be available to all either on the camp website or upon request.
More information on what day camps might look like and how they will be required to function can be found here, on the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance: Summer Day Camps document.
*Please note: these are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation evolves.*