High Trails is in the cross-section of school and organized camp. Legally we follow the rules and regulations for organized camps set by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health; however, 100% of our clients are schools. Consequently, our protocols mirror the guidelines that schools are using while still meeting or exceeding county requirements.

Currently*, there are no restrictions on organized camps from our governing agency. Therefore our COVID19 protocols are a combination of guidelines for schools and internal decisions. High Trails’ protocols fall more on the cautious side from just mirroring school protocols for the following reasons:

1. As an overnight program with multiple meals a day, there is just more time than an average school day that everyone is together, making the risk of spreading germs higher than the average school setting.
2. While some schools might be more strict on their protocols and other schools more relaxed, constantly adjusting our policies to completely match each individualized school’s approach becomes too much to juggle and still ensure safety, particularly when we have multiple schools on site at one time.

By setting policies that mirror what schools are required to do plus adding in a little extra, we aim to ensure that everyone can attend High Trails with peace of mind and stay healthy.

High Trails COVID Protocols**

Cohorts:

Students will be grouped into cohorts of two cabins for the duration of their time at High Trails. All activities will take place only with students of the same cohorts being near each other. This will allow us to more easily track and contain any illnesses that may occur.

Starting in April 2022, High Trails will work with schools to determine if they would like to continue to cohort their students. Most schools are this point are not choosing to use cohorts.

Masks:

• Mirroring the California Department of Public Health’s requirements for schools: here is the announcement from the state.
• As of 3/12/22, making indoor is not required. However, if an individual school or district is continuing the mask mandate, we will follow the school’s lead.
• Outdoors people do not need to wear masks.
• Everyone is responsible for providing their own masks. High Trails will have extra masks as backup.

Dining:

• The Dining Hall and tables will be kept at 50% capacity during meals. Ended in April 2022.
• Students will only sit with students of their cohort during meals. Ended in April 2022.
• All surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized between seatings.

Sleeping in Cabins:

• Beds will be placed so there are at least six feet between everyone’s heads.
• Masks will not be worn while in bed.

Cleaning:

• All high-touch areas (such as light switches, doorknobs), surfaces, and bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized daily.
• Hand washing and hand sanitizing stations will be located in key locations and regularly used, particularly before and after eating. Instructors will have hand sanitizer with them at all times.
• Between user groups, all program equipment (i.e., archery equipment) will be sanitized.

Vaccination:

• All High Trails staff are required to be vaccinated or have a doctor’s exemption for the vaccine.
• All school teachers, aides, and visitors attending High Trails need to be vaccinated or tested weekly, mirroring the California Department of Public Health’s requirements for schools.
• There are currently no vaccination or testing requirements for students from High Trails, as we work with a wide range of districts all with their own policies on this.  However, we strongly encourage individual schools and districts to require COVID19 testing for their students prior to attending.

Health Screenings:

• Mirroring California Department of Public Health’s requirements for schools
• Before arriving at High Trails, everyone must be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID19. Anybody exhibiting symptoms may not be transported. Teachers are responsible for providing documentation of this health screening on arrival at High Trails.
• Everyone on site will be screened daily for signs and symptoms of COVID19. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will immediately be removed from program.

Illness & Quarantine:

• Any person exhibiting two or more symptoms of COVID19 and/or a fever of over 100°F will be moved to the Infirmary, and the parent/guardian will be called to pick up the child.
• Once a student exhibits symptoms and is admitted to the Infirmary, they may NOT return to program. The student must be picked up. If the family chooses to have the child tested for COVID19, the student may return to program with a negative result and once they are symptom-free for over 24hrs without medication.
• Additional protocols have been developed for once a sick student has been removed from program to clean and sanitize the facilities and additional screening for students in the same cohort as the ill student.
• Additional protocols mirroring the California Department of Public Health’s requirements for schools have been developed to address a wide range of scenarios. Scenarios include a reported positive test of someone at High Trails, a reported positive test of someone who is no longer at High Trails but has been in the past ten days, and a reported positive test of someone who has been in close contact with someone at High Trails.

* As of 9/30/22. High Trails continues to monitor regulations and guidelines for organized camps and schools. Protocols will be updated as new regulations and guidelines are released.
** The information listed here is a summary of the policies from the High Trails Health Care Plan. Please contact us for more details and questions.