Istrouma Area Council Special Ops Weekend Leaders Guide

Camp Avondale Jan 8 – Jan 10, 2021

Disclaimer: All items in this document are subject to be revised for public health protocols

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Dear Unit Leader,

The Istrouma Area Council Special Ops weekend will be held at Camp Avondale on Jan 8th – Jan 10th , 2021. The cost is $40.00 per youth and $10.00 per adult. The theme for this weekend is Special Ops. The safety of our youth, adult leaders, and staff are the utmost priority throughout this event. We will be following guidance from the Center for Disease Control, , our local health departments and our council Health and Safety Committee to reduce the exposure of COVID-19 to all parties involved in this activity. To make this event a success, the Istrouma Area Council needs your unit’s participation (Scouts BSA, , Exploring, Sea Scouts). Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.

Note: Limited to 100 youth only. No limit on adults.

Sincerely,

David Breaux

VP of Program

225-445-6841 [email protected]

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General Information

Fees and registration: $40.00 per youth and $10.00 per adult. These fees will cover camp rental fees and program supplies. All units must register online as a unit. No individual registrations. Limited to 100 youth only.

Type of Campout: The Special Ops weekend is based on fun, outdoor activities, and learning. The day will be filled with hands-on activities. Scouts will have a lot of fun and learn problem-solving through training demonstrations and practical exercises. COVID-19 Information

There will be protocols and procedures we will follow to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in all activities. The wearing of face masks covering the nose and mouth and frequent handwashing will be the norm throughout the weekend. Pre-screenings should be done by unit leaders before you leave for Camp Avondale at your departure location. If you are ill, please do not attend as you will be asked to return home to keep others from falling ill.

Physical Distancing: Physical Distancing Guidelines will be adhered to throughout the weekend.

Cleaning of Equipment and Facilities: Between participants equipment will be disinfected and shared bathroom facilities will be cleaned frequently throughout the weekend.

Communication: We are adjusting camp to be as safety conscious as possible but if a , scouter, or staff member becomes sick within 2 weeks after camp ends, we ask that you contact your Unit Leader and / or the Camp Director to advise them of the situation. The Unit Leader will then need to contact the Camp Director to make them aware of the situation.

Communicable Disease Documents: Within this document there is procedures to mitigate the spread of communicable diseases while at camp. Every Participant will need to print out, read, and sign the documents on pages 6-8, and they will be turned in upon check-in at camp….this includes all Scouts, Leaders, and Staff.

Description: Units will be participating in an outdoor learning environment.

Materials: Each scout will bring a day pack containing a face masks, hand sanitizer, drinking water, compass, flashlight, small first aid kit, pocketknife, whistle, raingear, and any other small personal items needed. You will be carrying this daypack throughout the day.

Check-in 5:00pm - 8:30pm on Friday, Jan 8th . Enter the main gate of Avondale Scout Reservation on Hwy 10.

Check-In Procedures at the Main Gate (Remain in Vehicle for Further Instructions) Patience is a virtue as we check everyone in while keeping everyone safe. ▪ Once acknowledged by Camp Staff please follow instructions carefully. ▪ Upon arrival at camp, Scouts, Scouters and Staff need to wear their face coverings. ▪ Each scout or scouter may have their temperature checked upon arrival to camp. ▪ Documents to be turned in and reviewed by Camp Staff upon arrival ▪ Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist with name Printed on Top ▪ COVID-19 Pandemic ASR Camping Consent Form ▪ ASR Code of Conduct ▪ Once through this check-in process you will then be told your campsite and directed to Camp Avondale and reminded that one vehicle per unit in the campsite at a time.

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Parking: Park all vehicles in the Camp Avondale parking lot. Each unit will be allowed to drive one vehicle with the trailer to the campsite and unload equipment. Units can leave the trailer by the road, but the vehicles must be parked in the parking lot. There is no driving in the campsites. All vehicles need to be in the parking lot by 9:30pm. The campsite gate will be locked on Friday at 9:30pm and unlocked on Sunday Morning.

Camping: Each Unit/individual is asked to bring Unit/personal tents to use at Camp Tents are not to be shared by non-family members. Group tenting is not allowed. Campsites will be assigned by the number of persons in your unit attending. You will be given your campsite location upon check-in.

Fires: All fires must be built in the established fire rings and must not be left unattended.

Food: All units will be responsible for most of your own food for the weekend. There will be food and drinks for sale at the Trading Post Friday night for a small fee. Please bring spending money. Lunch on Saturday will be provided.

Garbage disposal: Pack it in and pack it out. A dumpster will be located near the silver gate.

Bathrooms: Each campsite is equipped with flush toilets and showers.

First aid: Each unit is always to have a first aid kit in their campsite. Each unit is responsible to have a copy of the BSA medical form for every adult and youth attending. There will be Medical Personnel at the Health Lodge throughout the weekend to take care of any situation you cannot handle in your campsite with your unit first aid kit.

Cracker Barrel: There will be a Cracker Barrel Friday night at 7pm-9pm. There will be Food and Drinks for sale for a small charge at the Trading Post. We will hold a leaders/SPL/Staff briefing on the Dining Hall porch from 9pm- 9:30pm to give instructions for Saturday’s activities.

Headquarters: HQ will be located at the Administration Building.

Check-Out: Sunday morning January 10th after breakfast. All units should be out of camp before 10am on Sunday. Please clean your bathrooms and place your garbage in the dumpster on your way out.

Council Refund Policy: The following policy statement is applicable to all Council and District events where a fee is collected. This includes such events as Day Camps, Cub Resident Camp, Summer Camp, Winter Camp, training courses, , etc. 1. Written refund requests will be considered only if received in the Pennington Scout Center ten (10) days prior to the start of the event. 2. Written refund requests submitted after the event will be considered only for personal illness or family emergencies. No refund requests will be accepted after ten (10) days following the close of the event. 3. A service charge of twenty-five percent (25%) of the full activity fee will be assessed on all refunds. 4. Refund checks will be issued within 30 days following the close of the event. 5. Fees are only transferable within the same unit to a Scout not currently registered for the event. 6. When extenuating circumstances beyond the Council’s control arise, the Key 3 and VP of Program will decide to either cancel or reschedule the event. Packing List Face Mask(s) Water Bottle Sleeping Bag Small First Aid Kit Rain Gear Day Pack including a Compass Bug Spray Personal Items Flashlight Optional Camouflage Clothing

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Special ops weekend

Schedule of activities

FRIDAY

5:00pm-8:30pm - Arrive, Check-In, and set up camp. Units will camp in the Camp Avondale area.

7:00pm-9:00pm - Cracker Barrel at the Trading Post. Food will be sold.

9:00pm-9:30pm - Leaders/ SPL/ Staff briefing on the porch of the Dining Hall.

9:30pm - Trading Post/Return to campsites

10:30pm - Lights out

SATURDAY

**** All are Approximate Times ****

6:00am-8:00am - Wake up and eat breakfast in your campsite.

8:30am - Assemble at the Dining Hall. Flag rising and event instructions.

9:00am-12:00pm - Special Ops missions. There will several locations used. Each troop will be instructed where to go.

12:00pm – 12:45pm - Lunch Served at The Dining Hall.

12:55pm - Assemble by the Dining Hall.

1:00 pm- 4:30pm - Special Ops missions continue.

4:45pm – 6:45pm - Return to campsites for dinner preparation and dinner.

7:00pm - Assemble at COPE Pavilion for instructions.

7:00pm-10:00pm – Night - time Special Ops missions.

10:00pm Return to Camp Sites.

11:00pm - Lights out

SUNDAY

7:00am- 8:30am - Wake up and have breakfast in your campsites.

9:00am - Break camp and depart camp.

Everyone Please Depart Camp by 10:00am

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Name:______Unit Number:______

Pre-Travel Screening Checklist

Use this checklist to pre-screen your Unit on the day you begin your travel to Avondale Scout Reservation. Remind your Scouts that honesty is important and one person who becomes ill could cause your entire Unit to miss their camping experience. A similar screening will be performed when you arrive at ASR.

Yes No Have you been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or is under investigation for COVID-19 or other communicable disease.

Yes No Have you or anyone you have had close contact with traveled on a cruise ship, traveled internationally, or to an area with known communicable disease outbreak in the last 14 days?

If the participant answers yes to any of the above questions, they must stay home.

Yes No Are you in any of the higher-risk category as defined by the CDC guideline?

If the answer is "yes" to this question, we recommend that you stay home. Should you choose to participate, you must provide documentation from your healthcare provider that you have been informed of the risk and approved to participate. Do NOT travel if you or someone in your household has had the following symptoms within the last 24 hours:

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Istrouma Area Council, Camping Avondale

COVID-19 Pandemic ASR Camping Consent Form

Even after following the protocols established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Louisiana Department of Health, it is still possible to contract COVID-19 while on a council property. We are following all guidelines to minimize the risk of transmission.

• I knowingly and willingly consent to participating in camping at ASR during the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand that the COVID-19 virus has a long incubation period during which carriers of this virus may not show symptoms and may still be highly contagious. ______(Initial) • I understand that – due to the frequency of visits by other Scouting clientele, the characteristics of the COVID-19 virus, and the fundamentals of ASR staff – I have an elevated risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus simply by being in contact with a Scouter or . ______(Initial) • I confirm that I am not presenting any of the following COVID-19 symptoms: ______(Initial) o Fever o Shortness of breath o Dry cough o Runny nose o Sore throat

• I confirm that I have not been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 14 days. ______(Initial) • I understand that traveling by carpooling significantly increases my risk of contracting and transmitting the COVID-19 virus and that the CDC recommends social distancing of at least 6 feet for a period of 14 days to anyone who has recently traveled. I also understand that this is not a feasible practice when participating in a camping trip. ______(Initial) • I understand that my participation in this camping trip required travel and that the CDC does not recommend traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. ______(Initial) • I understand that the Department of Homeland Security has restricted international travel for tourism and recreational purposes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ______(Initial) • I have read and will follow the Avondale Participant Code of Conduct. ______(Initial)

Printed name: ______Date of birth: ______

(Participant)

Signature: ______Today’s date: ______

(Participant or legal guardian if participant is under 18yrs)

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ASR Participant Code of Conduct:

To ensure a healthy Avondale experience for everyone I will:

• Undergo a pre-participation medical screening and ensure I have all needed medications and that they are not expired. • Understand the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and truthfully report to my if I or anyone in my family are exhibiting those symptoms. • Check on my fellow Scout members if I suspect they are not feeling well. • Wear a cloth face covering whenever I am around people other than my family. • Wash my hands with soap and water as often as I can especially before eating and after using the restroom or being in public spaces. Use an alcohol hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. (Hand sanitizer provided by the Scout Units) • Cover my mouth and nose with a tissue or my elbow when I cough or sneeze and wash my hands afterwards. • Avoid shaking hands…..I will embrace the “elbow bump”! • Avoid sharing food, gear or water bottles. • Unless individuals are from the same family, I will make sure they have their own sleeping areas, with no shared tents. • It’s up to ME/US (the units) to make sure that we are cleaning the bathrooms frequently.

Signature ______Date ______

Unit # ______District ______

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