Abstract
Outbreak readiness is an important aspect of summer camp operations, especially for residential summer camps where everyone is living together in a confined area. If a camp is not prepared for an outbreak of any kind, it can be incredibly dangerous for campers and staff alike. Many camps across the United States have plans in place to combat illnesses such as widespread fever, influenza, and the common cold. In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many camps closed their doors for summer 2020 in the interest of public health, and attempted to recreate the essence of camp in a virtual setting, as well as gauge the future operations and sustainability of their businesses with the long term outcomes of the pandemic still unknown. This study examines the role of public health policy in decision making processes for community based organizations, utilizing overnight summer camps as an example of how these processes occur. This study compares the prevention and management of illness outbreaks at 115 residential summer camps in the United States via quantitative data before and after the onset of the pandemic, as well as interviewing 13 camp and medical professionals across the United States. The study delves into the factors surrounding decision making processes for overnight summer camps during the COVID-19 era, networking with other community based organizations and governments, hurdles for operation during the summer of 2020, and how COVID-19 will affect the overnight summer camp industry moving forward. This study also looks at the mental, emotional, and social benefits of overnight summer camps, considers updates for policy development and research for overnight summer camps, and looks ahead to a historic summer 2021.