Important information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

December 2022 Update:

Hello Hodia Winter Camp participants and families, 

A healthy camp begins and ends at home and we are committed to offering a great Winter Camp experience while minimizing the risk for illness. To do this we need your help with the following: 

Prior to Winter Camp:

1. Prior to Winter Camp please take extra care to avoid situations where you might be exposed to respiratory illness (such as crowded settings, indoor dining out, etc.).

2. If you become sick prior to camp, even with minor symptoms, please let us know and DO NOT ATTEND.  We will thank you for your consideration of others, refund any program payments, and hope to see you back well at future programs.

3. For Winter Camp 2023 we will be mailing a Covid self-test to all participants and ask that you do the test 1-2 days prior to camp.  If positive, even if no symptoms, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND. 

4. At Winter Camp bus check-in we will ask specifically about illness symptoms including cough, sneezing, sore throat, fever, headache or body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.  Please be honest and keep everyone safe. 

5. For those planning to arrive by private vehicle please don’t come if you have any such symptoms.  We don’t want to have to turn anyone away after traveling some distance to camp.

At camp:

1. We do not plan to require universal masking at Winter Camp.  Although masks may offer some protection, the circumstances are such that the effectiveness would be limited with indoor group dining and cabin arrangements.  Individuals are welcome to choose to wear a mask to reduce their own risk, but hopefully the pre-camp precautions will be sufficient to prevent any illness at camp.

2. In the unfortunate case of symptoms developing at camp we will assess the situation and likely ask the participant to go home.  We cannot effectively isolate persons who are sick to prevent the spread of respiratory illness at camp.

3. As always, we will emphasize good handwashing and other hygiene measures particularly to minimize the risk of any gastrointestinal illness.

Thank you for your understanding in complying with these requests. 

Richard Christensen, MD
Medical Director

July 2022 Update:

Hodia Families & Staff,

When planning summer programs this year Covid appeared to be waning. Unfortunately, there has been a recent significant increase in Covid cases in our communities. Spread of current variants occurs very easily and prior Covid infection or vaccination does not appear to provide a lot of protection against this.

We just completed a successful Teen Camp, but several Covid cases were identified at camp. Symptom screening prior to camp entry was not sufficient to prevent this. Several participants developed symptoms at camp, tested positive, and had to leave early. Several more participants tested positive without symptoms by the end of camp. Although cases of current Covid variants tend to be mild, we don’t want to take chances with our participants and even milder illness is disruptive to camp. Therefore, we plan the following steps for the remainder of 2022 summer programs:

1. Prior to any Hodia program please take extra care to avoid situations in which you might be exposed (such as crowded settings, indoor dining out, etc.).
2. Please do not come if you are ill, had recent known Covid exposure, or have a positive Covid test in the 10 days prior to camp. Let us know ahead of time and we will refund camp fees.
3. ALL participants (campers and staff) will receive a rapid Covid test prior to overnight camp entry and not be able to attend camp if positive.

• For most campers, such testing will occur at the buses prior to departure.
• For those arriving at camp by private vehicle, testing will occur there prior to entering the camp grounds.
• Those who will be traveling some distance to the buses or camp should consider a self-test in the 24-72 hours before camp to avoid the potential added disappointment of unnecessary travel.

At this point we do not plan a rapid Covid test at day or evening programs (non-overnight camps), but please consider precautions #1 and #2 above. In addition, we will enhance precautions at all Hodia programs similar to last summer, including the following:

• Maintain appropriate distancing between all campers and staff. For overnight camps, campers and staff will be assigned to cabin groups and avoid mixing or close contact between groups.
• Minimize direct contact (handshaking, touching, etc.) and use of shared objects
• Maximize outdoor time and activities and minimize gathering indoors (with good ventilation within indoor spaces)
• Require masks when different cabin groups gather indoors and when appropriate distancing is not feasible.
• Emphasize hand washing and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and shared objects
• Perform daily symptom checks at multi-day and overnight camp activities

We would all love to have Covid behind us, but we must enhance our precautions for the remaining camp sessions. I hope you understand and can appreciate that such steps are necessary at this time. We managed this last year and had several fun and safe experiences.

Richard Christensen, MD
Medical Director

November 2021 Update:

Hodia looks forward to healthy, safe, and fun programs available to all we serve throughout 2022.  We anticipate a return to larger capacity for most of our traditional camps and that new program venues will continue to evolve to meet that goal. As the COVID epidemic evolves, so will our program planning through collaboration of our director of programs, camp directors and medical subcommittee to make our camps and other programs as inclusive and accessible as possible while respecting our duty to assure safety and minimize the risk of illness or disease spread.  As part of program planning, we continue to monitor guidance as it evolves from the CDC, American Camping Association, and other camps around the country.

With the above goals in mind, we strongly encourage all who are eligible for the COVID vaccine to do so. Most staff have been immunized, and we again hope most eligible campers will have done so as well. Our specific strategies to provide safe and fun programs are sure to evolve, but will generally include strategies that proved successful during 2021.  Such strategies will be tailored to the risk level for COVID spread at the time of programs, but we anticipate continuing to include screening for symptoms or illness on arrival (and throughout camp), emphasizing hygiene continuously, maintaining appropriate distancing as warranted, minimizing larger group indoor close gathering, and requiring facial coverings in some situations where appropriate. We believe these precautions will minimize the risk of respiratory and other illnesses for all. This will allow fun and rewarding programs while respecting our duty to keep everyone safe.

Again, thanks to all for the success of our 2021 camps. As registration opens for camps, we encourage all campers and staff to register early. We look forward to seeing you at camp in 2022!

June 2021 Update:

We are looking forward to a healthy, safe, and fun summer camping season and we hope you can take part. Since our last communication plans for in person summer programs have been completed and registration is open for campers and staff on the Hodia website. All who wish to participate in these programs (campers and staff) should apply by registering soon since capacity for overnight camps will be limited, but we still have room (and need more staff) to have a great return to camp!

Summer camps will look somewhat different this year with some new program venues and a changing landscape regarding COVID-19. Our goal remains a fun and safe camp experience for all. Our camp directors and medical subcommittee have worked hard to put together fun camp programs, being as inclusive as possible while respecting our duty to assure safety and minimize the risk of illness or disease spread in light of the COVID epidemic which is thankfully beginning to recede but not yet gone. In doing so we have reviewed current guidance from the CDC and American Camping Association, and consulted with the local health district and other camps around the country.

With the above goals in mind, we strongly encourage all who are eligible for the COVID vaccine to do so, but we will not require immunization to be participate, respecting limitations for camp capacity. Most staff have been immunized, and we again hope most eligible campers will have done so as well, but we realize not everyone can receive the COVID vaccine, so there will be some unvaccinated participants at various camps. With that in mind, we will take several precautions. Those who sign up for camp will receive a separate communication detailing our approach. Briefly, we will screen for symptoms or illness on arrival (and throughout camp), emphasize hygiene continuously, maintain appropriate distancing as much as feasible, and require facial coverings where appropriate (primarily indoors in larger group settings), while minimizing indoor close gathering. We believe these precautions will minimize the risk of respiratory and other illnesses for all. This will allow fun and rewarding programs while respecting our duty to keep everyone safe. We will continue to monitor and update plans as appropriate.

Again, if you would like to participate in camp all are encouraged to apply. Please register soon and help us make the 2021 camp season successful. We look forward to seeing you at camp!

April 2021 Update:

Our goal is to have a fully immunized staff for our in-person programs, but many campers will not be eligible for the vaccine based on age. All of our in-person programs will follow procedures consistent with CDC guidelines for COVID safety.

Because Teen Camp will be smaller than usual, we anticipate it being open to teens 16 and up who are eligible for the vaccine. Staff and campers will need their first COVID vaccine doses by early June to be fully immunized by the time of camp.

January 2021 Update:

During the COVID-19 pandemic our imaginative staff and volunteers address the needs of our participants through mostly innovative virtual programing.  Where feasible some programs have in-person components that respect social distancing, mask wearing, and other authoritative guidance. Throughout this process, our medical subcommittee assures these program innovations protect the health and safety of our participants, volunteers, staff, and camp families.

Some of the new program innovations may remain in the future, but we are all anxious for a return to our traditional camp programs.  Although we are optimistic that vaccines will put this pandemic behind us, a return to more typical camp programs must still await very low transmission rates and widespread immunity.  Until then, our programs will evolve with then current conditions.

September 2020 Update:

At Hodia, the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff is our uncompromising priority, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus ( opens in a new windowCOVID-19). We are regularly engaging with medical professionals, and monitoring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other government agencies as the situation evolves.

The Hodia Healthcare Team recently made the decision to allow us to hold a socially-distant, in-person, community program across our service area, this fall: a night at the drive in. The Healthcare Team also voted to approve a hybrid model for Hodia Winter Camp this year. Winter camp will be a hybrid of a virtual portion and optional, independent participation in family outdoor winter activities.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

June 2020 Update:

At Hodia, the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff is our uncompromising priority, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus ( opens in a new windowCOVID-19). We are engaging daily with medical professionals, and regularly monitoring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other government agencies as the situation evolves.

The Hodia team has recently made the decision to move all summer camp sessions from in-person camps, to virtual camps. This was not an easy decision; however, we know it is the best choice for the health of our campers, staff, and medical volunteers.

While we are disappointed that we won’t be meeting in person this summer, we are so excited about our upcoming virtual camps, and the new opportunities those hold. We are offering camp programs weekly, there is something for everyone! So sign yourself, or your camper, up for a virtual Hodia camp. Click the “Camps” and “Events” tabs to see what sounds most fun to you and register today!

Update: 4/29/20 June sessions have been impacted (Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp and Hodia Teen Camp). See below for list of impacted programs as of today:

4/29/20 Program Update: Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp and Hodia Teen Camp will happen in a different format and/or at a different time this year. Below is a brief description of our reimagined plans. Please visit the camp pages directly for more information and to register.

Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp

• Replace in-person camp with a virtual session during the same week, for children 4 – 8 years old.
  Schedule additional in-person regional programming for Hodia Shooting Stars families throughout the year when the medical subcommittee approves.
  Learn more and register for camp here.

Hodia Teen Camp

• Replace in person week with a virtual session during the same week, for children entering grades 8 – 12 in the fall.
  Invite seniors to Teen Camp 2021
  Pending medical subcommittee approval, we may also decide to hold Hodia Teen Camp later this summer, or hold a retreat for the Juniors and Seniors.
  Learn more and register for camp here.

Update: 4/23/20 June sessions have been impacted (Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp and Hodia Teen Camp). See below for list of impacted programs as of today:

4/23/20 Program Update: Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp and Hodia Teen Camp will happen in a different format and/or at a different time this year. Below is a brief description of our reimagined plans and an invitation to join the Camp Directors on a video chat to learn more about the plans, put your mind at ease and have your questions answered.

Hodia Shooting Stars Day Camp

• Replace in-person camp with a virtual session during the same week, for children 4 – 8 years old.
• Schedule additional in-person regional programming for Hodia Shooting Stars families throughout the year when the medical subcommittee approves.
• opens in a new windowRSVP HERE to join the Camp Directors on Zoom on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00pm to learn more and have your questions answered.

Hodia Teen Camp

• Replace in person week with a virtual session during the same week, for children entering grades 8 – 12 in the fall.
• Invite seniors to Teen Camp 2021
• Pending medical subcommittee approval, we may also decide to hold Hodia Teen Camp later this summer, or hold a retreat for the Juniors and Seniors.
• opens in a new windowRSVP HERE to join the Camp Director on Zoom on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00pm to learn more and have your questions answered.

4/2/20 Program Update: Hodia Buddy Camp Eastern Idaho has been postponed indefinitely. We will revisit whether to hold it later this year as things evolve. The Diabetes Ride is also being rescheduled, date TBD.

3/18/20 Program Update: Hodia Buddy Camp Treasure Valley has been postponed indefinitely. We will revisit whether to hold it later this year as things evolve. Hodia regional community programs have also been postponed indefinitely.

Registration for all other Hodia camp sessions are still open. We will decide individually on each session as the situation evolves. If you’ve signed up for a session and it is cancelled or you are personally unsure about your child attending and choose to cancel, we will refund what you have paid.

At Hodia, the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff is our uncompromising priority, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus ( opens in a new windowCOVID-19). We are engaging daily with medical professionals, and regularly monitoring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other government agencies as the situation evolves.

Hodia regularly reviews our health and safety policies and procedures. Our medical team is working on this now and they are including COVID-19 in these discussions. These will likely include increased measures in the health/illness screenings for participants and volunteers at the start of each of our programs. We will communicate any updates to the current Hodia practices to you as they come.

At Hodia, the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff is our uncompromising priority, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19). We are engaging daily with medical professionals, and regularly monitoring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other government agencies as the situation evolves. Hodia has not canceled or suspended any regional programs or camp sessions due to the current situation, and none of the regions that Hodia serves are currently listed as geographic risks by the CDC.

Of course, should any occur, we will quickly announce any adjustments to our programs or operations.

Hodia annually reviews our health and safety policies and procedures. Our medical team is working on this now and they are including COVID-19 in these discussions. These will likely include increased measures in the health/illness screenings for participants and volunteers at the start of each of our programs. We will communicate any updates to the current Hodia practices to you in early April.