News
PRESS RELEASE: Camps are ready to host schools and community groups in the COVID-19 environment

Issued by
Australian Camps Association - www.auscamps.asn.au
Christian Venues Association - ww.christianvenues.org.au

The Christian Venues Association and the Australian Camps Association jointly call on our State and Territory leaders to encourage schools to return to school camps once face to face teaching has resumed.

Key Messages
Camps offer the most time and cost-effective way to re-connect school communities emerging from social isolation and remote teaching.

Research from the Outdoor Youth Programs Research Alliance www.oypra.org.au
shows that participation in camp programs:

• Decreases anxiety
• Increases efficacy
• Increases connection with peers
• Increases connection with school.

Camp activities are fundamentally outdoor experiences. Being outdoors has well
documented physical and mental health benefits as well as providing a lower risk
environment for COVID-19 transmission.

Although camps are frequently aligned with excursions, it is important to note that they are not the same thing. A camp is a discrete venue that can be closely managed to maintain the safety of students, teaching staff and camp staff, whereas an excursion can take place in a much more open and difficult to control environment.

For school purposes, a camp is considered an extension of the normal school campus.

The Australian Camps Association and the Christian Venues Association has produced a COVID-19 Guidance Document for Camps which draws on the best resources from expert bodies to ensure that our member venues continue to be highly prepared to host groups of all kinds. This Guidance document includes measures such as:

1. Education for Camp staff and schools.
2. Compliance with social distancing.
3. Amended food service, activity and accommodation practices
4. Screening of staff and incoming groups - daily health checks for each staff member and participant in line with Federal government guidelines.
5. Checklists for increased sanitisation and cleaning of camps.
6. A Risk Register for all commonly experienced situations with groups and staff in camps.

The Christian Venues Association and the Australian Camps Association is confident that our members are well equipped to manage the risks associated with COVID-19 and that they will continue to offer excellent, well managed and safe experiences for all of our guests.

For more information please contact:

Pete Griffiths                                                     Graeme Janes
CEO                                                                         CEO
Australian Camps Association                Christian Venues Association
ceo@auscamps.asn.au                               gjanes@christianvenues.org.au
0402 844 861                                                   0418 228 537