Covid Preparedness Plan & Policies

We are extremely proud to report that every BCIer and staff member will be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (two weeks post second shot/J & J vaccine) by the start of BCI.  Submitting documentation of full vaccination will be included in the medical form completed by participants prior to BCI.  Our 100% vaccination rate significantly impacts the number and type of precautions we need to implement. 

BCI participants are not permitted to leave the campus during BCI (as was the policy in previous summers).  Exceptions are granted for emergencies and are handled on a case-by-case basis.  Any visitors or guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will undergo pre-arrival testing and health screening requirements in order to come into BCI. They are not permitted to stay overnight.  While BCI shares a campus with Camp Alonim (an overnight children’s summer camp), the two programs have separate facilities and will rarely interact during the summer.

In order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 being brought into camp, we ask that participants and their household remain vigilant and refrain from non-essential contact with people outside of their households and immediate family for 7 days leading up to BCI.

While airports and airlines have varying mask requirements, we are asking that all BCIers wear masks on airplanes, public transit, or when ridesharing to the airport to reduce risk of exposure while traveling to California prior to BCI – you are our partners in risk mitigation. For current information on travel guidance, please reference the CDC recommendations.

All participants and staff are required to take a PCR test within 72 hours of Opening Day (to be taken at your local pharmacy, doctor’s office etc. See recommendations below). Antigen tests cannot be accepted.

All participants and staff must email their negative results to bicaju.edutarget="_blank" by the day before Arrival Day, Tuesday, June 28th.

A note about the pre-BCI PCR test: It is imperative that a few days prior to the test and once taken that participants are overly cautious, refrain from non-essential contact with people outside of their households and immediate family, practice social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing, until arrival at BCI. YOU are our partners in risk mitigation. A positive pre-BCI PCR test will prevent you from participating in BCI this summer.

In addition to the pre-camp PCR test, BCI will administer Opening Day PCR tests to all participants.  These tests are provided and administered by our partner clinic, DoctorNow. DoctorNow also works with us for any testing needs once BCI is in session, including any routine maintenance testing or testing needed for symptomatic participants or staff. 

All participants and staff must register with DoctorNow. A link to register will be sent to you in June.

We plan to receive Opening Day test results by 9:00 p.m. that same evening. While we await results, we will maintain strict COVID-19 safety protocols: all participants will stay in masks when indoors, eat outdoors, and keep a safe distance all while engaging in the fun and traditional Opening Day activities. If someone tests positive, we will isolate them immediately.

 All participants and staff will then participate in a Day 3 PCR test. If someone tests positive, we will isolate them immediately.

In the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the BCI community, the individual will be immediately separated from others and begin an isolation period in a single-occupancy room.  The length of isolation will be determined based on the specifics on the case, in accordance with CDC guidelines. An on-site medical professional will need to clear the individual to rejoin the program. Symptoms must also be improving throughout the isolation and the individual must go at least 24 hours with no symptoms and no fever. A negative antigen test will be required to return to programming.

Isolated/quarantined BCIers will not be permitted to stay on-site beyond the end date of the program (July 24) and will be responsible for arranging their own accommodations.

BCI shares a Health Center with Camp Alonim.  A doctor and multiple registered nurses live on campus so that medical assistance is available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. If a BCIer needs to be seen by a doctor or nurse, the BCIer will visit the on-campus health center.  This summer, there will be a separate triage and quarantine area for any individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

Please note: our mask wearing policy is based on the information we know today. This is subject to change if guidance is updated for Summer 2022.

As a fully vaccinated pod, it is not necessary to adopt NPIs such as physical distancing and mask wearing.  That said, there will most certainly be situations throughout the program where mask wearing will be required, particularly indoors on arrival day while we await test results, or when going to the health center or walking in a space where one might encounter someone from neighboring Camp Alonim.

Please refer to the packing list to see the required number of masks (and type of masks) to bring to BCI. We will have extra masks available if an individual misplaces a mask.