COVID-19

FREDONIA TROOP 267 HEALTH & SAFETY PLAN

(updated and approved by Troop Committee on March 10, 2022)

The Policies in this document are based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC); National BSA; New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH); Chautauqua County Health Department; Allegheny Highlands Council; and our Chartered Organization, American Legion Post 59. Mandates from any of the aforementioned entities supersede the policies herein for as long as those mandates are in place.

Sickness

Participants who are not well can not attend scouting events.

Masks, Outdoor Activities, Indoor Activities, Social Distancing

Considerations:

  • Troop 267 includes Scouts from at least 5 different School Districts;

  • The basement meeting space of the American Legion Post 59 is small and poorly ventilated.

Decisions:

  • Masking is optional (no longer required) for all outdoor activities;

  • Making is optional (no longer required) for all indoor activities, subject to the provisions in this list;

  • Participants may continue to wear masks at any time without explaining their reasons and without fear of bullying, harassment or shaming;

  • Acts of bullying, harassment or shaming will be subject to the Troop’s Conduct and Discipline Policies (https://www.fredoniatroop267.com/resources/policies );

  • Social distancing is not possible for most Scouting activities and will not be presumed:

  • All participants will be considered “close contacts” of all other participants;

  • If at least one of our local School Districts (in which an active scout attends) returns to masking for any reason, the Troop will return to masking for everyone for all indoor activities for the same amount of time;

  • If at least one of our local School Districts (in which an active scout attends) moves to remote instruction because of increased COVID infection rates, the Troop will return to masking for everyone for all indoor activities for the same amount of time, and the Scoutmaster has the discretion to move face-to-face activities to virtual activities;

  • If a local school district moves to remote instruction because of COVID, any scouts attending that district cannot attend in person Troop meetings/events without prior approval of the Scoutmaster;

Reporting and Contact Tracing

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 within two days of attending a scouting activity, or who experienced symptoms within two days of attending a scouting activity and later tested positive, must contact the Scoutmaster as soon as possible.

The Scoutmaster will notify close contacts of the individual (everyone who attended the same event) with the following message. In the event that a complete list of participants is not available, the Scoutmaster will send the following message to the entire Troop email list and will identify the activity for which contact tracing is necessary.

A member of our scouting family has tested positive for COVID-19. We wish this individual a speedy recovery. You are receiving this message because you have been identified as a close contact for the purpose of contact tracing. Please follow the Chautauqua County Public Health COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine requirements found at: https://chqgov.com/public-health/cc-public-health-covid-19-isolation-and-quarantine-documents You will also find information at the link regarding when you can return to scouting activities.

Cabin Camping

Cabin camping is permitted. The Scoutmaster has the discretion to develop appropriate accommodations without the approval of the Troop Committee. This may include reducing the number of participants at an activity or event.

Ride-Sharing

  • Families can provide transportation for their scouts;

  • Adults can volunteer to transport additional scouts and:

    • The driver can decide which scouts they will transport;

    • Families must know who is driving their scout and agree to the transport;

    • Drivers may require passengers to wear masks at any time.

  • The Troop can facilitate ride-sharing as long as all the provisions in the second bullet are honored.