Dutch in Bruges | Ages 8-17 | Autumn, Easter, Summer

We are aware that this particular period also requires a particular attention to ensure the safety of your children and the organisation of their stay.

That is why we have established new measures as follow.

Organisation and visualisation of contact bubbles for the students and members of the permanent staff :

The boarded participants attending the multi-day overnight camp will be divided into contact bubbles of 50 people, as foreseen in the generic youth protocol.

In actual facts, this means that the camp will be organised in such a way that contact within the bubbles takes place in a rather normal way, while keeping a formal distance between the different bubbles.

This implies the following organisation FOR EACH BUBBLE :

• Infrastructure (building and/or grounds/tents) to be subdivided into sleeping areas, eating areas, play areas, sanitary facilities per bubble. The same space can be used by different bubbles as long as it is used by teams and disinfected between uses. This rule does not apply to sleeping areas.
• Use of the equipment: wherever possible, we plan to distribute the equipments in different trunks per bubble. Objects that cannot be divided can only be used between groups, provided that the contact surfaces are disinfected in the meantime.
• Clear visualisation of the bubbles, also with regard to infrastructure and equipment.
• Fixed supervision per bubble. If a supervisory team meets, the social distancing rules in use at the time in the company will apply.
• A multi-day overnight camp can consist of several contact bubbles at the same time.
• Bubble structures will be maintained from the beginning of the camp and contact with outsiders will be avoided: no visits, agreements with parents to drop off and pick up their children, on departure and return.

Emergency procedures and duty system :

A standard emergency procedure is developed for multi-day overnight camps. The main components of this emergency procedure are :

• Presence and use of a quarantine area in case of suspected infection.
• Sick participants will leave the camp.
• The organiser can rely on a policy of permanent assistance from the coordinating organisation.
• Close contact with a physician operating in the vicinity of the multi-day camp and who can be contacted in case of suspected coronavirus infection.
• In case of infection, contact with grandparents and other risk groups should be avoided for at least one week.
• In case of infection, the local administration of the camp site, as well as the camp participants, accompanying persons and parents of the participants will be informed.
• All parties involved (participants, parents, suppliers, etc.) will be informed about the rules and measures taken.
• Clear agreements will be made with all participants in the overnight camp about the measures taken and this will be supported (visually) by communication/pictograms/standard situations.

Sanitation and hygiene :

• Handwashing should take place at least at the beginning and end of the activity, before and after meals, and upon each visit to the toilet.
• The infrastructure, planning and equipment will be adapted to the respect of hand hygiene as much as possible.
• The layout and use of the building will be properly planned in the context of bubble compliance and hygiene conditions.
• Cough into the crook of the elbow, use single-use tissues and use closed waste bins.
• Mouth and nose masks will be used outside the contact bubbles by the 12+ age group in accordance with global guidelines.
• Wound care will be provided for 12+ with a mouth and nose mask and possibly gloves.
• Contact surfaces will be cleaned regularly in accordance with the guidelines.
• Living and sleeping areas will be regularly ventilated.
• The equipment should remain in the bubble as much as possible. If the equipment is nevertheless passed from one bubble to another, the contact surfaces will be disinfected.
• If any equipment is provided by outsiders, it must be provided and/or delivered in absolute respect of the hygiene and sanitation measures.

Nature of the activities :

• Activities will be organised as much as possible in the outdoors.
• The bubbles will be spread over the maximum capacity of the field/building (whether or not extended to an additional play area/infrastructure).
• Activities with physical contact between bubbles will not be possible.
• Activities will take place as much as possible on the camp site. We will avoid organising walks with the bubble because of the contact with outsiders.
• When leaving the holiday camp site or estate, the groups will follow the measures concerning the contact with others. The structure of the bubble will be maintained by not allowing any outsiders to enter it.
• When coming into contact with other people in the public space (forest, sports or playgrounds, public squares, streets, …), we will keep a sufficient distance from those who do not belong to the bubble.
• Outings during which the contact bubble comes into contact with other people and/or other bubbles will be avoided as much as possible. If this does occur nevertheless, it must be done in accordance with the official guidelines applying to that location (e.g. swimming pools, leisure/recreational areas such as amusement parks/provincial areas, etc.).
• When, during a camp lasting several days with overnight stays, contact is made with outsiders for a specific activity (e.g.kayak rental, mountain bike rental, ropes course, etc.), strict rules of safety and hygiene will apply.
• In general terms, activities where there is intense contact between people will be avoided in order to prevent possible contamination within the contact bubble.
• For children of 12 years or more, the staff will pay particular attention to the nature of the activity (if light contact is possible, intensive contact is never recommended).

The supervising group leaders are aware of the impact of fatigue on the youth’s immune system. They will take that particular aspect into account when preparing the programmes and will provide sufficient night rest for the participants and for themselves.