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Re-Opening Unit Meetings in Oregon

Reopening Guidelines

Updated November 19th, 2020

Please review Oregon State Protocols and Resources regarding state and county statuses before holding a meeting, event, or camping event.

Effective Nov. 18th:
Oregon Restrictions from November 18-December 2, 2020: 
Social get-togethers (indoors and outdoors) must be limited to no more than six people total, from no more than two households — that is, yours and one other.
Units are encouraged to comply with the Governor’s Orders by canceling all in-person meetings and activities. Please consider holding meetings online.
Outdoor recreational facilities are to be closed, along with many other facility-types.
 
 
All council in-person activities are canceled, and all camping facilities will be closed to all visitors from November 18 through December 2.
Reservation holders will be contacted and encouraged to reschedule; those who cannot reschedule will be provided a refund of fees paid.

Before holding a meeting, event, or camping event, Scout units must review and adhere to the Restarting Scouting Checklist.

Scouting events must have a safety officer present to ask the screening questions for attendees to an event.

  • Scout units should assign an adult safety coordinator that is responsible for the following items.  Scout BSA, Exploring, and Venture units can assign a youth member to work in coordination with that adult leader
    • Collection of rosters
    • Planning of carpooling and making sure carpooling groups remain stable
    • Planning of Parties that will remain together throughout the event and six-foot separate from all other parties.
      • If parties, break down social separation making note of that event.
    • Following up with all Scouts involved after the event to make note of anyone that shows signs of Covid-19

When following these three protocols, you will be able to meet safely, and offer Scouting to your youth in person. Remember wear masks, keep 6 feet apart, wash hands and to have an Event Safety Coordinator.

How to Mitigate Risk & Be Responsible Scouts

Updated June 25th, 2020

Units can meet, have day outings, and even campouts as long as they follow the rules outlined below and comply with all State Guidelines with clarification from the county health department, the National Boy Scout Council, and Crater Lake Council properties and camping committees.
 

Note: These recommendations should mitigate the most risk, but not all. Participants need to be aware that any activity puts them at some risk of exposure. Remember: exposure to coronavirus could be asymptomatic. If a person becomes infected, they may become asymptomatic carriers. They would then most likely infect other people unwittingly.

Some charter partners are not opening up their buildings for meetings.  Please respect their wishes.  If you need help finding a place to meet, please reach out to your Commissioner or Scouting Professional.

In the guidance below, parties are defined as a group of ten or fewer people that will remain together as a group throughout the duration of an event or meeting.  Unit leaders should pre-determine the party makeup and make sure that the makeup of the parties remains stable.

Currently, in the Oregon Counties served by the Crater Lake Council, an outdoor event can have 100 people outdoors and 50 people indoors.  An indoor event must have at least 35 square feet available for every participant.

Before holding a meeting, event, or camping event, Scout units must review and adhere to the Restarting Scouting Checklist.

Below are the guidelines and policies of the Crater Lake Council for counties in which Scouting activities are allowed:

  • Scout units should assign an adult safety coordinator that is responsible for the following items.  Scout BSA, Exploring, and Venture units can assign a youth member to work in coordination with that adult leader
    • Collection of rosters
    • Planning of carpooling and making sure carpooling groups remain stable
    • Planning of Parties that will remain together throughout the event and six-foot separate from all other parties.
      • If parties break down social separation making note of that event.
    • Following up with all Scouts involved after the event to make note of anyone that shows signs of Covid-19
  • Have all parents conduct a pre-trip health check.  Model Pre-Trip Check List
  • Individuals who are sick, especially those with fever or respiratory symptoms, must stay home and not participate  in any Scouting activity
  • Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last fourteen days must stay home and not participate in any Scouting activity.
  • High-risk individuals for COVID-19 are those over the age of 65, individuals with multiple medical problems, especially heart and lung disease, and those who are morbidly obese are discouraged from attending camp
  • Pre-plan for carpooling and the creations of Parties that will participate during the event.
  • Have hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap, and water or similar disinfectant readily available for use at meetings, activities, and camp.
 
  • The preferred method of travel is in a family group. 
  • If traveling with multiple families in one car, the car should be made of Scouts and adults that will be remaining together in a pre-determined party throughout the event
  • Have Scouts gather in their pre-determined parties while waiting to load cars.
  • If a parent is just dropping off a Scout, they should not linger at the gathering location or drop off location.
  • Collect a roster of parents and Scouts who are transporting and attending the event.  Fillable Roster
  • Carpooling groups should remain stable traveling to and from the event.
  • Parties must remain stable throughout the event and remain at least six feet apart throughout the event.
  • The sharing of equipment should be limited.  If the equipment is shared, the equipment should be cleaned between usage.
  • Participants should wear a mask through the event.
  • Family groups are encouraged to keep six-foot separation.
  • All participants will be encouraged to avoid shaking hands, touching others, hugs, etc. during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Practice frequent hand washing, especially after the sharing of equipment.
  • Tents and cabins can only be shared by members of the same family.  
  • Boy Scout Youth Protection policies must be followed in all camping situations.
  • Avoid contact with higher-risk individuals for 14 days.
  • Monitor for any signs of illness for 14 days.
  • Event Safety Coordinator should communicate with all participants to check on any signs of COVID-19.
  • Communicate immediately with your unit leadership should you develop symptoms
  • The roster should be kept for at least 30 days post-event
  • During the event
    • The members of the unit should return home as soon as possible to self-isolate for 14 days and be tested for COVID-19.
    • If camping at a Crater Lake Council Property, communicate with the Camp Ranger.
  • After the event
    • Communicate with the members attending the event that signs of COVID-19 have been identified in one of the participants of the event.
    • All participants should self isolate for 14 days from the date they arrived home from the event and be tested for COVID-19.
  • Communicate the incident
  • “Face covering” means a cloth, paper, or disposable face covering that covers the nose and the mouth.
  •  Face coverings are required for any indoor activity or meeting except noted below
  • Face coverings  are required outdoors anytime a 6-foot separation can not be maintained from other people
  • Who should not wear a face covering?
    • Children 2 years old and younger.
    • Because children between 2 and 12 years old can have trouble wearing a face-covering properly (e.g. not touching the face covering, changing the face-covering if visibly soiled, risk of problems breathing, etc.) we urge that coverings be worn by children between the ages of 2-12 years old only when an adult can help and is closely watching. Face coverings should never be worn by children when sleeping.
    • Anyone with a disability that prevents the individual from wearing
      a face covering.
    • Anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing and moves their face and
      mouth to communicate.
    • Anyone who has a medical condition that makes it hard to breathe when wearing a face covering.
    •  Anyone who has trouble breathing is unconscious, or unable to remove the face-covering without help.