What to Expect: Outdoor Program Parent/Caregiver Guidelines
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YMCA of Niagara
EarlyON
What to Expect:
Outdoor Program Parent/Caregiver Guidelines
The Ministry of Education has released guidelines to protect children, families, and educators from
COVID-19 as the Government of Ontario begins the gradual reopening of services across the province.
The YMCA of Niagara, lead agency for several EarlyON Child and Family Centres in St. Catharines and
Thorold will continue to work in alignment with these guidelines and with Niagara Region Children’s
Services/Public Health to promote the safety and well-being of our participants and staff.
The information found within this document is meant to support parents and caregivers in
understanding expectations associated with the outdoor program at the Grantham Centre. This
document will also outline the key enhanced health and safety measures that will be in practice during
the program. This document will be revised as new provincial and local directives are implemented.
Enhanced Health and Safety Practices
• All participants and EarlyON Program Facilitators will be screened prior to participation in the
program.
• The EarlyON Centre will maintain daily records of anyone entering the program and the
approximate length of their stay. These records will be available to facilitate contact tracing in
the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case or outbreak.
• Procedures have been established to support physical distancing at all times and separate family
units as much as possible.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is available, and participants are encouraged to use upon arrival to
the program and upon leaving.
• Participants are encouraged to practice appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
• Masks and eye protection will be worn by EarlyON staff during program hours.
• Masks are required for adult participants during outdoor programming in case that physical
distancing may not be maintained consistently.
• Children ages 2-5 are recommended to wear masks, however they are not mandatory.
• Masks should not be placed on children under two years of age.
• Exemptions to the masking requirements will be considered based on the circumstances
and individual needs, for example a child who cannot tolerate wearing a mask, medical
conditions. All requests for exemptions should be brought to the attention of the
Centre Supervisor and Coordinator and will be documented.
• Personal belongings should be minimized and not shared during programming.
August 2021
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EarlyON
Registration Process
• Capacity is limited to 6 family units per session, and for this reason families may initially sign up
for one session per month. If interested in attending additional sessions, please email
earlyon.admin@niagara.ymca.ca to be added to a waiting list for repeat participants. You’ll be
contacted if space becomes available. If you register for more than one program within the
same month, you will be asked to choose one program only.
• All outdoor programs are available for registration on our Eventbrite page via a link on our
website https://ymcaofniagara.org/programs/community-initiatives/earlyon-centres/
• All participants must be registered for in-person programs through Eventbrite. Registrations will
be accepted until 12:00 p.m. the day before the program. Please note that any person not
registered for the session will be unable to participate.
• Participants must provide contact information (first & last name, email, phone number) as well
as name and birthdate for all children for program statistical purposes and to support contact
tracing if necessary.
• Parents and guardians will be reminded of the screening requirement when registering for
programs online or by phone where possible, as well as through visible signage at the entrance
areas. A link to the screening tool is available here https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-
screening/
• Following registration, participants will receive information via email to ensure a successful
experience in the program.
Screening Process
• All participants will be asked to complete an online screening form no more than two hours
before arrival to the EarlyON Centre/Program. This includes adults and children.
• Participants will receive a confirmation email with the screening link at the time of registration.
This link can also be found on our website.
• Families will be asked to show a completed screen at the centre. Please look for the designated
screening area located under the tent.
• If families did not complete the online screening tool, they will be asked to complete the
screening tool upon their arrival to the program.
• EarlyON Program Facilitators are also required to complete COVID-19 screening prior to each
program.
• Individuals who are experiencing any new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, or
whose household members are experiencing symptoms or awaiting test results
following symptoms must not attend the EarlyON Child and Family Centre.
• COVID-19 symptoms include, but are not limited to:
o Fever
o Cough
o Difficulty breathing
o Decrease or loss of smell or taste
August 2021
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EarlyON
o Sore throat
o Runny nose
o Headache
o Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
o Fatigue, lethargy, or muscle aches
• Note: Individuals may attend the program (if feeling well enough to do so) if anyone in the
household got a COVID-19 vaccine in the last 48 hours and is experiencing any of the following
mild symptoms that only began after vaccination: headache, fatigue (extreme tiredness), muscle
aches or joint pain. If the symptoms continue past 48 hours or new symptoms arise, the
individuals should self isolate and seek COVID-19 testing.
• If you or a member of your family are not able to pass the screening successfully, please do not
attend the program. Please contact your health care provider or Niagara Region Public Health
for guidance and direction. Please email us at earlyon.admin@niagara.ymca.ca to cancel your
session, allowing us to offer the space to another family.
• If an individual begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 during the program, they will be
asked to leave the program, and directed to contact their health care provider or Niagara Region
Public Health for guidance and direction. Environmental cleaning and disinfection of the
designated area where the individual engaged in programming will be conducted following their
departure.
• EarlyON Child and Family Centres will follow the most current guidance from Niagara Region
Public Health for COVID-19 screening, isolation, addressing possible exposure, close contacts,
outbreak management and returning to the centre.
Sign In
• Please arrive up to 10 minutes in advance of the program to allow for sign in. If waiting, please
maintain a distance of approximately 6 ft between you and the next family in line.
• When you arrive at the centre, please look for the screening and sign in table under the tent.
This area will also be marked with a sign.
• All individuals including children, staff, parents/guardians, who did not complete the screening
process prior to arrival will be screened onsite before entering the EarlyON program.
• At this station you will check in with one of our staff and they will confirm and document your
completed screening.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available by the screening and sign in area and will be
available throughout the program. Please monitor your child around the sanitizer station.
• All EarlyON Centres will maintain records of attendance and screening results to support contact
tracing if necessary.
Supervision and Physical Distancing
• Capacity limits have been placed on EarlyON outdoor programs to fall within provincial
gathering limits, and to ensure the ability to maintain physical distancing while offering quality
programming.
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EarlyON
• Children and families will be asked to practice physical distancing (maintain a distance of two
meters/six feet). Please keep your children with you at all times and in your designated family
area.
• Every effort will be made to spread family units (adults and children within the same
household) out into designated play areas, as well as common areas used for screening
etc. Individual activities or activities that encourage space between participants will be
incorporated in the program.
• EarlyON Program Facilitators will plan activities and position toys/equipment in ways
that will minimize the sharing of objects or toys.
• Please bring a lawn chair for members of your family.
• To support physical distancing, please arrive no more than 10 minutes in advance of the
program to complete screening and depart the program area immediately following the session.
Toys and Equipment
• The EarlyON Centre will provide each family with a variety of toys and equipment which are
made of materials that can be cleaned and disinfected or are single use and will be disposed of
at the end of the day/program (e.g. craft supplies).
• The EarlyON team may provide additional materials and resources for families as requested
based on their interests and needs.
• Toys and equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between programs, and prior to being
shared.
• Children from other families must not share drinks, soothers, bottles, sippy cups, etc.
• Mouthed or shared toys must be removed immediately for cleaning and disinfecting to
minimize risk of transmission and spread of COVID–19.
Refreshments
• Families may bring drinks to the program; labelled water bottles, sippy cups, and bottles are
permitted, however outside food is not permissible during the program.
• Drinks may not be shared outside of the household.
• Water fountains are not available at this time.
• Participants may breastfeed/chest feed at any time.
Washroom Facilities
• Inside access will be limited to washroom use only. Please plan your visit to our program
accordingly.
• If you need to use the washroom facilities, please speak to a staff member who will escort you
inside to use the facilities
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EarlyON
Weather
• Outdoor programs will operate rain or shine if possible.
• Parents are requested to dress children appropriately for the weather, including sunscreen.
• In the event of a thunderstorm or other extreme weather, the program will be cancelled, and an
EarlyON Program Facilitator will contact you. Cancellations will also be posted on our social
media channels.
Should you have any other concerns or questions about your participation in our program, please
contact us by email earlyon.admin@niagara.ymca.ca or by phone 289-241-0372 (9 am to 4 pm Monday
to Friday).
Our EarlyON in-person programs and services have been adapted in alignment with provincial
guidelines and local directives to promote a positive, meaningful, fun, and safe outdoor experience for
our families and our team. Enhanced health and safety protocols such as physical distancing,
masking, cleaning and disinfection, and screening help to reduce the possible transmission of COVID
19.
Thank you for your support and patience as we adapt our program to these new circumstances.
Virtual EarlyON programs and services continue to be available for families who feel that in person
programming is not suitable for them at this time.
August 2021
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