Harmony Explosion Northeast 2023 summer camp program is operated by the Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society and is referred to hereinafter as “HXNE.”

The Northeastern District remains committed to providing a safe environment for all of the participants - the HXNE students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community at Worcester State University. We continue to follow all government mandates, monitor regulations and local cases to inform our policy and keep events as safe as possible. While there are no current federal, state, or local government mandates in place right now, everyone that enters the Worcester State University campus for HXNE will be required to be vaccinated and are encouraged to wear a face mask or covering.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid situation, and as such, we cannot guarantee that attending HXNE participants will not contract COVID-19 or some variant thereof. Attending HXNE is a personal choice, and it is the participant’s choice to wear a mask or not.

Please note that government mandates, venue protocols and event requirements are subject to change at any time, so please be sure to check the HXNE web site regularly for Health & Safety COVID updates.

All attendees must either be fully vaccinated per CDC Guidelines, or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of sign-in. Vaccination cards or a date & time stamped picture of a negative test must be presented upon registration, along with photo ID.

The HXNE Check-In process will require ALL attendees to be wearing a mask and will be conducted with social distancing until each participant is cleared by the HXNE Director and Medical Staff.  Parents and/or guardians are permitted to be with the Camper for the start of the Check-In process, then requested to leave before the end of Check-In process.

If the Director or Medical Staff determines that an Attendee has concern for COVID symptoms the Attendee will then be requested to seek out a local rapid-test center to be checked.  If tested negative, the Attendee may return with the doctor’s note.  Any expense for such testing shall NOT be covered by the HXNE program.

A current list of symptoms is available from the Center for Disease Control:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

During HXNE, if the Medical Staff determines an attendee has concern for COVID symptoms, the Attendee will then be requested to seek out a local rapid-test center to be checked.  If tested negative, the Attendee may return with doctor’s note.  Any expense for such testing shall NOT be covered by the HXNE program.   If an Attendee is deemed possible positive , the Camper will be quarantined to the Camper’s room until a Parent or Guardian can provide transport to a rapid test center to be checked.  If tested negative the Attendee may return with doctor’s note.  Any expense for such testing shall NOT be covered by the HXNE program.

The Health & Safety COVID policy for attending the Saturday Night Big Show will be determined by the Northeastern District (NED) of the Barbershop Harmony Society in consideration with facility and community standards.  At this time, the protocols remain the same: vaccinations are required, masking is optional.

Updated/Current HXNE Health & Safety COVID Protocols and Policy by the NED are available HERE (this page):

https://www.nedistrict.org/hxne-covid

At Check-Out, anyone who will be entering the premises to collect a Camper must be 100% masked and must go through usual Check-Out practices/process.

Worcester State University order:

Attendees (including staff, participants, and guests, hereinafter “Client”) agrees to adhere to all applicable local/state/federal laws, Massachusetts Executive Orders and guidance, and University policies (hereinafter “requirements”) relating to the prevention and spread of COVID-19. The University reserves the right to refuse access to University facilities to the Client for failure to comply with University requirements. This includes but is not limited to:

• Assumption of Risk:

The University operates and maintains its facilities to protect against the exposure of the COVID-19 virus in accordance with state and federal guidelines. As noted by government health officials, complete isolation from the virus is impossible. Accordingly, the University cannot and does not promise to eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and cannot and does not promise that the Client will not contract COVID-19. The Client acknowledges that the University has informed them that the University facilities are not risk-free, that it is possible that the Client may contract COVID-19 during their presence on campus, and that Client freely chooses to enter and/or reside in University facilities with awareness of the associated risks. Participants, staff, or guests in high risk categories should not participate or attend.

• COVID Protocols Updates:

The University and HX Program may be required to update/revise COVID protocols due to changes in local, state, and/or federal requirements, regulations, or orders (e.g. face coverings, social distancing, entry controls, capacity limits, etc.). The University and HX Program will provide the Client with as much advance notice as possible in cases where revisions are required. Additionally, the Client agrees to observe all current COVID protocols/requirements (if any) while at Worcester State University.

Once Registration is Open, you will be able to REGISTER here: