Dear Friends,
As we all follow the evolving COVID-19 crisis, I know we all share a lot of concerns and hopes for the well-being of our loved ones and communities.
With so much uncertainty and change, it is hard for any of us to plan, but we want to share current thinking with you about Mountain Friends Camp.
At this time, we plan to assess the possibilities for the summer season over the next month. We hope to have more clarity on our summer plans by May 1st, pending any national and local health updates. We are deeply hopeful that the public health crisis will have been addressed to the point where we are able to proceed with our plans for camp this summer, as always with much attention to safety and hygiene while at camp! It is also possible that COVID-19 will continue to advance in ways that make us change these plans, either due to the health department or travel restrictions or our own careful discernment about what is best for our campers and community.
If you are already registered for camp, or plan to do so soon, we are remaining open to registrations and proceeding with cautious hope. Please do not make final travel plans, purchase airline tickets or other non-refundable decisions at this time. I’ll continue to send updates as events progress. You can also consider buying the travel/camp tuition protection plan offered through CampDocs.com, our registration company (please read their terms carefully to understand what is and is not covered). If we do have to cancel sessions, we will of course provide a full refund of camper fees. I’m always more than happy to check-in with you individually about your plans and questions, understanding that information is updating on a rapid pace.
Camp Staff, thanks to all who have already applied for this summer! I so hope we all get to come together and make a wonderful experience for the campers. I’ll be in touch as we learn more and hear from you. We are continuing to welcome new applications as well.
We are not hosting any in-person camp events this spring, at least not until further notice. We are thinking of ways to connect virtually and provide some of the spirit and fun of camp at home, so check back and follow our facebook page (facebook.com/MountainFriendsSummerCamp/) for more information. I welcome your ideas too!
A few resources you might find helpful:
- Online Quaker worship opportunities, from Western Friend
- 10 Nature Activities to Help Get Your Family Through the Pandemic, from Richard Louv of the Children and Nature Network, flexible ideas for outdoors and indoors
- www.riseupandsing.org/
songs/music-box, directory of many of our favorite camp songs on video! - We’ll post some Mountain Friends Camp ideas on facebook and a future post here, too!
Every year we rely on our wider community for support and gifts of many kinds, and I know this will be true more than ever this year. I am so grateful for each of you, and the community we have built and nurtured at MFC over the years and know that we will proceed through these challenging times with open hearts and careful attention to Spirit and science!
I am thinking of all of you, and sending virtual hugs and handshakes.
Ana Ebi