Most weeks, there isn’t a lot to report, but this week, News!
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:19
Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp has been closed to the public since the 16 March 2020.
Since then, we’ve been very, very deliberate. We don’t want anyone to get sick, and we also want to be sure that we are planning toward, and building capacity for, what comes next. That is why we decided to run COLTS, even with summer programming suspended.
As the Alberta Government has begun its phased re-opening, Crow has been investigating ways that our organization can continue to safely serve the community. In brief, we believe that we fit best as a provider of outdoor recreation, and we’ve therefore built our re-open strategy around the applicable guidelines for outdoor recreation, covered here.
This is really good news. It means that even in the midst of Covid-19, Crow has a chance to do what we do best: discipleship and evangelism in a camp setting,
It’s really good news… but it doesn’t mean everything can go back to the way it was.
On-site at both Mountainous Site and at the Lake Site we will not host "campers" (that is, unaccompanied minor children) for the entirety of the summer 2020. All 2020 camper registrations (and all of our summer camp programs) have been cancelled.
But we can do something.
Our general plan for summer 2020 is:
- We will focus on offering outdoor programs that are primarily self-supported, and family-centered;
- We’re thinking family hikes, family scavenger hunts, family outtrips; family adventures.
- Backcountry hiking trip programs for Sr high campers aged 16+ (who are better able to self-regulate and self-discipline, and therefore observe physical distancing) may proceed under the new Covid-19 guidelines.
- Staff Training Programs (Crowsnest Outdoor Leadership Training School - COLTS, Worship Engagement Leadership School - WELS, and Personnel in Training - PIT) will provide the bulk (as in, a plurality) of on-site staff, and will proceed under Alberta's Covid-19 guidelines for all businesses.
- There will be no overnight programming, (**with the exception of staff training programs, as well as backcountry camping trips where families can maintain physical distance from other program participants, per the Alberta Government guidelines for outdoor recreation linked above. Read more about our preparations for overnight camping programing here and here and here);
- We plan to offer some of our cabins as family accommodations in a limited service capacity;
- capacity is determined by space required in order to maintain social distancing protocols and meet Covid-19 requirements, but in essence, the aim is: one family per sleeping dormitory (each sleeping dormitory has its own bathroom space).
- food service for family accomodations is limited to a Grab & Go take-out menu, with orders for breakfast, lunch and dinner processed through the Camp Office.
- On-site activities limited to:
- Maintenance-type service projects, observing all Covid-19 requirements;
- Single Family (that is, one family supported by camp staff) engaging in "Isolated Day Camp Options" (Archery; Mountain Biking; Rock Climbing; Canoeing; Drama; Crafts; etc.). Physical distancing and Covid-19 requirements observed. One family per activity, with thorough equipment and activity-station cleaning (per guidelines) between families.
The truth is, we don’t know exactly how all of this will go. Next week, we plan to circulate a survey, to try to gauge interest in various aspects of camp that we think we can safely operate, within the applicable Alberta Government guidelines. If you have suggestions for how we ought to frame the survey, or an idea for summer programming, please drop an email to david@crowcamp.ca We would love to hear from you.