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COVID-19 Update

Update 6-26-2020

Dear WalCamp Family,

I want to take a moment and thank you for your prayers and for your trust throughout this pandemic.  They are being felt every day.

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that we will not be able to host overnight summer camps.   We found out this week that no guidance is being issued and that overnight summer camps will not be allowed as we enter phase 4.  We, the American Camp Association, and many other camps were lead to believe that we would be provided IDPH guidance and be able to proceed with our overnight summer camp ministry in phase 4 of restore Illinois. 

I would like to take a moment and give a shout-out to our entire Ministry Team here at WalCamp.  They are running an outstanding day camp ministry and been unbelievable at making all the modifications needed to keep things fun and healthy throughout this season. They are showing God's love with their willingness to modify on the fly in order to serve the kids that are experiencing our Day Camp Ministry. 

We will, however, be able to host our Teen Leaders as it is a training camp, for their service with our day camp program, but all others will need to be canceled at this time.

Next week all families that have registered for overnight camps will receive a link to confirm the cancellation. Please do not put in a cancellation request through our registration system or call the office, this will be an automated system so we can track transactions.

As things have often changed throughout this pandemic, we may find out at a later date that we can host some overnight summer camps, and if this happens we will be ready to quickly respond with a plan.

Our Day Camp Ministry is able to run and we have been running a healthy and safe program since June 1st. We have space available in that program for more campers so please give this option a thought. 

As with many of you, this pandemic has and will continue to have financial consequences.  The loss of our spring outdoor education season, the loss of summer overnight camps and the potential of not hosting fall outdoor education will definitively impact our cash flow.   If you are in a position to support our ministry please prayerfully consider doing so during these times of uncertainty!

As we here at WalCamp, and those that have not been able to experience WalCamp this spring and summer will experience a sadness, we live in great joy knowing that God has this and we can Trust in Him.

Live Healthy and Live Blessed!

Bill

 

Update 6-12-2020

  • Day Camp is going well.  We still have room for more campers, please share the word.
  • CDC Guidance has been issued and does allow for overnight camps.  We are awaiting word from IDPH for the final word.
  • Online Registration is updated for our July Day and Overnight camps.  Click here for info.

Update 6-5-2020

  • Our first week of Day Camp went extremely well, great feedback from those attending.  We still have room for more day campers
  • This week we finished working on what July may look like if our region moves into Phase 4 and overnight camps are permitted

Update 5-29-2020

  • It is an exciting Week at WalCamp.
  • Staff Training is in full swing.  It is great to have our summer staff here.  They are really excited for this summer!!!!
  • Family Campground opens Today-To view a summary of IDPH Campground guidelines click here.  Unfortunatly we will not be able to provide any organized programming yet but working on a safe way to provide it.  
  • Day Camp Ministry begins next week.
    • Our plan has been discussed with the DeKalb County health department and it meets and exceeds guidelines
    • For info on our keeping staff and campers safe please see our Parent Handbook
  • In the second week of June we will begin looking at what July can look like for us if our region moves into Phase 4.  We have a preliminary plan(s) but are waiting on IDPH guidance.  We are believing that Overnight Camps of some sort will be ok for Phase 4 but we do not have clarity of the guidelines for that yet.
    • We will be calling all registered campers for overnight camps and discussing camp options with them
    • If you are thinking of registering for camp, please do not wait as it will be limited space.
  • We are continually praising God for this opportunity to serve His people.

Update 5-22-2020

  • Camp's Plan for our June and July summer camp ministry were discussed at our Board Meeting, the Walcamp Board voiced their support of the plan and staff is now implementing the plan.  Keeping camp a safe and healthy environment will be our key goal.
  • We are committed to hiring our Summer Staff for 2020.   Summer Staff is a major part of our ministry.  Providing these young Christian Leaders a quality summer of leadership training is core to our ministry.  
  • Summer Staff will begin arriving on 5-26-2020.
  • June will consist of Day Camp Ministry only.  The first day of Day Camp will be June 1st, 2020  
  • The campground will open on May 29th.  Waiting IDPH recommendations on the bathhouses. YEAH!!!!
  • Today, 5-22-2020, Governor Pritzker is supposed to be releasing IDPH recommendations.
  • As soon as recommendations are released we will be reviewing, applying to camp and creating a guide for staff and campers.
  • As of 5-22-2020 we are planning on providing overnight camp in July.  This will be based and follow IDPH Guidelines (when released).  Once we get the guidelines and apply them we will communicate what July camps may look like.  
  • Another update will follow, most likely Wednesday of next week. 

Update 5-15-2020

  • We are hopeful that our region will progress into phase 3 on the Reopen Illinois plan at the end of the May
  • There will be a Board Meeting on Tuesday May 19th.  At this meeting our plan for the month of June and July will be discussed.  (This plan is based on our region entering phase 3)
  • If plan is affirmed, it will be communicated by  Thursday May 21st thru email and on Facebook.  (Baring no changes from IDPH or CDC)
  • No additional updates

Update-5/1/2020

  • All events canceled through May 28th
  • No change to summer camp has been decided.
  • Our campus can open for Outdoor Activity Only.  CDC Social Distancing Guidelines must be followed.
    • Hiking, Nature Viewing, bike riding, and similar outdoor activities are allowed.  Please call the office at 815-784-5141 for admission to the campus.
    • No Recreational Camping is allowed
  • American Camp Association is expecting guidance any day now from the CDC on Summer Camps.
  • Most of our year-round staff is scheduled to return to their regular hours by May 18th.
  • All decisions concerning our summer camp program will be a joint decision between our Board of Directors and Executive Director
  • A Board of Directors Meeting is planned for May 19th to review expected guidelines and discuss or movement forward.
  • A townhall Zoom meeting will be scheduled after the May 19tth Board Meeting. 

Update-4/21/2020

  • All events canceled through May 15th
  • No changes to Summer Camp has been made.
  • PPP Funding received.  Staff is being brought back on a timeline.
  • PPP Funds are being used to pay staff to paint and other low costs, labor-intensive improvement to facilities.
  • Our campus is to remain closed per the health department.

 

Update-3/21/2020

Blessings and prayers of health to all of you,

During these unusual times, I am constantly reminded of the verse in Psalm 46:10; “Be still and know that I AM GOD!”  What hope, comfort, and assurance this verse brings me!

I want to provide an update to our actions relating to COVID-19. On a daily basis, we (myself and the Board of Directors) continue to monitor the ever-changing landscape. We are meeting at least weekly to assess where we are and where we are going.

As of today, March 21, 2020, the following actions have been taken:

  1. All events are canceled through April 19th. We may be altering that date as the CDC and local health departments make their advisories.   

  2. Per the State of Illinois orders and CDC recommendations, we are staffed with essential team members only.

  3. We have contacted the Illinois Department of Health and have volunteered our facilities should they need additional space/housing.  

  4. Our Summer Camp Ministry remains scheduled as planned.  We have an exciting summer program planned and pray that our Youth will be able to experience it.  Registrations for summer campers continue! PRAISE GOD!

  5. Unfortunately, as with most businesses across the country, we have had to make some tough choices regarding staffing that we pray is very short-term.  If you need to contact us, please call the office and leave a message if you do not get through to someone.  Also, you can always email me at Bill@WalCamp.org or call me at 815-784-5141 x 111

As you know, one of the values of our ministry is to Serve Others. We are eager to find out where God will use us as we look to the future.  For today, the best way we can serve is to respect and honor the recommendations our government is making to ensure the safety of our campers, staff, and community. And that is what we will do.

Please know that you, our Walcamp family, remain in my prayers as we weather this storm.  I ask you to keep Walcamp, myself and our Board of Directors in prayer for wisdom as we continue to lean on God in all the decisions we are making as we navigate this unprecedented and challenging situation.

Stay Healthy and Live Blessed!

Bill

 
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