Summer 2020: A Season for New Opportunities
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19
Dear Camp Perkins Campers, Families, and Community,
We can experience hope from this passage in Isaiah because our God makes new beginnings even from seemingly impassable obstacles. Where we see wilderness and wasteland, God sees new possibilities and clears the way to bring them into being. And so, while we must approach the 2020 camp season in a different way, we trust that God has a plan and is making a way for something new.
Thank you for your patience as we worked through every option for this summer. Our Board of Directors and staff leadership, in conversation with healthcare and camping ministry friends locally and from around the country, have made the difficult decision to suspend this summer’s traditional youth camps, though we hope to find a path forward for Family Retreats.
This decision did not come easily, but it was made in the best interests of our campers, families, and communities. After two months of analysis, research, and discussions, we have decided that we cannot offer traditional youth camp programs in a way that feels like camp and also complies with current gathering restrictions and social distancing regulations. It simply wouldn't offer some of the key elements that make it "camp."
Learn more about this decision and protocols for new options: Decisions and Checkpoints
It can be difficult to deliver disappointing news to your children, and to receive and process the news yourself. Here are some tips for explaining camp cancellation to youth of different ages, and some tips for caring for yourself: Tools for Parents
If you have a camper currently registered for this summer and have made any payments, you can choose to transfer your payments, donate payments, receive a refund, or a combination of those options. Please complete the Summer 2020 Payment Option Form. If you choose to transfer your registration payments to 2021, you'll lock in the 2020 price and have priority selection before registration officially opens next year.
Although we are grieving this loss, we have hope that with creative thinking we can find a path for things to happen at camp this summer in a newly imagined way!
Extended and additional Family Retreats is one possibility we are exploring for July. We hope to hold our currently scheduled Family Camps, with an added option to extend your stay. Due to regulations, the programming will be different, and we know this does not replace the summer camp experience for your child. However, if we can make a way for your families to get away to Camp Perkins, we pray it would be a new way to bless you.
We are hoping to hold Leaders in Training camp, or other leadership opportunities for high school campers, and Ridges Backpacking camps. These ministries, by nature of their reduced size and type of programming, are more readily tailored to the current guidelines. There are still hurdles to overcome and we are working to re-imagine how we do some programmatic pieces.
We are also exploring the opportunity to bring an in-person campfire experience to various regions of Southern Idaho where we can gather safely on the lawn of a church and sing "Radical God" and "Joy" and be together in a new way... and maybe deliver your Summer Theme shirt if you still want it!
We will share information here about any summer opportunities as soon as we have more details.
We will miss our traditional campers more than words can say. We can only imagine the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause for you and your children. Please let us know if there is some way we can serve you through this time. Contact Us.
Please know we love you and are praying for you as we all share in the new beginnings God is creating. And we ask for your prayers for Camp Perkins as we trust in the Lord and his goodness as he makes new ways through the wilderness.
We can experience hope from this passage in Isaiah because our God makes new beginnings even from seemingly impassable obstacles. Where we see wilderness and wasteland, God sees new possibilities and clears the way to bring them into being. And so, while we must approach the 2020 camp season in a different way, we trust that God has a plan and is making a way for something new.
Thank you for your patience as we worked through every option for this summer. Our Board of Directors and staff leadership, in conversation with healthcare and camping ministry friends locally and from around the country, have made the difficult decision to suspend this summer’s traditional youth camps, though we hope to find a path forward for Family Retreats.
This decision did not come easily, but it was made in the best interests of our campers, families, and communities. After two months of analysis, research, and discussions, we have decided that we cannot offer traditional youth camp programs in a way that feels like camp and also complies with current gathering restrictions and social distancing regulations. It simply wouldn't offer some of the key elements that make it "camp."
Learn more about this decision and protocols for new options: Decisions and Checkpoints
It can be difficult to deliver disappointing news to your children, and to receive and process the news yourself. Here are some tips for explaining camp cancellation to youth of different ages, and some tips for caring for yourself: Tools for Parents
If you have a camper currently registered for this summer and have made any payments, you can choose to transfer your payments, donate payments, receive a refund, or a combination of those options. Please complete the Summer 2020 Payment Option Form. If you choose to transfer your registration payments to 2021, you'll lock in the 2020 price and have priority selection before registration officially opens next year.
Although we are grieving this loss, we have hope that with creative thinking we can find a path for things to happen at camp this summer in a newly imagined way!
Extended and additional Family Retreats is one possibility we are exploring for July. We hope to hold our currently scheduled Family Camps, with an added option to extend your stay. Due to regulations, the programming will be different, and we know this does not replace the summer camp experience for your child. However, if we can make a way for your families to get away to Camp Perkins, we pray it would be a new way to bless you.
We are hoping to hold Leaders in Training camp, or other leadership opportunities for high school campers, and Ridges Backpacking camps. These ministries, by nature of their reduced size and type of programming, are more readily tailored to the current guidelines. There are still hurdles to overcome and we are working to re-imagine how we do some programmatic pieces.
We are also exploring the opportunity to bring an in-person campfire experience to various regions of Southern Idaho where we can gather safely on the lawn of a church and sing "Radical God" and "Joy" and be together in a new way... and maybe deliver your Summer Theme shirt if you still want it!
We will share information here about any summer opportunities as soon as we have more details.
We will miss our traditional campers more than words can say. We can only imagine the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause for you and your children. Please let us know if there is some way we can serve you through this time. Contact Us.
Please know we love you and are praying for you as we all share in the new beginnings God is creating. And we ask for your prayers for Camp Perkins as we trust in the Lord and his goodness as he makes new ways through the wilderness.
Please see below for specific information regarding scheduled events:
YOUTH CAMP (EXCEPT LIT AND RIDGES)
If you made payments for Summer Camp 2020, please complete the Transfer or Refund Form. You have several options for payments made, including transferring to 2021, donating some or all payments, receiving a refund, and combinations of those options.
SPRING WORK WEEKEND
We are hoping to schedule a Work Weekend event for June 19-20. We are also exploring opportunities for small groups of 10 or under to come in May or June to work on various projects, such as reworking the trails after the power lines are buried. We would love to have Thrivent Action Teams sponsor these opportunities. We may need groups to come just for the day and provide their own sack lunches pending CDC Guidelines. Please contact us if you would like to discuss volunteering.
TRAVELING DAYCAMPS
We are hoping to provide resources as you seek to do ministry for your community. Emily will contact you regarding options for your 2020 deposit and 2021 reservation.
LEADERS IN TRAINING CAMP
We have rescheduled the LIT Training Camp Week for June 28th. The LIT program lends itself more naturally to following the CDC guidelines without feeling so restrictive - a small group of older youth who are more able to socially distance and utilize increased hand hygiene. Additionally, the LIT training is an entirely self-contained and unique program from Youth Camp.
Ridges Backpacking
The Ridges Backpacking program meets many of the guidelines fairly organically - it is a small group of 12 or fewer who spend nearly 100% of their time outdoors. There is no need for close prolonged contact in normal circumstances. Though some of the trails are narrow, we will work to select routes that are less frequented by other travelers. There are considerations in food preparation, potentially packing in and out a few more disposable items or utilizing pre-made food pouches. We are working through the guidelines and hope to have more definitive answers by June 6.
FAMILY WEEK AND WEEKENDS AND STAFF ALUMNI RETREAT
If you are currently registered for a family event or alumni retreat, please do not cancel if you are still interested in attending. We will notify you of options. If you are interested in attending a family event, we will have a registration available when we have the details worked out.
The Board of Directors will continue to meet regularly and will make decisions regarding July opportunities by early June. As the CDC and local health guidelines come out, we will evaluate them according to these checkpoints.
Over the course of the next weeks, all camp participants and retreat guests will be contacted by a member of our guest services team with options regarding rescheduling and answers to your questions.
Though we are trusting God that Camp Perkins will survive through this challenge, there will be a financial impact, and there will continue to be additional difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks. As we continue to pray for you, we ask for your prayers in return, and for your continued support and generosity towards this ministry we all love deeply. If you would like to make a gift to help camp through this time, visit our donation page.
As more decisions are made we will update the website. Of course, if you have questions or concerns before then, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Over the course of the next weeks, all camp participants and retreat guests will be contacted by a member of our guest services team with options regarding rescheduling and answers to your questions.
Though we are trusting God that Camp Perkins will survive through this challenge, there will be a financial impact, and there will continue to be additional difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks. As we continue to pray for you, we ask for your prayers in return, and for your continued support and generosity towards this ministry we all love deeply. If you would like to make a gift to help camp through this time, visit our donation page.
As more decisions are made we will update the website. Of course, if you have questions or concerns before then, please do not hesitate to contact us.
