COVID-19 and Sound View Operations

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Camps all across America are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as best as they can. Some camps have already canceled their summer programs entirely, others are looking at creative ways to offer a virtual experience, and all are considering safe ways to adapt to this new reality.

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The staff/board at Sound View will continue to seek advice and direction from resources, experts, and governing bodies pertaining to camping. These include:

We will also follow governmental directives as they are made throughout the next several weeks.

Our reality at present:

  • The spring season of youth groups, family groups, and schools visiting Sound View for outdoor environmental education has been and continues to be very much affected.

    • The cancellation of schools for the rest of the year also cancels end-of-the-year field trips that usually occur mid-week at Sound View.

    • Many of our weekend youth & family groups are church-based and they are meeting entirely online.

    • Social distancing is impossible in camp lodging

    • The dining hall cannot be used for a group sit-down meal.

    • We are waiting until May 4th to announce any May and June cancellations or modifications of our family camp programs. This should allow us to obtain more information about current forecasts and any relaxation of the governor’s stay at home order.

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With circumstances and projections changing daily, we are keeping an open mind at present concerning summer camp. We are fortunate that our camp programs start later in the summer than most, and, being smaller, we have an easier time informing families as well as the ability to come up with options.

Until then -

  • We will continue to register summer campers but require no deposit for any program.

  • We will look at all options for any sort of a summer experience that we can share with you.

  • We will continue to groom the Sound View property so it can be opened at any time.

  • We will recruit schools and weekend groups for the fall season with the hope that this will pass.

  • We will ask for financial help to keep a small staff employed, the bills paid, and the camp moving forward.

  • We will live through this COVID-19, just like we have with H1N1, SARS, MERS, and many previous epidemics.

When the threat abates, the true need for what camps provide will be greater than ever.

In the meantime, we commit to pray for you and your families and ask that you do the same for us.