Dear Camp Bowen Campers and Families,
Hopefully this letter finds you all well during these strange and challenging times. We’re thinking of you all and hope you are healthy and doing well.
Camp Bowen is so special to our campers, families, and volunteers. We know that it is highly anticipated each year with great enthusiasm. Everyone behind the scenes at Camp Bowen certainly feels the same way.
The highest priority of the Camp Bowen Board of Directors is to provide a safe and rewarding camp experience for all. To that end, we have been following the COVID-19 outbreak closely to determine the viability of running a safe camp this summer. Together, we have concluded that we must make the extremely difficult decision not to conduct camps in 2020.
We know this news will be disappointing to you all and are really sorry to have to put this notice out. We’re really disappointed, too. As you know, our Board members are often on the ground staffing camps and we always enjoy seeing you all. We chose to wait until the last possible moment to put this notice out in the hope that camps would be able to go forward this summer. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist.
Our decision is founded on four main health and safety factors:
- Many of our campers have underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to illness and we must minimize their risk.
- Governmental restrictions are still being developed regarding large group gatherings and distancing. Even if restrictions were to be lifted tomorrow, by this point there is imply not enough time for carrying out the months of planning that sit behind each camp.
- Due to the highly tactile nature of our camp programs, the Camp Bowen staff require additional time to make adjustments to the camp format to ensure safety while making sure it is still fun, engaging, and includes the level of interaction our campers expect.
- Volunteer availability is expected to be limited based on significant impact to schooling, internships, business schedules, and re-prioritization by families.
Looking ahead, planning for Camp Bowen 2021 is already underway. The Board of Directors are dedicated to focusing their efforts on developing new policies and procedures that will be needed to hold an even safer, healthier, and rewarding camp experience in 2021.
Should you have any questions, please contact me directly via phone at +1 (604) 947-0021 Extension 102 or through the Camp Bowen website.
Warm Regards,
Alex Jurgensen
President
Camp Bowen Society for the Independence of the Blind and Deafblind
