Summer Camps Can Open

Photo by Marianne Boerigter

Camp Newaygo will welcome campers
 
LANSING, Mich.​ — Governor Whitmer today signed an Executive Order lifting restrictions on overnight residential, travel, and troop camps beginning June 15.  
 
“As we’ve worked together to bend the curve and protect our families from COVID-19, our kids have lost time in the classroom and missed out on playdates, birthday parties and graduations,” said the Gov. “That’s why I’m glad they’ll have an opportunity to spend a week or weekend away at camp,” 
 
We asked Camp Newaygo Executive Director Jane Vitek to deliver the skinny on what this means for the treasured local Chain of Lakes camp now  in its 94th year of providing summer fun.
 
“We received the news today that Michigan Resident Camps will be able to open immediately.  The support of so many people over the past three months has kept us going as we planned for a summer resident camp we were not sure would happen. 
 
“We are confident Camp Newaygo along with our campers and their families can provide a safe summer camp experience this year like those in the past 95 years just in a new and different way.  From pre camp COVID-19 testing of all campers and staff, smaller living areas, to meals and songs stretched out from one end of camp to the other we will incorporate the recommendations of the State of Michigan Childcare Licensing, Covid-19 State Task Force, the CDC and the American Camp Association.

“This is my 45th year associated with camp Newaygo and I have never experienced a staff quite like the 2020 year round and summer staff we have this year.  They recognize the risk and are determined to do what they need to in order to mitigate it to the greatest extent possible.  Camp Director, Jalisa Danhof,  has been at Newaygo for nine years getting to know each of our campers and their families.  She, along with the rest of our staff, really cares about the health and safety of each of our campers and will be implementing procedures to do just that.

“We know there is still risk there of COVID-19.  The decision to send your child to camp this year is one only parents can individually make.  We can implement best practices in this situation but there is always a possibility of contracting an illness. 

“We know kids really need a way to safely reconnect and we are excited to be offering this opportunity for Girls Resident Camp.  Unfortunately we have decided to put our coed Day Camps on pause for this summer but they will be back again next summer.” 

If you have questions please call 231-652-1184

​“I have a conviction that a few weeks spent in a well organized summer camp may be of more value educationally than a whole year of formal school work.”-Charles William Eliot

Photo courtesy of Camp Newaygo