Isolation Camp 2020

How does a camp whose primary mission is summer youth residential camping pivot in COVID 19? They reinvent themselves as a family camp! Our denominational church camp got creative this spring and is offering 3 day family camps throughout the summer. Our family jumped right in and attended the very first session. Eden dubbed it “Isolation Camp” which I thought was hilarious. Before we went there was trepidation from the kids, to the point of one of them declaring the day before that she’s not going! I figured at best it would be a delightfully relaxing change of scenery and at worst we’d be just as cranky as we are at home but we’d be staring at someone else’s four walls instead of our own. 

When we checked in we were handed our “Camp in a Box”—a literal box filled with an informational packet, menus, s’more supplies for each of us, coloring pages and crayons, and a packet that allowed our family to recreate the camp’s famous “Jesus Walk”—a walk around camp with scriptures that describe some of Jesus’ miracles, his last days, and his resurrection. We even had individual communion elements to celebrate with the disciples.

We made bracelets. It’s a very campy thing to do.

In an effort to prevent the spread of infection meals were delivered to our room where we could eat them or take them outside to eat. Equipment like balls could be requested and then they were sanitized when they were returned. Activities like archery and boating were scheduled and equipment cleaned between families. We also scheduled a campfire in our choice of fire pits. The first morning I felt a little bit like the Activities Director as I relayed our requests to the helpful camp staff. There was plenty of down time too! One morning I left the rest of my family to shoot basketball (I’m a hopeless failure at basketball!) and took a solo hike through the woods. After the initial annoyance of a horsefly buzzing around my head I settled in to enjoy my favorite setting: the Eastern deciduous forest. It feels and smells like home to me. I even caught a glimpse of a gorgeous young buck with velvety antlers! I took turns with Eden and Lily individually, lounging on the blanket in the sunshine reading or talking.

For our mostly introverted family this was an ideal experience. It felt a little bit like camping, but without the parts of camping I don’t enjoy. I didn’t have to cook or clean and we had indoor plumbing and A/C. We didn’t even have to walk to a bath house! I did have to sleep in a top bunk, but aside from the climb up and down it was quite cozy.

I learned that Eden considered this the ideal camp experience: she didn’t have to stay up late or play weird games and her mom was with her. Boom! 

Learn new hobbies. #katnisslookout

I do think it could be awkward if you were there with a bunch of other families and you were supposed to keep your distance. I learned that some extended families are coming together and that sounds like a blast! We might need to consider that kind of experience if we ever do it again. Would we do it again? We are actually pondering signing up for another round this summer. I don’t know if the camp will ever offer it again since normally the facility is maxed out with youth campers. For now, I’ll consider #isolationcamp2020 to be a highlight in a year that is woefully lacking in highlights!