Local Camps Navigate Options After Governor Allows Them to Reopen

After Governor Abbott announced that summer camps in Texas will be allowed to open this summer as the state allows more businesses to resume operations during the coronavirus pandemic, Fayette County summer camps are deciding what will work best for them.

Lutherhill

Lutherhill Ministries has decided to remain closed to campers throughout the month of June. “Plans for July camps are still evolving. Lutherhill’s Board of Directors commissioned an Advisory Panel to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on summer ministries and to make a recommendation on a safe way forward,” said Lutherhill’s Executive Director Matt Kindsvatter. The panel consisted of medical professionals, camper parents, synod staff and ministry leaders. Lutherhill is a member of the American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA hired a public health consultant to develop a Field Guide for residential and day camps, so Lutherhill is following that guide along with the guidelines from the state to keep their campers and staff safe. Also, since they have decided to cancel the June summer programs they are working with the June camper parents to see how they would like to handle their registration fees. Kindsvatter said, “They have the option to transfer their fees to a future event, donate the full or part of the fees to the ministry or receive a full refund.”

Camp Lone Star

Camp Lone Star has decided to set up a Plan of Action. The plan includes: a decision timeline, a health & safety plan, measures for decisions, cancellation options, financial realities and a stay informed plan. “Summer will look very similar, but we are going to adapt several activities/items,” said Jane Littmann, marketing & development coordinator. Along with the Governor’s regulations and the ACA guide, Littmann said, “We will be asking families to partner with us to screen their campers prior to coming to camp by tracking temperature and symptom checks. Campers will also only remain with their cabin group during their camp session and will not mix with the rest of camp.” This summer they have decided to have their regular amount of 40 summer staff members in order to keep up with the increased daily deep cleaning. They have also decided to add a Summer Medical Coordinator who has received a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

Camp Kubena

Camp Kubena has decided to cancel their overnight summer camp program. “The decision was based on input from health experts, program leaders and our years of experience managing successful camps,” says Rob Clift, executive director of Camp Kubena. “After a careful review of the American Camp Associations’ Field Guide for Camps, the CDC guidelines and the guidelines from the State of Texas, to implement the restrictions placed on our groups and staff for safe camp operations during the CoVlD-19 outbreak would be impractical at this time.” All but one of the many groups that were signed up to use Camp Kubena this summer had canceled their reservations, so Camp Kubena has decided to work with individual small groups including families, small groups and youth organizations that would like to utilize the camp throughout the summer as a day camp with limited activities.

Camp Tejas

Another area summer camp, Camp Tejas, has been struggling to take in revenue during the pandemic and has had to unfortunately lay off some staff. Camp Tejas is seeing this announcement as a mixed blessing. Camp Tejas’ Executive Director Paul Biles said, “Summer is still settling out. Unfortunately, we have had many groups cancel or reduce their number estimates. With the Governor’s address to reopen camps on May 31, it is great news but also a bit too late for some churches who needed to make the difficult decision to cancel camp this year.” On a positive note though, Biles added that, “We are encouraged by several groups reaching out to still do camp because they couldn’t go to their booked camp since those facilities had to cancel, so it is a blessing to be able to partner with some new churches this year.” This year also marks Camp Tejas’ 40th summer camp and they had previously expected to have their biggest summer of over 6,000 campers, but right now it looks like it will be around 1,200. They are still planning to hire high school and college students for the summer and are on schedule with a plan to keep campers and staff safe.

City of LG

The City of La Grange Recreation Department announced it will begin its annual Summer Day Camp. Recreation Director, Janet Rangel said, “Typically we will go 10 weeks, but with this pandemic going on we will see what happens.” Registration for the day camp will start on Wednesday, May 27 between 4-6 p.m. at the Randolph Recreation Center and registration packets will be available on Thursday, May 21. To register parents must have complete forms, a $10 per child registration fee and pay for the participant(s) first and last week of camp. The fees for the first child is $70, the second child is $60 and the third child or plus is $50. The child must be entering kindergarten thru sixth grade for the 2020-2021 school year. Space is limited, so during sign-up it will be a first-come-first-serve basis.

Camp weeks will start on Monday, June 1 between 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily and youth groups will be separated into separate areas of the facility for distancing purposes. For any additional information contact the Rec. Department at (979) 968-5600.