Hello Campers and Families,
We are so excited to have you all here at Don Lee soon!
We want you to know our biggest goal this summer is to keep camp, camp. While COVID-19 has entered into every part of our lives, we still want the focus of your summer to be fellowship, friends and fun!
Final payments for any camp sessions beginning week 2 are due immediately but no later than June 1st. For more information on payments, CLICK HERE.
Read below for additional information on summer and review this with your camper. These changes are to help everyone stay safe and healthy so camp can run all summer long.
As the summer progresses most communication will be sent via email. Please go on to your UltraCamp account and verify that all contact information is correct and up to date. It is also important that all forms are completed, including the new COVID-19 Release Form.
We will be asking all campers to complete a Pre-Camp Health Screening Form, CLICK HERE to download, in addition to daily healthy screening while at camp. We are finalizing our infectious disease procedures with medical experts for COVID-19 and will share those with you next week.
Check-In:
Please be prepared with face coverings for all family members in the vehicle, as well as campers. Staff will be wearing face coverings, too.
- Each camper family will be assigned a check-in time for Sunday. You will receive this time the week prior to your camper's session
- It is very important that you arrive at camp at this time. The gate will be closed to all guests unless it is your time to check-in
- When you arrive, staff will guide your vehicle to the designated drop-off area
- We ask that only campers exit the vehicle, please say good-bye to your camper before they get out of the car.
- Please pack your camper's under-the-bed tubs in the trunk of the car, as staff will assist your camper in the removal and precautionary sanitizing of these items
- Counselors will be at this designated drop off area to meet your camper
This summer, cabins will be at half-capacity. For some cabin layouts, this will mean only 2 campers per room (where there had been 4). For other cabins it may mean 4 campers per room (where there had been 8). This will allow for 6-feet between campers while sleeping and with 2 staff members per cabin, each cabin will follow the Phase 2 guidelines of only 10 people in a building. It will be very important that each camper's gear can be stored in under-the-bed containers. Additionally, because all campers will be here for more than 1 week, a weekly assigned laundry time will be given to each cabin group to wash bedding and other personal items. Sheets will be changed weekly. Please make sure you send a non-mesh laundry bag with your camper. We will provide laundry detergent but if you camper has any sensitivity please consider packing your own.
Cleaning & Meals:
Campers will be asked to do daily sweeping, trash-removal and cleaning of their living areas. Each building, cabin and bathhouse will be cleaned and disinfected by trained staff.
Meals will also look slightly different this summer. Instead of eating family style in the dining hall, there will be designated outside and inside areas for each camper group to eat. These will be exclusive to each group to help prevent cross-contamination. Each meal will be served in an individual container for each camper and staff that designated staff members will pass out. If a camper has a dietary need this will be marked on the outside of the container. Campers and staff will eat every meal with their designated groups.
Daily Activities and Groups:
As in summers past at Don Lee, campers will eat and participate in activities within their small (16 campers) groups. Under the guidelines put forth by both the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Camp Association (ACA) this practice is highly recommended (YAY!). Summer camp activities will proceed as usual, with activities such as Encounters and Crafts happening outdoors. At activities such as sailing, canoeing and archery where equipment is needed, each camper will be assigned an equipment number. This means they will always use the same boats, paddles and bows when participating in these activities. This is to help with contact tracing and lower the risk of cross-contamination. Equipment will be sanitized between groups. Additionally, each camper will be assigned a life jacket (or they are welcome to bring their own) which will travel with them to each water activity and will be hung in their room. The few all camp activities, including worship and the dance, will proceed normally but with social distancing between groups and face-coverings will be worn during times of singing.
Store:
The Camp Store will operate a little differently this year. We do ask that you still put money on your campers account, no cash or card will be accepted. A sign of available drinks and snacks will hang outside a screen door to the store for campers to purchase during their designated store time. If family members are interested in buying shirts or other memorabilia for the summer, CLICK HERE to access the Don Lee Online Store. If you wish for your camper to have one of these items while at camp you can purchase them online and staff will deliver it to your camper during their store time.
Packages:
This year, Don Lee will not be accepting any camper packages due to COVID-19. Daily mail of small letters and cards will still be accepted. If your camper has forgotten an important item please email info@donleecenter.org and call the office at 252-249-1106, we will work with you to get this item to your camper. Bunk Notes, Bunk Replies and Bunk 1 photos will still be offered. For the best experience, please CLICK HERE for more information and to download the Bunk 1 app.
Rainy Day Procedure:
If there is inclement weather and campers do need to be inside they will go to either their cabin porch or a building assigned exclusively to the group for the duration of the camp session. The small groups will be split up to these areas by gender to limit the indoor gatherings of 10 people or less. This will be the practice until North Carolina moves into Phase 3. Staff and campers will be asked to wear a face covering during this inside time. Camp will be able to provide some face coverings but your camper is encouraged to pack several of their own. We do recommend one "buff" type face covering. This will provide sun protection while on the water as well as being a health safety precaution.
Pick-Up:
Pick-up will be scheduled for between 10 am and 11 am on Friday mornings. To allow for optimal cleaning and airing out time of cabins between camper groups, camp sessions will end on Fridays. Campers will have their luggage with them at the front gate for pick-up. We will ask that parents and family members stay in their vehicles during this time. Staff will help with the loading of the under-the-bed boxes.
Thank you all for your patience and flexibility in this, we understand how difficult the last few months have been. If there is something we missed or you have additional questions, please email us at info@donleecenter.org. Camp is ready to see the youth of our ministry back in action celebrating God's creation.
Ho La He La Ho from the Camp Don Lee Staff!
