After the province declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak we temporarily closed camp in March. Since closing we have monitored the status of this emergency and have complied with the province’s restrictions on businesses and gatherings. The health and safety of our campers, counselors, and guests is always of highest priority to us.
Anticipating we would need to have measures in place to re-open, our staff worked to implement protocols based on existing guidelines for those sectors most similar to our operations. After working with Alberta Health Services during the month of September, we received notice that we are still not permitted to host overnight camps or retreats. Therefore, based on the current public health measures, Camp Caroline remains closed to overnight campers and guests.
In October, the Board of Directors approved a response and recovery plan to help us chart our course forward. The plan identifies a series of guiding principles and ministry priorities. It also anticipates that we could be required to remain closed to campers and guests until spring (if not longer).
Until we are able to re-open and resume operations we have taken steps to properly care for the facilities. This fall our staff team has prepared the facilities to weather the winter months without campers and guests around camp. At times it has been tremendously difficult to take these steps but we have done this with full confidence that God will see fit to open the door for us to welcome campers and guests back to camp in the near future.
We have also begun carefully planning for the summer ministry season, praying for an opportunity to run either onsite or offsite camps in 2021. The planning for summer continues. We will make sure you know what we will be offering early in the new year. That being said, we will not launch registration in December as has been our practice in the past, instead we will hold off until we get into 2021.
For more information, please refer to the following Frequently Asked Questions.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Please join us in praying for the following as we look toward year-end and the new year:
1) Wisdom, discernment, and direction as we prayerfully consider how God is continuing to direct us through this season and toward the next.
2) Open doors to offer ministry programming in 2021.
3) Camp finances as we continue to cut any costs that can be avoided and to identify other potential sources of income to decrease the expected year-end deficit. We have continued working hard to decrease ongoing costs. Thankfully, we have been able to improve the year-end forecast. Presently, we are forecasting a deficit of less than $175,000 by the end of December.
4) Continue praying for our grant application with the province’s community initiatives program. In July we applied for a $50,000 grant. This is a one-time grant designed to support camps that have closed due to the pandemic. We expect to receive a response to our grant application this month.
5) Continue praying that God will provide for the needs of the camp as we step into 2021. We are so THANKFUL for how God has been meeting the needs of the ministry this year. Thus far God has provided the necessary resources for us to manage our financial obligations and maintain cashflow without borrowing any funds. As we look to 2021 we want to manage our financial obligations, maintain cashflow, avoid borrowing funds for operations, and begin rebuilding reserve funds so we are well positioned to respond to future ministry opportunities.
Interested in making a financial gift? We believe the church should be the primary place each of us give and want to encourage you to give to your church first. If after giving to your church you have the means and desire to help camp financially, we welcome your gift as 2020 draws to a close. Financial gifts received will help us steer the ministry through this season and toward the next. Gifts can be made online at campcaroline.ab.ca/donation. At this time we are asking that gifts be directed to the General Fund to allow us to maintain appropriate cash flow, manage ongoing costs, and direct funds to those areas most in need as we look to the future.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
