Hi

 

    Spring has finally come with a vengeance.  Our snow is disappearing at an amazing rate and there is quite a bit of flooding but nothing too bad.   As you are aware, we aren't able to run on site camps this summer  but we are still very interested in keeping in contact and delivering fun filled and gospel centered camp experiences to our campers throughout this time of physical distancing.

 

    There have been many suggestions for how to accomplish this including things like running virtual camp over the internet.  However camp is about familiar places and familiar places; real social interaction and it is not about more screen time.  We don't sense that parents particularly want another internet based option for their kids this summer.

 

    Our crew are however, very interested in putting together a "Camp in a Box" program which could be delivered to your door.  This letter is to see whether there is enough interest in such a program for us to invest the resources it would take.  Let me explain exactly what it would be like.

 

    Families would register for a week of Camp in a Box just like they would register for any other camp week.  A day or two before your chosen week a package will arrive, either hand delivered by camp staff or through a courier.  The box will contain a camp T-shirt, and five individually sealed packages; one for each of the next 5 "camp- days"

 

    Each daily packet will contain a schedule and a variety of camp related activities and challenges.   We will encourage campers to pull out a sleeping bag to sleep in for the week and to be ready each morning for "Cabin Inspection" which will include the opportunity to make a cabin display on their bed which will be scored just like at our on-site camps.   Some of the daily activities will, of course, require some parent involvement, but most will be self directed.  They will encourage kids to be active outdoors, keep them occupied with wholesome projects, and bring the stories and lessons of the Bible in an engaging way. We think we will be able to divide campers into virtual cabin groups and in some ways they will compete together in challenges.   Each daily packet will also include a memory verse challenge, and a family read aloud  story.

Finally, each day pack will include all the supplies for a morning and an afternoon craft or skills project and of course, a tuck item!  One Hope Canada Ministries, who owns and operates Ross Haven Bible Camp has developed an app which we are rolling out this summer.  It will allow campers to interact with their cabin leaders and the other kids from their cabin in a completely moderated and safe environment.  We would like to incorporate this app in our Camp in a Box concept as well.  

 

So, this program would be available to sign up for for any specific week of the summer.  We might be able to put together a couple of different weeks of content.   So, without committing to anything right now, would your family be interested in a concept similar to this for this summer?   Do you have any other comments or suggestions?  This program would be best delivered with parental and family participation.  For instance we would like to assign daily theme meals like "eat with a random kitchen utensil," "skit night," or "Monk Meal."  These, and the family read aloud campfire time, would be best with full family participation.   If you were interested in the concept of Camp in a Box, would your family be willing to invest in participation in activities like these? 

 

We'd love to hear back from you in the next day or two as we decide whether to move forward with this idea.  Thanks in advance for your timely feedback

 

 

Greg King

Camp Director