An Update About Summer Programming and Camps FAQ sheet
Category: Blog, Nature Camp, Owl Camp, Rooting Youth in Nature, Russian River Teen Trek, Uncategorized
By LandPaths Staff
April 14, 2020
Dear Families,
The last few weeks of flattening the curve haven’t been easy as many of us juggle work and parenting responsibilities, or the financial challenge of unemployment brought about by Covid-19. Like you, LandPaths staff are adjusting to the daily challenges and changing conditions brought about by the pandemic. We are here to support you as we navigate these rough seas together.
In response to the changing conditions, our top priorities are the kids, staff, and extended LandPaths community. We are closely reviewing and updating how we move forward with programming. These decisions are based on guidance from the CDC, Sonoma County Department of Health, and recommendations from the American Camp Association.
We are here to answer all your questions about how LandPaths is preparing for summer and year-round programs for youth and families. Please read the FAQ sheet below for the latest information and where to direct any questions. In addition, we have updated our refund and cancellation policies considering the pandemic (see below). If we must make changes, we will communicate them in a timely and clear manner.
In the meantime, we’re doing what LandPaths does best—meeting the changing needs of the community!
Sincerely,
Jamie Nakama |Youth Programs Manager | [email protected]
LandPaths Camp FAQ
Kids have been sheltering in place and will need outdoor time and summer. Does LandPaths anticipate any cancellations or changes to your summer programs?
Registration is currently open for all our 2020 summer camps. Our goal is to continue providing the summer camps for which we are known nature-based, small-group oriented camps hosted outdoors in the open air at beautiful ranches, farms, rivers, and wild lands of Sonoma County.
Ultimately, we are following the directives from the CDC and the local department of health. Our summer schedule will be determined by their guidance.
We will send out updated information for you about summer 2020 programming on April 27th.
If the health guidelines for summer are released prior to April 27, we will be in touch sooner to let you know how we are moving forward so that you can plan accordingly. Otherwise we will update you with our updated plans and policies by April 27. We are sorry we can’t give a firmer answer about summer plans, but this is how it stands until we receive a clear directive from public health officials
Should I register for summer camps now? What happens if I need to cancel?
The simple answer is, yes! Several camps are already full and we anticipate that others will fill up. Please plan for a nature-based summer for your children! At the same time, we recognize there are a lot of unknowns right now. For that reason, we’ve expanded our cancellation policy. We hope that this gives you more confidence in this uncertain terrain and allows you to register with a sense of peace.
If you have been financially impacted by Covid-19 and need to cancel registration, you can receive a full refund at any time, minus the $50 non-refundable fee. If you must cancel for financial reasons, we strongly encourage you to apply the non-refundable $50 fee toward a scholarship registration instead of completely withdrawing your child from camp. With that said, we are currently fundraising for our camps campaign and hope to increase our scholarships. We can’t promise a scholarship, but we are actively trying to make more available.
If LandPaths is not able to move forward with our planned summer camps due to official public health guidelines, then all families will receive a full refund, which will include the $50 non-refundable registration fee.
Should I send my kids to camp this summer?
LandPaths believes that camps matter for kids and the land. We hope you agree.
The ongoing developments related to COVID-19 have created an information overload and feelings of isolation. Now more than ever, kids need to feel capable, enjoy time with peers, and connect with friends. Fresh air, nature, and active education are medicine in these troubling times. A connection to nature can be an antidote to isolation; a way to combat the long time away from school.
Camp is a place where kids connect and explore the world. We host camps in open spaces, out in the fresh air. These are spaces where kids can open their imaginations, feel connected with nature and community, and build skills, confidence and a sense of stewardship.
What are you doing to keep students and staff safe regarding health and wellness?
As an organization that focuses on getting you outdoors, it’s crucial that we are up to date on the best practices for safety and health. Right now, that includes a strong, working knowledge of best practices related to COVID-19.
LandPaths is basing all decisions on policies and actions on recommendations from public health authorities. We are also following developing guidelines from the American Camp Association. We have already taken precautions—including bulking up our sanitization protocols—and will continue to adapt our health and wellness policies to meet recommended guidelines.
We are also working closely with the public health department to maintain effective protocols for the identification and appropriate actions in regard to any illness that may occur at camp, including COVID-19. We are actively updating our health and wellness screening policies and procedures to reflect current best practices. We will keep families, staff and our community in the loop as new information becomes available. More on these policies to come when we send out the update on April 27.
Questions?
Didn’t see your concerns addressed? We are happy to answer any questions! For questions in English, please contact Jessica Holloway at [email protected] or (707) 540-5115. For Spanish, please contact Luis Orozco at luis@landpaths,org or (707) 360-5751.
