Please note our schedule and details of our plan for summer 2021 below
2020 was an unprecedented year for all of us, and we missed hosting our summer campers. As 2021 dawns, Camp Squeah is hopeful about the future and looking ahead to restarting our summer camp ministry. Some things may be forever changed, but we are eager to restore many of the great things we love about summer camp at Squeah.
We’ve all come to expect a need for flexibility, and we’re hoping that our plans for summer 2021 at Camp Squeah will be able to adapt to whatever restrictions may be in place. We will endeavor to continue keeping campers safe while providing a fun place to make lasting memories together. Our prayer is we might resume our tradition of quality summer programs with the aim of enriching the lives of campers through sharing our magnificent natural setting and the deep love of Jesus Christ.
There are several layers to our planned schedule for summer 2021. These layers begin with camps that meet the safety requirements set for summer camps during the summer of 2020. This includes camps with day programming only, wilderness out trips, and camps for families. Though currently prohibited in BC, we are also optimistically planning overnight summer programs for children with the hope that they may be permitted. These plans for overnight camps include changes to our typical programming and adoption of updated safety protocols to keep campers safe, with fewer close contacts, while still creating summer camp experiences. Unless it is deemed safe to do otherwise, all our camps will be limited to 50 or fewer campers. Finally, if we are unable to run overnight camps for children, then we will plan to provide an opportunity for families to make use of our accommodations for a self-sufficient camp experience. Important updates to this plan, and our COVID-19 safety measures, will be provided on our website and through our social media channels.
Important Dates:
February 1, 2021 – Online Enrollment Opens (no payment will be taken at this time for conditional camps); Unpaid enrollment will be held for you until May 15 for July camps, and June 15 for August camps
April 15, 2021 – Conditional camp status determined for July camps; Online Registration payment opens for these camps
May 15, 2021 – Conditional camp status determined for August camps; July camp payment required to maintain enrollment and complete registration
June 15, 2021 – August camp payment required to hold enrollment and complete registration
Family Camp – Day Program
- July 4-8, 2021 and July 18-22, 2021
- Goal: creating opportunity for families to stay at Squeah, and offering children an “at camp” experience while supported by their family
- Check-in at 6pm on Sunday, check-out 7pm on Thursday
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided in the dining hall Mon-Thu
- Accommodation options include
- Emory Lodge (ensuite washrooms)
- RV/Tenting
- Day camp style programming provided for children 3 – 12
- Children will be assigned to the same age appropriate cohort and staff team each day
- Programming will run from 9:30am – 3:30pm, with a one hour break for children to join families for lunch
- Activities will be structured to limit close contacts as much as possible
Family Camp – Weekend Program
- July 30 – August 2, 2021 (BC Day long weekend)
- Goal: creating opportunity for families to participate together.
- While there are significant differences, for those curious about comparisons, this camp will be the most similar to our Family Camp in previous years.
- Check-in at 3pm on Friday, check-out 3pm on Monday
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided in the dining hall
- Accommodation options include
- Emory Lodge (ensuite washrooms)
- Cabins (separate shared “public” washrooms)
- RV/Tenting
- Family style programming provided through the weekend
- Family friendly activities facilitated during the day
- Evening campfire snack
- Childcare options may be available, TBD
Family Camp – Campground (Conditional)
- Available if overnight children’s camps are not running this summer
- Goal: a self-sufficient family experience at Camp Squeah, similar to staying at a campground
- Accommodations only
- Emory and Fraser
- RV/Tenting
- No food services or programming provided
- Most accommodations do not include food storage or preparation facilities, therefore families are encouraged to bring their own
- Campfire pits and firewood will be provided
Go Beyond – Wilderness Out Trips
- Overnight on the Squeah trail system
- Small groups (<12 per site)
- All food prepared and eaten away from main Squeah site
- Each participant must sleep in separate tent/bivouac
- Brought from home
- Or DIY bivouac at Squeah
- Go Beyond: Junior (ages 10-12)
- Go Beyond: Middle (ages 12-14)
- Go Beyond: Wotton (ages 14-16)
Overnight Children’s Camps (Conditional)
- Conditional on restrictions lifted and operational plans approved by regional and provincial health authorities
- 3-4 night camps for four different age groups
- Cohort model of care and programming
- Close contact limited to small groups
- Will be as close as possible to our traditional summer camp experience, with limitations based on physical distancing requirements
- Will NOT include our traditional backpacking overnighter experience