Dear Cherith family,
The Provincial Government has announced today that overnight camps will remain closed for the 2020 summer season, putting the safety of Ontario’s children first.
Many of you have heard about this decision, but I want to say first that this decision is one of the hardest ones to hear; this will be the first time in our 66 years that there will be no campers at Cherith this summer. We are confident that the Government has made the right decision. The focus on the health and safety of our campers, staff and the entire camping community is a top priority.
We don’t want to overwhelm people with too much information, but we know that there are many questions. I will attempt to focus on how this affects our camp program this summer and in the future.
FINANCES
It requires months of work to prepare Cherith for summer camp. Our spring volunteers should have been on-site on the May long weekend and other staff would have arrived to help as the summer drew closer. Preparing for camp is expensive, but those costs are reasonable when we know that almost 600 campers and 120 staff would have been on-site for seven wonderful weeks this summer.
It will be a financial challenge for us to suspend on-site programs this year. Unlike many businesses, the majority of our income happens during a very short two month window. We rely on the summer months to sustain our ministry throughout the year. Today’s decision by the Government may cause financial difficulty for Camp in the future. As a result, if you’re in a position to support Cherith financially, now is a great time to do that. You can learn more on our Website. Please do not feel any obligation from us – we know that finances have become precarious for many people at this time. However, the ministry of Camp would appreciate your prayers concerning this as we go forward.
WHY NOW?
The timing of this decision helps all of us plan for the summer, in a good way. The Board and leadership have been looking forward and planning for months for your children to come, make memories, hear the Word of God and enjoy God’s creation. We will miss seeing you all. Like so many of you, my family’s summer life centers around Camp Cherith. We know that vacations, family trips and other events are often scheduled around Cherith programs, and we are so grateful for the commitment that you have shown to us over the years. We want to make sure you feel that commitment from us as well. Even though God has shut the door for on-site programs this summer, we believe the Lord will show Himself faithful. We trust 2021 will be even more anticipated and blessed.
If you’ve made it this far – thank you for reading. I would love to connect with you if you have more questions. I’m only a quick email (director@campcherith.ca) or phone call (705-734-2122) away.
Please continue to pray for us, as we will continue to pray for you.
Until we see each other again,
Heather-Lynn “TAZ” Huston
Executive Director
Camp Cherith