For the past several weeks, our camp directors have been monitoring the conditions that might affect our ability to hold our COGWA Youth Camps this summer. On Tuesday the camp directors and Ministerial Services met to evaluate our current situation. Many factors are affecting our ability to host camps this summer, including facility availability, social-distancing requirements, group-size restrictions and registration numbers—not to mention the safety and welfare of our children and staff members.

As a result of these considerations, we have determined that it will be necessary to cancel our five preteen camps that were scheduled to take place during the month of June—Camp Lone Star in Texas, Camp Sequoia (preteen) in California, Camp Chattahoochee in Georgia, Camp Cherokee in Arkansas and Camp Lebanon in Minnesota. While it is disappointing, we feel that this decision—made out of an abundance of caution—is best for these early camps. In lieu of the full camp experience, COGWA Youth Camps will develop online activities and classes (by early July) that will help fill the gap left by missing out on camp this summer.

At this juncture, we are still planning to hold all of our teen camps, which run from late July through mid-August. We also are still planning for our preteen Camp Arrowhead in Ohio, which is scheduled for August.

We hope that you will do your best to encourage the preteens and help them find positive outlets for their energy and enthusiasm this summer. We will continue to monitor the situation and inform you of any other changes with the remaining camps.