Coronavirus | Glen Lake Camp

Summer Camp 2021 Update

November 23, 2020

Since early June, we have been actively planning programming options for a variety fo scenarios to be able to offer our Summer Camp experiences next summer. As always, the safety and well-being of our campers and staff remains our top priority. In the months leading up to Summer Camp 2021, we’ll continue monitoring conditions as they fluctuate and expert guidance as it emerges, adapting our plans and protocols as-needed to ensure the safety of all involved. We are looking forward to welcoming campers back to camp, and we’re excited to be preparing for Summer 2021.

We’re grateful for the chance to partner with your family to provide faith forming Sumer camp experiences and we look forward to you being a part of our summer programs in 2021. Keeping our campers and staff safe is at the heart of all we do at Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center. So, as we prepare to open our gates to Summer Campers, we would like to share with you the ways we’ve modified our practices, before and during camp, to mitigate the risk of spreading Covid-19. Please know we will continue to monitor developments in the knowledge, tools, and governmental restrictions related to the pandemic. Our policies and procedures will be subject to change according to future updates.

Please review our Courage and Confidence Policy for 2021 and our Modified Plans for Summer Camp 2021 by clicking the links below.

CLICK TO READ OUR COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE POLICY FOR 2021

CLICK TO READ OUR MODIFIED PLANS FOR SUMMER CAMP 2021

Summer Camp 2020 Update

May 1, 2020

Glen Lake Camp has made the difficult decision to cancel all regular summer camp programming for the Summer 2020 season. The staff leadership and Board of Directors worked hard to develop modified plans to try to continue to offer life changing experiences this summer through our summer camp program, but the timeline for modification has expired. Camper safety is our number one priority! Concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) limit our ability to have campers onsite for this season. Our hope is to receive specific guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Texas Department of State Health Services for camp and retreat centers in order to create a safety plan for future programs and events.

On March 18th, Glen Lake Camp followed the guidelines of the CDC and Texas DSHS to cancel guest groups and close the campus. Please be praying for the future ministry of Glen Lake Camp. The 81 year legacy of Glen Lake will continue as camp leadership finds innovative and creative ways to survive this crisis. Please be praying for our leadership team and consider giving to Glen Lake through the upcoming North Texas Giving Tuesday Now on May 5th or through glenlake.org.

Please join us in praying for our Glen Lake Camp community as campers, parents, volunteers, and staff are all disappointed with missing a summer of fun and growing in our faith. Please keep checking back as we develop future programs to get you back out to Glen Lake Camp!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Health and Safety Update

GUEST RETREATS

SUMMER CAMP

March 20, 2020

Safety is our number one concern at Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center. We follow the protocols and standards of the DSHS in Texas as a licensed youth camp (DSHS.texas.gov) in all of our programs and activities for summer camp. We take all communicable diseases seriously and will continue to follow the same CDC and DSHS protocols for COVID-19. Glen Lake staff are keeping current on the recommendations provided by the CDC, DSHS, and local health services regarding the coronavirus, the rate of spread, and prevention. We will continue to develop our future plans as recommendations and mandates evolve.

As of March 19, 2020, we are coordinating and planning the best summer camp experience for Summer Camp 2020. We will continue to be diligent in preparing a safe Christian environment where campers can form authentic relationships through the ministry of summer camp. We have some exciting new plans for this summer and we cannot wait to see you in June.

In order to serve our campers and their families well, Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center has adopted a new Courage and Confidence Policy for Summer Camp 2020. We are asking campers to continue registering for summer camp and getting their spots reserved. Our new Courage and Confidence Policy offers registered campers the following options if we are mandated to close our summer camp program:

Option 1 100% refund of Summer Camp 2020 registration fee

Option 2 Change your registration to another available week of camp

Option 3 Forward your payment to Summer Camp 2021

Option 4 Donate a portion or entire registration fee to the ministry of Glen Lake

The Courage and Confidence Policy requires notice at least 6 days before the first day of the camper’s registered camp if you would like to cancel for 2020. If you are currently registered for camp, this policy is available to you. We hope you will be courageous and wait with us as we see what the future holds, but we also understand if you are registered and your family is in a situation where you need the funds returned for your immediate needs.

Our hope is to join you in being courageous and confident in making plans for Summer 2020. This new policy allows us to continue to make plans, but assures you the opportunity to decide what happens to your registration if Summer Camp 2020 has to be canceled or postponed.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 virus and will communicate any changes to our plan for Summer Camp 2020. Please be confident the leadership of Glen Lake understands the importance of a team focused on safety. We are recruiting, hiring, and training a team of Christian leaders to serve campers and their families this coming season. As we prepare for summer, we are fully committed to beating this virus! Please consider the recommendations of the CDC and follow your local mandates so we can enjoy an incredible summer together.

We are praying for you, our camp community, and the world as we join (from a distance) to stay safe and healthy-

Natalie Davidson

Executive Director

Summer Camp

CLICK FOR OUR COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE POLICY FOR SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION

March 19, 2020

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

The ministry of Glen Lake is guided by the core values identified in this scripture from 1 Peter, love deeply, host graciously, and serve intentionally. These days of isolation and social distancing have been a challenge for the staff of Glen Lake. We are thinking creatively about ways to safely encounter others, but are disappointed to have to announce the following temporary limitations for our guest groups and campers.

Retreat Ministry Spring 2020

As of March 16th, Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center canceled all guest group retreats until Sunday, April 12. We are communicating with guest group leaders directly as we make decisions about cancelations. We will continue to monitor the recommendations and mandates of the CDC, DSHS, and local authorities. If you have questions or concerns about upcoming retreats, please reach out to Amanda Garza, Director of Guest Services, by email at amanda@glenlake.org.

It is a huge disappointment to have to require this first set of cancelations! Our staff at Glen Lake Camp truly believe in the restoration of a retreat and time away with God in today’s circumstances, but we need to keep the safety of our guests as our main priority. We will continue to follow the protocols and standards of the DSHS in Texas as a licensed youth camp (DSHS.texas.gov). We take all communicable diseases seriously and will continue to follow the same CDC and DSHS protocols, recommendations, and mandates for COVID-19.

We will communicate with guest group leaders as soon as possible when cancelations are necessary. We are here to serve you during this difficult time. If you have questions or concerns please contact us by email, info@glenlake.org.

Summer Camp 2020

We are coordinating and planning the best summer camp experience for Summer Camp 2020. We will continue to be diligent in preparing a safe Christian environment where campers can form authentic relationships through the ministry of summer camp. We have some exciting new plans for this summer and we cannot wait to see you in June.

Thank you for supporting Glen Lake and we look forward to serving you soon-

Natalie Davidson

Executive Director

natalie@glenlake.org

Guest Retreats

CHECK-IN JARS DOWNLOAD
At camp, we encourage and teach our Summer Staff to pray with campers every night. To help our campers come up with how we pray. We will ask them to tell us about the things they are grateful for - and we celebrate and give thanks for those things. We also ask the kids to share what they are worried about - and we lift those up and help campers process what tomorrow will look like. This is an incredible practice and is some of our summer staff's favorite moments with campers.

Try this at home using this "Check-In Jars" activity to help us note the things we are grateful for and the things we worry over.

Directions: Print out this image. Throughout the day or next few days, consider the things that you are grateful for and the things that might make you worry. Write these items down and then cut them out and place them in jars labeled for "Gratitude" and "Worry." By placing them in the jars, we acknowledge these thoughts to celebrate the things we are thankful for and to call out the things that are making us uneasy. At dinner each night, review the items in the jar and consider each one. Can we tell someone thanks for the things we are grateful for? Can we find a way to reduce or process our worry for the things that make us nervous?

NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT DOWNLOAD

Camps across the world are sharing resources to use while you are at home and practicing social distancing and we want you to know we are thinking about you. Here is a great Nature Scavenger Hunt for those of you who are able to get outside and take a little hike around the neighborhood.

Our campers love going on the hike to the cross at Glen Lake Camp and often times when we are leading campers, we add to the experience by telling stories, having campers search for different objects along the hike, or sing songs together. You can do this at home as well. Follow the instructions on the Nature Scavenger Hunt to add to the hiking experience!

*Please continue to practice your best social distancing if you are planning on hiking in your neighborhood.

March 13, 2020

Safety is our number one concern at Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center. We follow the protocols and standards of the DSHS in Texas as a licensed youth camp (DSHS.texas.gov). We take all communicable diseases seriously and will continue to follow the same CDC and DSHS protocols for COVID-19. Glen Lake staff are keeping current on the recommendations provided by the CDC, DSHS, and local health services regarding the coronavirus, the rate of spread, and prevention. We will continue to develop our plan as recommendations for best practice evolve.

In addition to state requirements, we have added:

hand sanitizer to meeting space main entry doors
increased sanitation stations where they are already located at dining hall entrance
packaged utensils with packaged salt and pepper
assessed recreation areas for sanitation of harnesses, helmets, and equipment used for activities
sanitizing all shared equipment between uses
staff training concerning vigilance with regard to preventing the spread of communicable disease