EMLENTON, Pa. – After reviewing data and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the American Camp Association, the Association of Camp Nurses and Orthodox Camp Directors and, based on the opinion of health-care experts who have described social distancing as “incongruous” with the summer camp setting, the Executive Committee of All Saints Camp has voted to postpone opening until August 31. The announcement was posted on April 20.
The decision was reached in concert with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. camping programs and with the blessing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. Council of Bishops.
Since the coronavirus pandemic is a fluid situation, the Executive Committee said it can vote to re-open All Saints Camp before August 31 if, and only if, the safety and well-being of all campers, staff, volunteers and visitors is guaranteed. The UOC Camping Program will pivot to providing engaging online content for campers of all ages – readers may visit UOCyouth.org for the latest information.
There is an online survey for camp participants to provide input on how the camp season and offerings will shape up, albeit in a new format to adapt to the changing situation and from home.
“The majority of reliable and vetted projections estimate the peak of COVID-19 cases occurring in May or June, so we implore everyone to stay home and respect the directive to remain socially distant and to resist the urge to circumvent these measures before this pandemic is eradicated,” the Executive Committee of All Saints Camp said in a statement released to the public.
A video posted on the UOC-U.S.A. YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMrnIst_BC8&feature=youtu.be) features a message from Natalie Kapeluck-Nixon, director of Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Josh Oryhon, camp director at All Saints Camp. Additional information is available at www.allsaintscamp.org, as well as the Facebook pages for All Saints Camp (facebook.com/ASCofUOCofUSA) and the UOC Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (facebook.com/uocyouth).