From the Board President

As summer youth camps of 2022 are ending, Camp Mennoscah wants to thank all those who came to camp this summer–campers, counselors, directors, nurses, cooks, and volunteers who came for a day, a weekend, a week, or the whole summer.  We experienced so much fun and connection.  We saw God’s beauty in the campfires, worshipful singing, meals shared, and relationships new and old.  

We also experienced God’s guidance and protection as we navigated Covid-19 cases in our camp community.  As some of you know, we encountered positive Covid cases during two of our weeks of summer camps.  At the end of June, one positive staff case during Junior I brought about the quarantine of 1 counselor, a handful of campers, and the rest of summer staff who were close contacts.  After a few adjustments, these close contacts continued on with camp while distancing and masking.  These quarantined campers created a new cabin group and named themselves the “Quaranteenie Tortellinis”.  They loved their increased time with summer staff when they had to test twice a day.  And their laughter made an unprecedented situation at camp a blessing.  No other cases were found the rest of the week.  We are grateful to the week’s directors for valuing safety and assisting camp in following CDC and ACA guidelines.

Our recent Senior High week ended with more positives, but having the previous case’s protocols to follow made adjustments easier.  We had 3 counselors, 1 staff, and a small number of campers positive by the end of the week.  Most of these cases were likely from exposure outside of camp.  Again, with immediate masking, distancing, reorganizing cabin groups, and twice daily testing, the close contacts limited spread while continuing to enjoy camp.  Olivia Bartel, Executive Director, managed safety protocols, communicated with parents, board, local and state agencies, and positioned a great team of staff to manage the situation.  God provided an amazing camp nurse for the week, who provided great nursing care of campers while managing the repercussions of Covid cases at camp.  The positive attitudes and creative adjustments made by the directors, cooks, counselors, and summer staff allowed camp to continue uninterrupted.   We pray for the health of  those who were positive for Covid-19 and all who went home as a close contact.  

As always, the health and safety of all who attend camp is of utmost importance.  Please contact Olivia Bartel, Executive Director, or Jill Litwiller, Board President, if you have any questions or comments about our unprecedented and memorable summer camp season.  We are grateful to the counselors and campers who were close contacts, who continued to connect with God, nature, self, and others despite the discomfort of masks and distancing.  We are grateful to their parents, who trusted their campers and camp staff to stay and continue camp safety while following preventative guidelines.  And we are grateful to God for continued opportunities to practice humility, patience, and grace in times that have tested these traits among us all.

With peace, 

Jill Litwiller, President of Camp Mennoscah Board of Directors

Olivia Bartel, Executive Director