Dear Friends,

There is still a great deal of uncertainty in our world today and there is much that we do not yet know about next summer. We are still uncertain what summer 2021 will look like for Camp Dark Waters or how COVID might affect our summer program. We do not know if the State of New Jersey and local governments will authorize for overnight camps for the summer. If we are allowed to open there is a real possibility that we will be required to operate at a reduced capacity. We are monitoring all the State’s decisions and will continue to be in communication with the local Health Department as we plan for next summer.

In May we cancelled the summer of 2020 because of the risks posed by COVID-19 to that which is most important to us – the health and wellbeing of our campers, staff and community. That decision would have ultimately been taken out of our hands as the State of New Jersey did not permit overnight camps to run last year.

We know that campers are ready to be back at CDW and we can’t wait to start another transformative summer. As we start the registration for the summer of 2021 there are some important things to note.

• It is our plan to run a full camp and a full 8 weeks of camp in 2021 and we will begin the registration process with that plan in place. There is a real chance we will need to make changes to the capacity of camp or the dates we are allowed to operate, to ensure the safety of our campers, staff and community.
  • We may have to alter enrollment after registration. This could mean a decrease in sessions you have enrolled in. We will prioritize giving every camper a summer experience, if we have to make changes in session enrollment.
  • Like last year, we will have a flexible cancellation policy if we need to alter or cancel camp for the summer of 2021. We will also be flexible if you decide to cancel over COVID-19 concerns.
• There will be safety measures in place to help mitigate exposure to COVID-19. We are working with CDC guidance, the American Camping Association, and the local health department on what they should be. They could involve:
  • Temperature and wellness checks at check-in.
  • Increased handwashing and sanitizing of facilities.
  • Prior to arrival negative COVID tests for campers and staff to stay at CDW.
  • Wearing of masks at check-in and check-out, and/or during camp.
  • Change in the dates of sessions.

We will continue to act with integrity and communicate openly with our families and community, keeping everyone updated as we learn more about what the summer of 2021 will look like for us. We will keep up to date on what safety protocols we will need to implement to help us assure that our campers, staff, and community are safe.

There is much that is unknown about the future for everyone and CDW is no different. We aim to ensure that campers and families feel as comfortable as possible during registration and while at camp. We are happy to discuss our process and welcome your thoughts and concerns. Please reach out to us by email, info@campdarkwaters.net or call the office at (609) 654-8846.