Camp Hertko Hollow Cancels Summer Season Due To Covid-19
Camp Hertko Hollow, which offers annual camps to children with diabetes, has decided to cancel its summer season of programs in lieu of the covid-19 threat.
The camp released the following letter via e-mail:
Dear Friends of Camp Hertko Hollow,
In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all campers, volunteers and staff, Camp Hertko Hollow has made the very difficult decision to cancel our upcoming summer sessions. After careful deliberation and review of the health and safety guidelines provided by the government, CDC, American Camp Association, and the American Diabetes Association, we determined that it is best not to hold our programs this summer. Summer camp would not be the same life-changing experience that our campers have come to know, and it would be putting our campers, volunteers and staff at risk.
The decision to cancel programming was incredibly difficult in many ways. I have struggled to come to terms with what this decision means for the kids, their families, our staff and our volunteers and we know it leaves a huge void. We remained hopeful for as long as we could while we exhausted all viable options. Ultimately, there remains too little known about COVID-19 and how to maintain a safe environment at camp for us to continue with summer programming this year. This decision, while painful, is a reflection of our commitment to the health and safety of our campers, volunteers, staff, and all families involved.
For 52 years Camp Hertko Hollow has been home to countless new friendships, new experiences, stories of personal growth and great adventures, and we haven’t missed a camping season yet. Accepting that this year will be the first summer where we can’t gather together at “the closest place to heaven on earth” is difficult. I do believe, though, that once we have seen this crisis through and made the sacrifices necessary to move past it we will be positioned to return in 2021 stronger than ever.
We are working diligently to find an alternative plan to offer some form of Camp, whether virtual or otherwise. However, there are a number of variables that we must consider and we will not have further details on how that will look until we have had more time to dedicate to planning.
Thank you for trusting us with this decision and for understanding the value of camp even through this crisis. Your passion for camp is inspiring and we are really going to miss making memories with all of our campers and volunteers this summer. Summer 2021 is going to be one worth waiting for and we can’t wait to gather back at camp then.
Be well,
Jessica Thornton, Executive Director
