By Cathy Barker
During Earth Care Youth Camp in July, an unwelcome guest appeared: Covid. Midweek, Co-Managers and spouses Lynn Ketchum and Robyn Hashman were diagnosed. Everyone tested; campers were all clear. Three adult leaders tested positive, and they regretfully went home. I contacted all the parents. Lynn and Robyn quarantined in their cabin.
The next day the campers and remaining adults tested again: negative. On the last day our Cook Dilynn Wise tested positive. Parents arrived, campers hugged and wept their goodbyes, and down the mountain they went. I sat down, felt quite awful, tested and sure enough, I had it too.
Board Chair Mark Cadwallader called a special video meeting to discuss what to do about the next youth camp, Woodland Arts, beginning in two days. Starting from “Cancel,” the Board considered carefully what that would mean to the kids, their families, and our momentum. Possibilities emerged: Former Camp Cook Marcia Warner was, miraculously, available for the week! Mark, Hal Fossum, and Dick Weaver made themselves available too. Retired Nurse Glenda Barnes agreed to come for registration. The staff and I went home to recover.
Within that 2-hour Board meeting the trajectory changed entirely to “Let’s make this happen!” The Board members and Marcia arrived a few hours ahead of the leaders and counselors, cleaned and cooked and made the campers’ experience seamless.
What a phenomenal effort from busy people to ensure that Mimanagish campers had their best possible outcome – with no Covid in Camp that week. Gratitude to our Staff for acting responsibly, and our Board members for their dogged spirit!