BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Parents saddened by the closures of American Heritage Camp and Boca’s JCC Camp for COVID-19 concerns may not yet need to move into emergency summer planning mode which includes — but may not be limited to — buying noise canceling headphones and padding an entire house with rubber.
The popular Eagles Land Camp — at this point — is still planning to (or at least hoping to) open.
We have had contact quite a few times over the past several week with Matt Cannold — ELC’s founder. He truly wants to provide kids a safe, fun experience for the summer and is doing whatever he can to make that happen. ELC finds itself in the same situation that day and overnight camps locally and nationally are facing: waiting for official word from local and state leaders, as well as guidance from the American Camp Association.
This email was just sent publicly with an update:
We have been receiving many calls asking for answers to many questions about camp and its viability. We understand how you feel as we, ourselves, have many questions we need, and want to be answered. So, at this time, we ask for your patience while the next few weeks play out. This is a unique and very fluid situation that is changing by the hour. We are busy preparing for Summer 2020, and developing contingency plans to ensure the safety of our campers and their families, as well as counselors, staff, and the community at large.
Whether that means starting June 8 or 15th (or even the 22nd) and having a slightly shorter summer, all options are on the table to ensure we provide the ELC “10 for 2” we have all come to expect. We are continuously developing new guidelines for all aspects of camp from campers to staff to infrastructure workers and will share them with you as we approach June.
Our immediate goal is to have a full summer. Only time will tell how practical that becomes. Lastly, we are awaiting the new updated guidelines provided by the American Camping Association. that we expect in the next seven to ten days. We have already taken steps to make the camp as safe as possible by canceling our Eagles Landing International Program. Having campers come from all over the world just was not in the cards for this summer, and it was a heartbreaking decision for many families who enjoy the fantastic opportunity ELC provides.
The safety and well being of our campers and staff are of the utmost importance. While it’s reassuring to know our primary demographic sits in the safest categories (those under the age of 20), we still want to take the “wait and see” approach.
Time will allow us to gain as much knowledge as we can and institute the most appropriate protection available to our campers and staff. ELC will reach out again towards the later half of May when we can provide more details and insight.
