September 1, 2020
Dear Campers, Staff, Parents, and our entire Wayfarer Family,
We hope this letter finds you happy and in good health! We wanted to take a brief moment to reflect on what has been one of the most memorable camp seasons in our history.
It’s no secret that 2020 has been a year of challenges. As Wayfarers, we pride ourselves in rising to adversity and overcoming life’s hurdles. Early this year, we were all confronted with a new and unfamiliar set of circumstances. The current state of affairs certainly proved to be difficult waters to navigate. That being said, we were determined to take to the drawing board and piece together a plan that would prioritize safety, all the while retaining the joy, friendships and growth that we cherish so much here at Camp Wayfarer. Through consultation with health experts and other camp professionals, detailed planning, and Jim Bob’s headstrong attitude, we were able to establish and implement protocols that allowed for both a safe and healthy campus, as well as the fun-filled experience that Wayfarer’s are so fond of. We are thrilled to announce that our 2020 summer season was a huge success! 347 campers, 60 staff members, and countless parents all came and went in good health!
We wanted to take a moment to thank our camp families for entrusting us with the safety and well-being of your children. There were many factors to consider during this year, especially, and we are overflowing with gratitude that your family included Camp Wayfarer in your summer plans. To all of our first-time campers joining us from other camps, it was an absolute pleasure to have you with us and we would love to keep in touch as we move forward into the fall/winter months.
Lastly, we want to extend a gracious and heart-felt thank you to our wonderful staff. These young men and women are not only the heart and soul of Camp Wayfarer, but they were also the one’s maintaining our Covid protocols and practices. Despite a two week on-site quarantine requirement, multiple precautionary testings, as well as a policy that did not allow counselors off-property during our 8 weeks of operation, our staff arrived undeterred and delivered one of the best summer experiences to date! To all who trusted in our judgement, or helped make the summer a reality, we are indebted to you.
Here at Wayfarer, we subscribe to the policy of “hoping for the best and preparing for the worst”. While we keep our fingers crossed that Covid-19 will be a one-summer concern, we remain confident in our established protocols, abilities to mitigate risk, and the performance of our staff members. If we find ourselves in a similar situation come 2021, rest assured we will be prepared to open our doors yet again!
We know the school year may look a little different this fall, and we wish everyone a safe transition back. We will most certainly be making our rounds over the next few months and would love to see your smiling faces when we come through your town! In addition, 2021 will mark the 30th summer of Camp Wayfarer. We will be celebrating our biggest summer yet and hope you will be a part of it!
Much love and big hugs to all,
Jim Bob and Nancy Wilson
Founders & Directors