The Best way to do distance learning is in a Pandemic Pod at a School/Camp
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Please Call 630-654-8036
With the reality of most children being at home for part or all of the coming school year, students will be isolated once more from friends and social situations, leaving them without the many joys of childhood.
We believe that children can complete thier E-learning school work in a fun camp environment with the support of caring staff and counselors. This will give students much-needed socialization and access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities, inturn allowing the freedom for kids to be kids.
What is Swift Nature Camp?
We are a small science and nature-based summer camp located in the Northwoods of Wisconsin that is becoming a micro-school for students with online/remote learning options. Camp provides a 
social community with a dedicated staff of counselors, a nurse, and a cook all with a “for-the-kids” mindset. Swift Nature Camp is the perfect Learning Pod that gives students social interaction while completing their remote schooling and keeping students in a safe bubble away from COVID. After 25 years as youth development professionals, we understand that children learn best in a safe place with their peers, while having fun and building connections.
Benefits of Fall Educational Camp:
We believe that we can no longer let isolation and quarantine rob children of their childhood. At SNC, we provide:
*Much-needed socialization,
*A schoolwork-first environment,
*Less Fortnite/Youtube & Screentime,
*More time outdoors,
*Live COVID Free,
*A fun camp atmosphere,
*50 recreational activities,
*Healthier lifestyle,
*More freedom to be a kid,
*Increased flexibility for working parents.
The Concept:
What is Fall Educational Camp? The idea is simple: students will come to camp just like in the summer, but at fall camp their first priority will be to complete their online school programming. We will keep kids safe, help them learn effectively and be in a fun and supportive environment. The first half of the day will be spent in their cabin/classroom doing their schoolwork. Then in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends, they will be surrounded by their friends and counselors and have a more traditional camp experience: activities, special events, camping trips, and more. This will enhance their social and emotional growth by providing activities and experiences not available at home because of COVID-19 cancellations, closings, & isolation.
MOM TALKS ABOUT CAMP & COVID
Students Wanted:
It is important for families to understand Fall camp is more like school than camp and not for every child. We are looking for children who are reasonably independent, like to learn, are well 
behaved and will be kind to others. We will not have the supervision available to deal with reacurring behavioral issues. Students need to want to be here rather than be back at home in a quarantine situation. We understand that every child is different and some need reasonable accomodations, and if you are unsure your child meets these standards, please reach out to us and we can discuss in more detail.
Kids Need Interaction!
This summer, after months of isolation, we heard from campers of all ages that "camp was exactly what we needed". Camp provided them a chance to fully be kids - play outside, learn new things, make new friends, as well as create new memories without spending all day in front of a screen or quarantined at home. Believe it or not, we even had one camper say "I got tired of Fortnite!" As the school year comes closer, many families wonder what the fall looks like. Despite many schools doing their best to hold in-person classes, there is good chance your child will end up in another remote-learning situation, resulting in more isolation and reductions in social development, not to mention more difficult scheduling for working parents. Fall Educational Camp is a solution to today's COVID school world.
Keeping Students Safe:
After a summer of hard work, amazing support from families, persistent health reminders, and a bit of good fortune, we were able to give 200 campers a safe, happy, social and COVID free summer. We were able to create a "Safe Bubble" at camp which allowed campers to return to a sense of normalcy in the uncertainty of 2020. The CDC now says Schools can learn for Overnight Camps, watch GMA Report or read Washington Journal Report. With your continued support, we are confident in our ability to replicate out success with Fall Educational Camp. READ MORE
Capacity:
40 -campers from 3rd-8th grade.
8 Cabins with 5 students in each cabin. Students should require little encouragement to do their studies and are willing to do school work first and then have fun.
10 -High School Students, from 9rd-12th grade.
2 Cabins with 5 students in each cabin. We know that HS Students have heavier study schedules, so it is important that these High Schoolers are willing to study and are responsible enough to put school work first.
*Jr Counselors ages 15-17
High School students may choose to be a Jr Counselor. This will require a special application to ensure HS students are self motivated, child-friendly and are prepared to lead students in a professional manner. Fall Camp Jr Counselors will have more responsibility giving leadership and guidance of campers in daily living skills, with special attention to: Personal hygiene and safety, Camper participation in camp activities, Camper personal growth, self-confidence and independence through group living
Jr. Counselors will also have the responsibility of completing their schooling. This requires a commitment to creating a drama-free, schoolwork-first, and child-friendly environment. Please complete the application here.
Dates for Fall Camp:
Sept 27th - Nov 7th
Registration will close September 14th. Just like during the summer, we will require the campers to isolate at home before camp beginning September 14sth for roughly 2 weeks.
Don't be alone this fall. Have fun while doing your school work
Cost:
Camper Cost is $650 per week, for a total of $3900. Payable over 4 months beginning Sept 1st at $975 per month
Jr. Counselors Cost is $600 per week, for a total of $3600.Payable over 4 months beginning Sept 1st at $900 per month. Jr Counselors will also receive $300 for thier time at camp.
Learn More about SNC
School Schedule & Classrooms:
School First, then Fun is our motto.
Our Counselors goal is to assist your child with their virtual E-learning as part tutor, part guide, and part motivator. Each week (or as soon as possible) parents will send us their child's schedule. From this, cabin counselors will create a cabin master schedule that will highlight when campers need to be online and what needs to be accomplished during the week. Our flexible daily cabin schedule (8am-3pm) will allow students to complete their online school work as required allowing for synchronous learning and live online classes as necessary (Zoom, Google Classroom, etc.). Other school work can be fit in around the mandatory times students must be at e-learning. This flexibility will also provide various breaks and lunches during the week, keeping it fresh for the students. Cabin groups will have the benefit of different learning environments and styles. Counselors will also be able to take their cabin to different areas to complete their work during the day, indoor areas like our nature center as well as our beautiful outdoor locations. How about doing your work on an island or from a pontoon boat? The main school room will be the back half of the cabin equipped with a school table and chairs as well as a table for schoolwork outside on the back porch. We believe with a small cabin size of 5 students along with daily structure it will be easier to get every student to participate in classwork. Yet, Counselors will have flexibility to select the learning environment and locations that are best for their students while monitoring work requirements and assuring success.
Camp is After School & Weekends:
After campers have met their educational requirements for the day, they will be able to take part in organized free time, group games and other outdoor activities to keep them engaged and involved in healthy lifestyles. On school holidays and weekends we will be able to provide full days of camp activities - things like hiking, canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts, campfires, special events and overnight camping trips on camp property. See website for activities. In addition, we will also be introducing new clubs (chess, drama, yoga, etc.) that bring some of the fun aspects of school to camp!
Weekday Flexible Schedule:
7:00 AM Wakeup
7:30 AM Breakfast
8:00 Am Chores & Clean up or Class starts
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Flexible Remote Learning, lunch and breaks scheduled by each cabin as school schedule allows
3:00 – 4:00 PM Free Time*
4:00 – 5:00 PM Flexible Club Time*
5:00 – 6:00 PM Dinner
6:00 – 7:30 PM Games & Store*
7:30 – 8:00 PM Electronic Free Time*
8:00 - Cabin Time*
9:00 - 10:00pm Bed Time
* Our Schedule is flexible to meet everyones school needs,
these times may be used as additional study or homework time as needed
Transportation:
A motorcoach will be available from the Chicagoland area for a $100 fee each way, with stops in Rockford, Il and Madison, WI. Parents are also welcome to drop campers off directly at camp.
Music:
Students are encouraged to bring thier instrument to practice. If online classes are needed we will do our best to allocate time and space.
Electronics:
Unlike regular camp, each student will need to bring their own laptop and a WiFi hotspot device - this can be a cell phone or a hotspot device. Devices served by Verizon, ATT and T-Mobile can provide sufficient internet speeds - if you want to use another carrier you would need to consult them about availability. Campers will be able to use electronics to complete all of their schoolwork. Every evening campers will have 30 minutes of supervised electronic free-time, where they will have the option use their devise to talk to family, friends, or play online. 
Housing:
Five campers will be housed in a heated cabin with one Counselor and a Jr. Counselor. Cabin groups will mostly be students in the same grade level, though some may have two grades.
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Meals:
SNC will provide 3 delicious meals and additional snacks per day. Lunches will be a "bag lunch" to provide flexibility to the cabin to eat where and when they like. Special diets can be accommodated
Camp Store:
SNC camp store will be open weekly. Campers will get a weekly allowance and be able to buy neccesities. Additional fee of $150.00 the unused amount will be returned
Health Care:
Our wonderful camp nurse Melissa will remain at Fall Educational Camp to provide the same health care as during our summer camp.
COVID-19 Plan:
We will be using our same plan that worked during the summer. After a brief period of isolation, we were able to be mask and distance free because we created a safe bubble. Read More.
Counselors
We are excited that many of our experienced counselors from this summer will be returning for Fall Educational Camp. In regards to schooling, over 1/2 of our counselors are studying to be teachers and will assist students at the same level as a parent would help. Counselors will provide social and emotional support and make sure that the children are meeting their educational commitments, but they will leave the teaching to the students' school teachers. Our counselors have agreed to spend the entire Fall Educational Camp session, as well as a two week quarantine at camp before campers arrive to ensure that camp stays COVID free.
We look forward to sharing the beautiful changing colors of the Northwoods with your child this fall. If you have any questions Please give us a call at 630-654-8036 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Please read the Parent Section on our website to understand the philosophy of SNC
If you know any other families that may be interested, please send them the link above. We are first opening up our Fall Educational Camp to the Swift family, however we know that we will also have new families joining us.
SIGN UP TODAY
This summer we created a COVID Free SAFE BUBBLE - Over 200 campers were able to participate in camp. Thanks to self isolation before camp, along with masks and distancing for the first weeks and continual hand washing we were COVID FREE this summer. We can do it again for Fall Educational Camp.
Learning Pods
Student E-Learning is making it difficult for families to schedule Work & Studies In an effort to find a solution many parents are investing ray supplementing their children’s virtual education this fall.
Learning Pods or “pandemic pods” are popping up all over and are a new business They tend to be small, in-person groups of students learning together with the help of an in-person tutor or teacher. Others, create their own pod, from a small group of family or friends and then the pod will move from place to place with each family taking responsibility for the students 2 or 3 times week.
One of these might just be the perfect solution for your family during this difficult time or you might try the Educational Overnight Camp at SNC.
It is summer 2020 and most Moms don’t usually plan summer camps the week of June 1st. No most parents are actively searching for Open Summer Camps in January and February, Today, many parents are frantically searching for overnight summer camp. With Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois severly limiting summer camps for kids it is very difficult creating a dilemma about what to do.
Sure you can look on line and do more of the same with a virtual camp and this is just a way for camps to make lemonade out of lemons while helping parent provide some programing for thier child over the summer months. Having a program that is safe is important and online is one way to do that.
Other camps have gone the route of sending boxes each week to famillies and then the camper will open the box and have a virtual camp session so the child will get some instruction and then do the activities in the box.
Yet to Director Jeff Lorenz of Swift Nature Camp says "In 25 years as a camp Director I have never seen such a situation with parents starting so late to look for camp. COVID-19 has had a terrible effect on childhood and summer camp. So this summer camp in Wisconsin is OPEN"
At Swift Nature Camp in Wi, We are thinking out of the box. Everything we’ve known and done for the past 25 years is out the window, it is time to start over. Our goal is to offer the same activities. But we have to look at how we do that even safely with COVID.
Parents will need that reassurance to feel comfortable sending their kids to an in-person camp or activity. First, we we looked for safety protocols and gudlines from the state, county and the CDC even the American Camp Association has new guidlines. things we explored: What are the screening options? How are they checking temperatures? How are they identifying if kids are becoming sick at camp? Those things are more important to me than what the actual camp is about. We believe our families want clarity upfront about our camps COVID plans. we want to make sure parents feel comfortable putting their kids in an environment around other people and at the same time reavizing COVID could happen at summer camp, so that is another plan.
One thing we know about COVID is children fair much better than adults and they tend to spread it less, that is a bonus. Also we are changing our schedules to do even more outside because UV, Heat & Humidity seem to have a negative effect on the virus. Camp can definitely be able to practice social distancing and keep the kids active and outdoors. Masks will be a big part and washing our hands, not touching our face and sanitation areas around camp. Sleepaway summer camps have a very unique opportunity to create a virus free environment. We will be creating a SAFE BUBBLE where we know what comes in and what goes out. We have total control of our environment.
Yes, Swift Nature Camp is going to be different in the summer of 2020. However, having an open summer camp is so important for children personal growth and development. Overnight summer camps have always provided an important part of a Childs life but after the months of being at home, now more than ever children and parents need Open Summer Camps in the Midwest.
Summer Camp is Coming!
Are you ready for some excitment? Click to See More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTaB8DdkeFc
‘Sleepaway camps have the potential to create a protective bubble,’
says former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb
Jay Jacobs, executive director of Timber Lake Camps, told CNBC’s John Fortt on “Squawk Alley” last week that he is hopeful his camps will run as planned this summer, claiming that there are ways to ensure a protected environment, especially in sleepaway, or residential, camps.
TLC Camps is comprised of seven camps located in Long Island, the Catskill region of New York and northeastern Pennsylvania. His camps serve about 3,000 children.
“You can test your staff before they come to camp. You can test your campers before they come to camp and only accept those with negative tests, so you’ve already locked out Covid-19, at least initially,” he said. “Remember, many resident camps are in rural communities where the prevalence of the virus is not as great as down in the cities or suburbs.”
Quarantine’s effect on kids’ mental health
Some mental health experts believe that the harmful effect of kids in indefinite quarantine outweigh the risk of coronavirus exposure at camp.
“The need for connection is as fundamental a need as our need for food, oxygen and shelter, says humanistic psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, author of “Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization.” “Of course, we must make sure that all children are protected from exposure to the coronavirus, but this protection shouldn’t come at the expense of opportunities for shared play, connection and friendship. The right balance of our needs is necessary to become a fully functioning human being.”
But Denise Daniels, a pediatric oncology nurse and child development expert, says that while she has empathy for the kids hoping to attend summer camp, she has trepidation about them sleeping in bunk beds, sharing showers, making crafts and having meals together on those long wooden tables in the food pavilion.
“I understand what a critical time this is for the mental health and well-being of families after being on lockdown, adhering to social distancing and upholding the endless health rituals of washing hands, coughing and sneezing in elbows, wearing masks and staying six feet apart,” she says. “Lots of kids will be attending virtual summer camps this year, and unbelievably, there are tons of fun activities kids can do outside on Zoom or Skype.”
Camp Young Judaea’s Drobenare agrees. “For the first time, they are creating relationships through a screen and not through touch or eye contact, but I believe that we have to deal the cards that are in front of us right now,” she said.
“If you are asking me to choose between a disease that I’m not sure if it will cause death, or to help these kids somehow build relationships and find hope through a screen, then I think we have to do that and be as creative as we can until we can get through this. It’s not the optimal situation, but I think life outweighs anything else in this type of risk.”
As soon as shelter-in-place orders went into effect in the New York area, Drobenare says she closed Camp Young Judaea and in under two weeks pivoted to create Sprout@Home, a menu of activities including book clubs, yoga classes and online bunk meetups with a counselor.
“We may not be able to be together physically today, but we could be together emotionally and spiritually still,” said Drobenare, who added that a final decision will be made by the end of the month as to whether or not they will run the camps this summer.
Coronavirus-related cases in youth
Headlines swirling the last several weeks about coronavirus-related cases rising among youth is also top of mind for parents and camp directors.
To date at least 110 cases have been reported in New York, and three young people — ages 5, 7 and 18 — have died. Doctors believe the illness — which the CDC now calls multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C — has been reported in at least 19 states and Washington, D.C. It was previously referred to as pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
The condition appears to be a post-viral syndrome caused by a delayed immune system response to the coronavirus that can lead to blood vessel inflammation. The inflammatory disease is similar to Kawasaki disease, an illness most common in young children that causes high fever and swelling in blood vessels. Children may also develop a rash and experience abdominal pain and vomiting.
Most of the kids who have developed the condition are between 5 and 9 years old and have either tested positive for coronavirus or were found to have antibodies, suggesting that they’d previously been infected.
A hopeful decline in late summerng lockdown guidelines in late summer months. When the former FDA commissioner was asked by CNBC’s Tyler Mathisen at the virtual conference if he would let his children swim at a public swimming pool or swim club this summer, he did not commit to an answer but said, “Hopefully there’s going to be a seasonal effect here and we are going to see cases decline in July or August and we can all take a little breather in the summer.”
Nevertheless, he is still very concerned about the fall as the virus settles into a more “seasonal pattern.”
“If you want to be optimistic, last week we had an average of around 27,000 new cases a day and 1,700 deaths. That’s down from about 30,000 cases and 2,000 deaths. But it’s still too early to tell.”
To date the U.S. has nearly 1.46 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 and at least 87,603 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Globally, the death toll has now surpassed 300,000.
Gottlieb, who is a CNBC contributor and sits on the boards of Pfizer and biotech company Illumina, was clear, though, that America still has a long way to go. “At some point, we will get to a level of exposure ... and transmission will start to slow down, but this is still the early innings in this epidemic,” he said.
Until there is a vaccine or the country reaches a level of so-called herd immunity, transmission could continue, said Gottlieb. Herd immunity is achieved when most of the world’s 7.6 billion people are vaccinated or develop the antibodies, giving the virus nowhere to go.
“We should just assume that most people are going to develop a level of immunity that’s going to last a period of time of around a year or perhaps less for some people,” said Gottlieb.
The ACA’s Rosenberg, who is a camp director himself, understands the importance of everyone — children, parents and camp directors — being aligned: “I know that the only way to engage and educate young people is if they feel emotionally and physically safe. If the parents don’t feel that way either, you’re in trouble.”
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Experience the joy of shaping young minds as a camp counselor at an overnight summer camp in Illinois! Join us on a transformative journey where each day brings the chance to positively impact children's lives. Engage in customized activities that spark curiosity and wonder, becoming the inspirational figure who shapes a child's future through laughter and growth. At our Illinois camp, you'll find fulfillment in creating memorable experiences for campers, fostering a sense of community, and embracing the beauty of the great outdoors. Join our team and discover the rewarding adventure of guiding and inspiring the next generation with a summer camp job in Illinois.
Acquire Versatile Life SkillsBeyond the surface of camp activities lies a wealth of invaluable skills applicable to any career path. Whether you're instructing archery or leading nature hikes, you'll refine patience, enhance public speaking abilities, and master the art of effective communication. The lessons learned at camp extend far beyond its grounds, empowering you for life's diverse challenges.
Forge Strong Leadership Abilities
Emerge as a confident leader through comprehensive training uniquely offered by camp counselor positions. Beyond managing children, you'll cultivate leadership qualities grounded in guidance rather than authority. Camp not only nurtures individual growth in campers but also hones your leadership potential, shaping you into a capable leader in any setting.
Immerse Yourself in Nature
Escape to the picturesque landscapes of Illinois and immerse yourself in the wonders of the great outdoors. Spend your summer surrounded by the scenic beauty of nature, from serene lakes to starlit skies, fostering a profound appreciation for the environment and creating lasting memories amidst the tranquil Northwoods.
Experience Unforgettable Growth
Director Since 1996
The Latest Covid News at Camp
2021 COVID-19 SUMMER CAMP PLAN
QUARANTINE CONTRACT- please download and complete
Swift families -
As we all anxiously await the beginning of camp we all need to realize that SNC will be different in 2021. Yes, we ran camp successfully in 2020 with no COVID and plan on doing it again in 2021. Yet, we can not tell you definitively what our COVID-19 plan will be for the summer ahead. So as you read below, understand that we will use the latest science to help us protect our campers in 2021 and that are plans will continuously be changing up till camp time.
2020 RESULTS
THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN 2020
Our goal is to create a protective bubble around camp to protect our children. To accomplish this, we will need to be sure that those coming into camp are COVID free, while keeping the rest of society out of camp. Our main focus is to take care of everyone within that bubble while reducing the impact from the outside COVID world. The strength with which we enforce the plan may seem unfair or difficult but we believe it is what strengthens the protection of our bubble. So apologies up front if you find our plan difficult or inconvenient. It was not our goal to be burdensome on your family, just to keep all safe while providing a summer camp experience.
The basic parts of our plan:
We are going to do everything possible to create a self-contained bubble to protect our camp community.
We will monitor all campers and staff upon arrival and throughout the camp session.
We will ask families to self-isolate their campers for a 12-14 day period before arriving to camp. We will begin each session with a 3 day cabin quarantine, followed by a 4 day modified quarantine.
Sanitizing and cleaning will be at the forefront, and there will be lots of hand washing and hand sanitizing.
There will be times where campers and staff will be asked to wear masks.
Our live - in nurse and the doctor in town will work with us to support any medical needs that campers have.
Some parts of camp won't be fun, like wearing a mask. But we will be next to a shimmering lake, in the woods, among friends and have a ton of activities to participate in.
Lastly, COVID may arrive at camp, but working with our nurse, local doctor and hospitals we believe we can isolate and get campers tested, plus maybe a vaccine maybe available.
Preventative measures :
We are asking all families to self-isolate their campers for 12 days before their arrival at camp. This means that campers should not be leaving the house or playing with friends. If other individuals in the house are working outside the home, we ask that they wear masks and/or adhere to social distancing guidelines within the house. We will provide you with a form (available on (Campdoc) & here to record your child's temperature and any possible symptoms during this time. Our counselors have already arrived at camp and will be isolated here for over 2 weeks before campers arrive. Our counselors have agreed not to leave camp for the entire 10 weeks that they will be working this summer.
Additional things we are doing to stop COVID:
We will have additional PPE for any staff performing healthcare duties and will have additional hand sanitizer, soap, and cleaning supplies to use as necessary.
Cabins will be sterilized with UV light during meals when all campers are out of the cabin.
We will be keeping windows and doors (with screens) open at all times to promote fresh air circulation through buildings.
Travel by SNC Motor Coach
For campers that are taking the bus, their luggage aside from a carry on with a packed lunch should be placed in the trunk. We will ask that parents do not get out of the car. Campers will be expected to wear a face covering, and camp staff will be wearing a face covering as well. Camp staff members will check the camper's temperature and ask about any symptoms. Assuming things are clear, the camper will then get out with their carry on to board the bus. Camp staff members will retrieve luggage from the trunk and load it onto the bus. There will be assigned seating on the bus and campers will be asked to wear a face covering aside from when they are eating, and we will ask campers to bring a packed lunch so that there will be no need to stop for food. Continous movies will be showing to help pass the time.
Driving TO Camp
If you are driving your camper to camp, please place your luggage in the trunk. We will ask that parents do not get out of the car and that campers are wearing a face covering. A staff member will screen your child while they are in the vehicle and then they will be able to get out and staff will help them to unload their luggage from the vehicle. We would ask that while you travel to camp, you minimize stops as much as possible and wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing guidelines if you need to be in public. We recommend packing meals and snacks and only stopping as necessary for restroom visits and gas. Please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently.
Driving FROM Camp
If you are driving to get your camper we are allowing you to get out of your car and walk around camp. Please do not go into any buildings and keep 6 ft from others while at camp and please bring a mask.
Flying to Camp
If your camper will be flying to camp, please contact us so that we can discuss the safest way to fly and how to keep your child safe while protecting our safe bubble.
Quarantining at Camp
When camp starts, all campers and staff will be wearing face coverings. Progressive quarantining is our plan. We will keep campers in their small cabin groups for the first parts of camp and gradually widen their circle of contact to include other cabins at camp. These quarantines will be fun and filled with activities, so it’s more than just sitting in the basement staring at a screen.
For the first 3 days of camp, campers and staff will wear face coverings whenever they are inside and not eating or sleeping, or are outside and cannot physically distance. Campers will be with their cabin for all activities for these first 3 days, with the exception of a few outdoor activities where everyone can be physically distanced. We will be screening everyone's temperature with a touchless thermometer before each meal. Cabin bathroom visits will be scheduled to minimize interaction between groups.
For days 4-7 of camp, campers will wear masks when they are inside with other cabin groups or are outside and cannot physically distance from other camper groups. When campers are only with members of their cabin, face coverings will not be required. We will screen temperatures once a day and group bathroom visits will continue to be scheduled.
At day 8 till the end of the session face covering and other requirements may be lifted or extended based on the guidance of our live- in nurse and the results from the first 7 days.
Staying Between Session:
We will not be allowing any outside visitors on camp between sessions. Campers that are staying for more than one session will need to remain on camp between sessions, because their first session at camp will essentially qualify as their 12 day before camp quarantine. Between session care is available at a charge of $150.
Dining Hall:
We know that the indoors create a time of risk. Here are some things we are doing in our Dining hall. First, we will wash our hands and wait to be called in to the Dining hall by cabin group. Campers will be asked to wear masks when they gather before meals while temperature checks are happening. Grace and other songs will be sung outside before entering the Dining hall. Campers and staff will remove their masks after all food is served. Tables will be separated from other tables by at least a 6 foot difference. The dinning hall will be sanitized with a fogger once a day and cleaned before and after each meal. After leaving, all campers’ hands will be sanitized. Windows will remain open promoting air flow.
Bathrooms:
Bathroom trips will be scheduled by cabin group for the first days to limit group mixing. Our bathrooms are large enough that campers can maintain distances during individual bathroom trips.
Activities:
All campers will wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer before and after any activity. For the first 7 days, instructor staff will wear face coverings when teaching indoors or during outdoor activities that require close physical contact. (We can't realistically have someone teach a swimming lesson with a mask, but an archery instructor should wear one if they are close to campers to distribute equipment or help them to adjust their form.
What happens if we suspect COVID:
If a camper or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19 at camp, they will be quickly isolated, and we will arrange for them to be tested for COVID-19. If they test positive, we will continue to isolate them from the rest of camp, and will ask you to arrange for their travel home within 24 hours. In cases where that is not possible, we will work with you to find a solution. If a camper tests positive, we will have all individuals in the cabin tested as well. If a camper needs further care for severe symptoms, we would take them to the hospital in Spooner or Hayward, and for more serious issues, transport to a hospital in Duluth, MN can be arranged.
What we need from you:
Success depends on you. We need you to believe that what you are doing will have an impact on your child and every other child at camp. So please take the 12 day isolation seriously. All it takes is a parent to fudge his documents and the next thing you know our camp is shut down and every child is sent home. No parent wants that.
Helpful Hints:
Please send your camper with 2-4 cloth face coverings. We recommend buffs for this purpose because they can be worn around the neck as well, making them easy to keep track of. We would not recommend disposable masks. If you choose to send disposable masks with your camper, you should expect them to go through several a day when taking into account hot weather and varied activities. Have them pack an extra pair of warm pajamas or an extra blanket to keep warm on any chilly nights. Make sure to send a sturdy water bottle, we will not be using any water fountains at camp. Your camper may want hand cream or lotion to help with any dryness from extra hand washing.
COVID Waiver:
We will be asking all families to sign a waiver that they understand the risks associated with Covid-19 and that in no way can SNC guarantee a COVID free summer for your child. But we will do our best.
Camper Responsibility:
Please note, we will be taking these policies very seriously, more serious than any other activity at camp. Please review this list with your campers to make sure that they are prepared and emotionally mature enough to handle the changing requirements in camp areas. You know your child best, and we trust you to decide if they can handle the responsibility of helping to keep everyone at camp safe. If after repeated chances your child is unable to follow instructions, keep a mask on or cannot social distance, you may be asked to come and pick up your child with no refund. Practice wearing a comfortable mask (face covering) before hand so your child is used to it.
Last Day to Enroll
because campers will need to isolat we will be closing enrolment 14 days prior to the start of each session. Thank you for your understanding.
If you have questions or want to chat about any of our new COVID-19 mitigation protocols or have any other questions about camp, please contact us. The easiest and most reliable way to contact us is to send us an e-mail. You are also welcome to call at any time (715.466.5666), but we are often out of the office getting things done around camp and you may need to leave a message.
We believe that all campers that returns home from camp should isolate and not go to see older adults for 2 weeks especially those that may have extenuating conditions that do not react well to COVID.
If you are still considering whether to register for camp or not, please know that we will be closing registration at 13 days before each session begins to allow families to quarantine their campers for the requested 12 days.
We are grateful for all of our camp families and are committed to making sure our campers can have a safe and fun summer, and allow them to spend much needed time being active outside.
5/23/2020. COVID-19
Dear Swift Families -
I hope this message finds you healthy and happy! We have arrived at camp with our staff and have already started working with them on how we are going to make this summer fun and safe.
So many activities that our children participate in have been changed or cancelled in the last few months. We want to assure you that while we are making some changes to meet the unique safety concerns posed by Covid-19, we would not choose to run our program if we could not ensure that we will be providing a fun and exciting experience. We've been working with experts to make sure that we can protect the physical health of our campers and staff while providing them with a much needed outdoor summer experience to refresh their mental and emotional health.
We want to meet with you again online on a ZOOM MEETING FRIDAY At 6:30 so that we can answer all of your questions and tell you more about precautions we are taking and some things that will change. We want to assure you and your children that Swift will absolutely still be a fun place to be this summer.
We'd like to give you some examples & information to guide you and and perhaps help you to organize any questions that you might have. Some of the precautions that we are taking will have no or very minimal affects on the camp program. For example, we will be asking you to self-quarantine your camper for 10-12 days before arriving at camp. Our staff are doing an additional quarantine at camp before any campers arrive, and they have commited to spending their entire summer on camp property to make sure that they won't be exposed to other people, allowing them to maintain a "safety bubble" at camp. We'll be using UV light and environmentally friendly disinfectant sprayers to clean supplies, equipment and sanitize living areas several times a day.
We are lucky that our program is based on nature and the outdoors, so most of our activities take place outside. Studies have shown the risk of transmission of the covid-19 virus are extremely low in outdoor environments. A few examples of how things might change camp schedule/activity wise:
We will be treating all of our cabins as "family units", so for the first few days we will maximize the time spent in these small groups. This is only a slight extension of what we would do normally - we've always prioritized time together as a cabin during the first few days at camp so that cabin mates can bond as a group. Instructors at all of our activities will teach in ways that promote distancing. Campers at the nature center can learn about camouflage through games where they hide in the woods using camouflage themselves. Campers can learn about survival skills by spreading out and building shelters or learning how to create a solar still to collect fresh water. Campers at boating may demonstrate their skills by playing a game of follow the leader instead of a game where they boats could be side by side.
Some activities won't really need to change at all from the camper facing side of things. Swimming is considered to be a very low risk activity - we will sterilize equipment like water toys as needed, but our swimming is outside, in a well ventilated environment (the breeze near the lake is great) and on sunny days the natural UV light speed the denaturing of the virus. At an activity like archery, campers are already distanced for safety reasons, and our instructors will be outfitted with hand sanitizer so that campers can cleanse their hands before and after using equipment.
And some things will change in ways that we are really quite excited about - brainstorming ways to promote physical distancing have lead us to come up with ideas that could change camp routines in fun ways. Now we want to be able to pull some of these surprises out of our sleeves while at camp so to maintain our campers excitement levels and give them new and exciting things to write home to you about. But to give you an example, during camp we historically have eaten nearly all our meals together in the dining hall. We'll still be eating there commonly but this year we will be asking campers and staff to wear masks in certain as they enter, exit and while they are waiting to be served. It's likely that we will wear mask for singing grace together in the dining hall. But cabins will also have the chance to have new experiences at meals. Instead of eating lunch in the dining hall for the 10th day in a row, they might get a packed picnic lunch to have with their cabin outside. Campers might decide to have lunch near the bog, where they can watch the turtles that are almost always sunning themselves around lunchtime each day. Another group might decide to head out on a couple of rowboats and have a floating lunch in the middle of the lake. With a lifeguard, a cabin might even choose to set up their lunch on the dock in the swimming area and eat while sitting in the shallow water.
From the administrative side of things, we want you to know all of the things that we are doing to keep everyone at camp safe, and we want to make sure our campers feel safe at camp - we know that many of them have had increased anxiety over the past few months. And that is where the fun comes in - we can keep our campers safe while making sure that they can still be kids. Some of the things at camp won't have to change at all. Some of the things will be slightly different. And some of the things will be new and inspired in exciting ways that we can't wait to share with your children.
Thank you for planning to share your children with us for the summer, we can't wait to meet our new campers and be reunited with our old friends.
Lonnie & Jeff Lorenz
Swift Nature Camp
http://SNC.Camp
715-466-5666
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Covid-19 has caused a huge disruption in the world and as we begin a recovery Parents wonder if summer camp is safe. Over 30% of the summer camps have closed for the summer because they felt it was impossible to tame this virus. At Swift Nature Camp we will remain open because we see things differently, we know this virus has devastating effects the elderly and those with conditions. Our goal is to create a "safe bubble" that will keep kids safe. This concept was recently mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article ByAaron E. Carroll
Here is just a part of that article:
Overnight camp is different. It’s both safer and riskier.
As we work on getting our COVID-19 Plan together we know it will include Testing Isolation & Sanitation, Here are a few safety measures SNC will implement:
TESTING
1) Pre Camp-Campers and staff-must be tested for Covid-19
2) Pre Camp-All Campers and Staff Must isolate for 10 days
3) Daily Temperatures checks at meal times
4) Requiring campers and staff to have no underlying health conditions.
SANITATION
5 ) Hand sanitizing will be done before each activity
6) Using a fogger, we will sanitize all of camp 1-3 times a day
7) UVC lights will be used in building during off times to kill virus
ISOLATION
8 ) Encouraging campers and staff to physically distance
9) Limited out of camp trips.
10) More space between bunks in cabins
This is just an overview of some of the things we will be doing this summer to keep our campers safe. If you have questions or would like to chat more please give us a call. Our COVID-19 Plan will be released in early June. Best to all and stay safe.
HERE IA A GREAT ARTICLE
Summer Is Approaching. Bring Camp Back.
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Our plan is to have Overnight Summer Camp in 2020, here is what we are thinking to keep our campers safe from Coronavirus.
Dear Swift Families,
Like all of you, we are looking forward to being together at Swift this summer. Our weekly Zoom meetings, filled with smiling faces and fun activities only reinforce how much we all want our Northwoods camp community to be open this summer.
*SUMMER 2020* --All the planning in the world cannot tell us what this summer will look like. It seems that this pandemic has taught us all to be a bit more flexible and patient. Thank you to our camp families who have been extremely patient. It is early May and we have only had a few families drop from camp while during the same time we have had more than 10 campers join, despite the unclear future. Like many of you, we have been following all the projections, updates, and spending too many hours watching news conferences.
Swift Nature Camp is not alone, weekly the MAIC (Midwest Association Of Independent Summer Camps) meets on Zoom to discuss options to make camp a safe place during COVID-19. Anxiously, we await a report with guidelines for overnight summer camps from the CDC, the American Camp Association, the state of Wisconsin and the local county Health Dept. (so far one case in our camp county). These guidelines will give us a better understanding of what we are facing for this summer, but won’t give us a complete answer. Insiders have told us that the CDC expects to have guidelines for overnight camps out by Mid-May. Still many camps across the country have already suspended programming but most in Wisconsin, like us, are remaining patient, flexible and are still hoping for a safe summer season.
*SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT* --Without guidance from the CDC and others, we have no idea what camp will look like in 2020. All we know is that SNC along with our camp families must remain flexible. We know we will need to adapt our programs, policies and procedures to meet the standards being developed to keep us all safe. The good news is our start date is still more than 6 weeks away and we pray the world could look very different by then.
*NEXT UPDATE* --We will give another update by May 20th.
*HOW WE ARE DECIDING* --When we consider if camp will happen in 2020 we look at three guiding principles.
- Safety - Camper and staff safety are always our number one concern.
- Service - We believe camp is needed now more than ever. Children need some face to face interactions (more than with just their family), they need community and they need to leave their screen for a bit of time and get outdoors.
- Sustainability - Let’s be truthful. This pandemic is financially challenging for many of you and SNC as well. Many businesses and summer camps across the country likely won’t survive this pandemic. We hope not to be this statistic and without the expected summer tuition revenue that path is unclear at this time. It is going to be hard, but we hope we will all find a way through this pandemic.
*WHAT WE ARE THINKING* --Right now the world is more uncertain than ever. Many of us are scared, lonely, and unsure of what the future holds. The longer COVID-19 goes on, there will be increased grief, depression, anxiety, and mental health struggles. All very challenging to children and adults alike.
We know SNC is full of compassionate campers, caregivers, donors, families, and staff.
We will continue to keep you informed and provide what we can. We ask of you patience and flexibility along with your continued support of SNC.
Please give a Hug to your children from us.
Lonnie & Jeff
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Coronavirus Guidelines For Summer Camps 3/1/20
At Swift Nature Camp we are certainly concerned how the Coronavirus scenario will play out over the next 3 months . We are hoping that it will come and leave quickly with few casualties and camp will continue as normal. Like most areas these day it is a "wait and see situation". In an effort to keep campers and staff safe at this time we are making provisions that will include
1) All campers and staff complete a pre-screening through our online health forms program
- 2) All campers and staff are screened upon arrival at the program; and Our trained and caring staff work closely with villagers throughout their stay to ensure their overall well-being.
- 3) Disinfecting areas and encouraging good hygiene among all participants.
4) Stepping up personal hygene
5) Being aware of personal space
6 Quarantining those that have a temp over 100.
7) Giving more assistances to the camp Nurse and the Heath Center.
We will continue to closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Minnesota Department of Health and U.S. Department of State and will continue to seek guidance from these agencies and public health officials.
Despite concerns, We are encouraging parents to still enroll, because last year we did have to turn campers away due to being full. Should camp be canceled, refunds will be available. However, we are going to do everything possible to provide camp with safe conditions for all. I recently found the below article from USA Today about Coronavirus and Summer Camps it provides good advice for all.
As spring break nears, camp nurses issue coronavirus guidelines for vacation camps
USA TODAY
The coronavirus, which has led to school closures and a run on stores as shoppers frantically stock up on hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other necessities, may impact yet another aspect of American life: camp.
With spring break around the corner, families are making plans. But the outbreak of COVID-19, which has led to nine deaths in the U.S. and sickened tens of thousands worldwide, is leading some to consider postponing vacations. And it could make some parents think twice before enrolling their kids in vacation programs as well.
Outbreaks of illness, from the flu to strep throat, are always possible in a camp setting. But the coronavirus, which has no vaccine and is currently gripping headlines, may be particularly worrying to some camp goers.
The Association of Camp Nursing has posted guidance for camp officials, noting that information about the virus “is a moving target.’’
Among the tips:
Skip the first day if you have symptoms
Besides encouraging camp managers to frequently check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website for updates, the group encouraged them to tell families to keep children at home if they're experiencing a fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms. They should do the same if they've been exposed to the virus. Families should also be made aware of how the program will deal with a child who comes to camp with symptoms, whether they will be "allowed to stay at camp, not allowed to stay, and isolation policies,'' the association's guidance said.
Consider your own screening
When campers and staff members arrive, they should be asked if they have shown any signs of the virus, where they have traveled recently, and if they might have been exposed. Camp managers might also consider checking the temperatures of camp participants and workers as they arrive. And there should be a protocol for trying to keep the camp illness free, from scrubbing surfaces to making sure there's plenty of sanitizers as well as soap and water.
Camp workers should monitor their own health
Make sure staff is vigilant about their own health as well as that of others. “Have staff evaluate themselves every morning for any influenza-like illness,’’ the guidance says. Also, make sure the camp's team understands the importance of hygiene, such as frequently washing their hands and coughing into the crook of their arms.
Know what to do if there's an outbreak
The association recommends checking its site and others, such as the World Health Association's to get tips on how to prepare for instances of illness. Camp supervisors should also reach out to local health officials if they have questions.
Past lessons could help with COVID-19
"Flu currently poses more risk to campers (and) staff than COVID-19,'' the association's guidance says. "Classic, communicable disease personal protection behaviors help reduce exposure impacts from COVID-19 just as they do for other illnesses. Make sure people use them.''
At Swift Nature Camp our campers tend to be those smart kids who like to learn and since they have no screens, they have plenty of time to read. At this old fashioned summer camp we have an achievement award for those campers that read while at summer camp. It takes a little prioritizing but their are plenty of opportunities to read, before bed, quiet time and even outside during activities. Our camp library is loaded with books that campers can choose from. However recently I found this article with a list of books that you might want to give your camper to read at camp
Summer Camps Activities 2020: Campers, Be Sure To Pack These Books This Summer
Sleeping bag: check! Flashlight: check! Books to read …
For children and teens not sure what books to bring to their overnight camp this summer, C.H. Booth Library’s librarians have them covered.
Children’s Librarian Alana Bennison and Young Adult Librarian Catherine Findorak have crafted a list of camp-specific books that will be sure to keep pages turning well after the campfires have died out and the counselors have called lights out.
Young Readers: First Through Third Grade
Camp would not be complete without some ghost stories, and The End of Orson Eerie? by Jack Chabert helps with just that. The spooky book is part of the Eerie Elementary Series, which consists of easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page.
Another popular children’s book series is the Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruel. It features Bad Kitty Camp Daze, which chronicles the hubbub that ensures when the main character, Kitty, bonks her head, causing her to act like a dog, and gets sent to Uncle Murray’s dog camp.
Grow Grateful by Safe Foster-Lasser and Jon Lasser is a lighthearted read for children that features character Kiko embarking on a campingq trip with her class where she learns about gratitude. The book even provides advice and tips for mindfulness and being grateful.
Campers looking for a heart-racing, white-knuckle inducing story can check out I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 by Lauren Tarshis. There, the readers will learn the dangerous tale of an 11-year-old girl coming face-to-face with a grizzly bear in the wild.
Another book shining light on the great outdoors is The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock. The book highlights the true story of President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir’s trip to Yosemite in 1903.
Middle Grade: Fourth Through Sixth Grade
Fans of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes will enjoy the follow up book Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier. The fictional journey takes the characters on an adventure they will never forget.
Out of the Wild Night by Blue Balliett will keep readers on their toes as they read about ghosts who select a group of children to help save the island of Nantucket.
Released just last September, The Light in the Lake by Sarah Baughman is perfect for campers by the water. It tells the tale of a 12-year-old girl studying Maple Lake’s pollution; what she discovers will cause her to make a pivotal choice.
The great outdoors is the setting in The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, where a robot named Rozzum unit 7134 — also known as Roz — finds herself on an isolated island where she has to find a way to survive in nature.
Waste of Space by Stuart Gibbs is the third and final installment in the New York Times bestselling Moon Base Alpha series. As exciting as it is to travel the world, this book takes readers on an adventure in space to solve a murder and rescue the moon base commander.
Fans of Kelly Barnhill, Michael Buckley, Adam Gidwitz, Adele Griffin, Lisa Brown, Claire Legrand, Nikki Loftin, Daniel José Older, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, and Rita Williams-Garcia will be delighted to read Guys Read: Terrifying Tales edited by Jon Scieszka. The book features a collection of ghosts stories from each author with illustrations by Gris Grimly.
Those looking for a fright in the night can also dive into The Haunting of Henry Davis by Kathryn Siebel about two kids who meet a ghost named Edgar. The duo goes on an adventure to find out who Edgar was when he was alive and why he has chosen to haunt Henry now.
Grades 5 And Up
A popular young adult series capturing the hearts and attention of graphic novel readers is Lumberjanes, Volume 1 to 13, by Noelle Stevenson. The series features five teenage best friends at Scout camp who go on adventures solving mysteries and fighting monsters.
Another graphic novel sure to delight older campers is the coming-of-age story All Summer Long written and illustrated by Hope Larson. When her best friend leaves for summer camp and our protagonist Bina is left to figure out how to spend her time, she discovers a new friendship based on a mutual love of music.
Grades 8 And Up
With the last book in the “Arc of a Scythe” trilogy by Neal Shusterman finally released last November, campers can binge-read all three books — Scythe, Thunderhead, and The Toll. The dark series takes readers to a fictional world where humanity has conquered everything from hunger and disease to war, and even death. Two teens must apprentice with a scythe, whose job it is to take people’s lives, and if they fail, their own lives could be at stake.
The graphic novel This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki tackles some adult content as its main character, Rose, goes through the turbulence of fighting parents and the unexpected discovery of an older teenager being involved in something life threatening.
So, children and teens heading off to overnight camp this summer will need to be sure to scoot over their toothbrush and socks to leave a designated spot in their knapsack for these page-turning reads.
Today, the environment is part of every political conversation, especially global warming. Yet, despite science a large number of people do not believe that it is a relevant issue. As the Director of an overnight summer camp with a science and nature focus, I find this amazing. I have said for years that if children come to a Nature Camp they will grow up with an understanding of nature. But more importantly they will develop a reason to preserve and protect the environment, even if it is for selfish reasons of having a place to do recreational outdoor activities, although I would hope it would be for more.
Surprisingly, research now confirms my thoughts. In a recent UK study it showed that based on data from more than 24,000 people in the UK, found that more frequent visits to nature for recreation resulted in greater appreciation of the natural world were strong predictors of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). Additionally, urban residents with high neighborhood greenspace reported more environmentally friendly behaviors than those in low greenspace neighborhoods.*
As a parent, if you want to create positive long term environmental effects, one of the best way is to send your child to a Nature Summer Camp not unlike Swift Nature Camp. It may just be one of the best things you can do for your child and the environment.
*Alcock et al. 2020. Associations between pro-environmental behavior and neighborhood nature, nature visit frequency and nature appreciation: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in England.
As the owner of Swift Nature Camp for over 25 year we have seen many changes in why parents send thier children to Overnight Summer Camp. Prior to cell phones and tablets parents were excited that children would be able to live with other kids in a fun and supportive way, while being out in nature away from city life. While the parents often got to travel or participate in other fun things for themselves. But around 2008 or so, parents begun to look at summer camps as a way to get children off their electronic devices. Parents often tell us that it is the "removal of cell phones that makes SNC Special". They especially enjoy that a technology break encourages children to be more active and not as sedentary plus they will make face to face connections. These skills are important for children to learn at a young age so they do not get addicted to technology like the rest of us. No doubt technology is a very important part of our lives these days but we as parents need to harness that power to make it an advantage rather than a demon.
Here are a few ideas that will help us.
1-Use a Video Tutorial for a Family Activity- This day and age we all use "how to videos" to do projects. I have repaired a car with my son after watching a video together. You could use the same to bake a cake or make a pizza as a family activity? This will make the activity more fun and you will be teaching your children you don't know everything and how to use your resources. .
2-Become a Director- Some evening when the family is all together rather than everyone going to their own devise shoot a movie together. Together come up with a skit or idea where kids could play their favorite characters and the older kids together even parents should get involved. Years from today the family will look back at these videos and it will bring a smile to their everyones face. Be sure not to get to crazy on perfection have fun with it and let the mistakes enter in, it will only be more fun in the future.
3-Change your communication- Texts are impersonal and often unclear to children. I much prefer the app MarcoPolo as a way to communicate. It provides Face to face interactions is very important, especially for your growing kids. It can affect the level of their confidence and the way they interact with other people rather than the abbreviated language of texts. Remember, seeing you and hearing your voice builds a stronger connection than a instant message regardless how sweet you make it.
4-Family Organizer Apps- Cozi Family Organizer has a wide range of really useful functions that you could use a family, such as managing family tasks lists, sending reminders of important family schedules and personal events and even make games out of chores. Why is this important Today children want to know in advance and do not like surprises, so it helps with anxiety. It also helps them become responsible for daily routines and one thing we have learned at Swift Nature Camp, kids do best with structure and routines.
Finally, I believe a wonderful thing all parents need to do is role model how to be independent of their device. Set a day or even a time each day, that everyone will put down their tablets and be together as family. Because after all, that is one of the main reason parents send their children to overnight camp - to put down their device be less dependent on technology and more dependent on relationships.
