Displaying items by tag: covid 19 outbreak
In the past five months, many people have communicated different versions of a similar quote: "we will never know if we did too much, but we will know quite clearly if we did too little." Now at over two weeks past the end of the summer camp season, Jeff Lorenz, owner/director of Swift Nature Camp located in Minong, WI, cannot say if his carefully selected, hard-working staff did too much, but he can now confidently say that they did not do too little. He states "Can we, with scientific certainty, state that we didn't have any COVID-19 cases at camp? No, we can't. But what we can say is that if an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive camper or staff member arrived at camp, our extensive precautionary measures kept the virus from spreading. Furthermore, at over 14 days out from the last day of camp, no viral transmission has been linked to a camper or staff member from this summer at camp."
Nearly 200 campers made Swift Nature Camp their Wisconsin summer camp that held off COVID-19 summer home this year. Some were returning campers from many years, while others were new campers spending their first summer at camp. Many chose Swift because a camp they had attended previously had closed for the summer. Regardless of the reason for selecting Swift Nature Camp to provide a summer camp experience for their child, parents chose Swift because they trusted the procedures that the camp outlined would keep their children safe. Mr. Lorenz stated "It was definitely nerve-wracking planning summer camp during a pandemic, but by following (and in some cases exceeding) the safety recommendations from the American Camp Association and other organizations, we didn't feel that it would be impossible. Our goal was to create a bubble of safety surrounding our small camp community."
The successful season at Swift Nature Camp started with relying on families - all campers were required to do a strict home-quarantine for the two weeks before the beginning of each session. The camp provided a form for families to document camper temperatures and any symptoms each day before arriving at camp. Once the campers arrived at camp, they were assigned to small groups that stayed together for activities. Jeff Lorenz shared: "This was a change for our returning campers, who were used to having more freedom to choose their schedule individually in the afternoon. But after months of being cooped up at home, all of the children were thrilled to be at camp - running around outside, swimming, interacting with peers and just having an old-fashioned good time."
While home quarantine provided some security, there were additional, strict precautions at the beginning of each session. Staff scheduled bathroom times for showering and teeth-brushing and there was a rigorous schedule of hand-washing before and after each meal and activity session. Each camper and staff member was temperature checked before every meal, and all camp activities were changed to keep the small cabin groups together. For a few days, the campers wore masks at all times when not sleeping or eating, but after those few days, they were allowed to go mask free when they were with only other members of their cabin groups. Jeff Lorenz elaborated: "In addition to the front-side safety plans that the campers could see, there was a lot of background work from the administrative side to keep things safe. We operated camp as much like a cruise ship as much as possible - once we had everyone at camp, we didn't allow outsiders in and we didn't leave either. Instead of running to the grocery or hardware store when we needed something, we'd find a way to order things to be delivered. The small-town post office that serves camp worked with us to manage the increased volume of mail. Mail delivery workers would leave packages at the bottom of our driveway and we would use a cart to bring them into camp. Food distributors left deliveries outside in designated areas and our culinary staff would bring them in once the delivery person had departed."
Mr Lorenz further shared: "What really made this summer work was our amazing staff and the commitments that they made to ensure a successful season." The camp hired extra staff members for the summer to meet the extra workload of keeping things safe and clean. Staff members made sure to disinfect areas and equipment religiously. The camp used a combination of a hydrogen peroxide fogger, UV lights, bleach solutions and in some cases, sunlight to keep equipment and areas virus free for campers and staff. The camp staff agreed to not leave the camp property for the entire camp season - including a two week quarantine before campers arrived, they didn't leave the camp property for ten weeks.
"The most exciting part of camp was that because of our long sessions, the campers were able to go maskless and freely mix after a period of careful precautions." said Jeff Lorenz. He shared further: "I'm pretty sure that the roar of celebration the day that we announced we could be completely mask-free and freely mix between groups was heard by our neighbors up and down the lake." The time that children were able to spend freely with friends and outdoors was clearly exactly what they needed. Parents reported that their children returned from camp refreshed and in good spirits - their emotional need for physical interaction had been met, and with that came the return of the children's happiness and normal personalities. For Lorenz, this was confirmation that the incredible work and discipline required for a safe camp experience was worth it. "It was not easy" he stated, "But this summer, we were able to turn sanitizer into smiles."
The Best way to do distance learning is in a Pandemic Pod at a School/Camp
Spots for males only
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.
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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.
