Dear Campers and Families,
It is with great sadness that we announce that, in light of recent recommendations from the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, we will be suspending Camp Narnia for the 2020 season.
Before we get into any details, we have two things to say.
Firstly: Thank you. During this difficult time of great uncertainty, we have received dozens of messages of hope, encouragement, and enthusiasm for Camp Narnia. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support.
Secondly: Camp Narnia will be back. There are now only a few of us left at camp who are old enough to remember when Narnia closed, indefinitely, in 2006. This time, things are very different. Camp Narnia is not going anywhere, and we will be using the time we have to make our next summer better than ever before. To all those campers who have dreamed of upcoming adventures, know that we staff are dreaming too, and we can’t wait until it is safe to travel through the Wardrobe together again. Until then, don’t forget that you are Kings, Queens, and Royalty in Narnia.
Onto more practical matters…
Refunds
All camp fees are entitled to a 100% refund, as per our COVID-19 policy. All remainder payments will be cancelled, and we will be working this week on supplying refunds to all families. This involves some more complex banking than we are used to, and so we appreciate your patience as we sort out these extra details. If you need your refund urgently, please reach out to [email protected] and we will be sure to fast-track you.
Supporting Camp Narnia
As a private business, we do not solicit donations. We greatly appreciate the offers of support already made by individual families to help us through these trying times, and are humbled by these displays of generosity. Pending official guidelines from the BC Ministry of Health, we will be exploring options this summer for new ways that we can engage the camp community and raise a little money to help offset the costs already incurred this season. For now, the best way that you can support Camp Narnia is to talk about it often, hang your cabin photos on the fridge, wear your T-shirts with pride, and register again for camp next year.
Once again we want to thank you, our camp community, for your ongoing support.
To our young campers we say, as always, Do Your Best And Enjoy Every Step… and remember the wise words of Puddleglum the Marshwiggle: “I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.” Keep an eye out for Fauns in the woods and watch for Trumpkin’s pointy hat poking out from the hedges. Narnia may be slumbering this year, but there is magic all around for those who care to look!
With gratitude,
Sam and Joel
Camp Directors
Camp Narnia
CHEK News: Overnight summer camps won’t be allowed in BC this summer.
“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”
-C. S. Lewis
Previous Update
Dear Parents and Campers,
We hope that all of you are keeping safe and managing to enjoy some of this good weather. We on the Camp Narnia team are all faring well, and feeling deeply appreciative for the camp friends, connections and memories that keep our days interesting.
As of right now, Camp Narnia is planning on running this summer. If possible, Camp Narnia will run in August 2020. This, however, is not a situation in our control, and we will find out in the coming weeks and months about whether summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming August. We are actively monitoring all government orders and advisories; as we get closer to August, we’ll have a better sense of what action is appropriate.
Here is what we can offer to families whose summer is uncertain:
- Full Refunds available at any time
For those families experiencing financial hardship, Camp Narnia will offer 100% refunds at any time to families who have paid for a spot at camp this summer. This offer is good until the minute your child is dropped-off at camp and in our care.
- We are planning for Camp
Because of our amazing volunteer staff, our dedicated cooks, and the flexibility of the property we operate on, we don’t need to take any major risks to prepare for camp to happen. We are in the safe position to watch and wait, knowing that if it is safe, we have everything we need to run our camp this summer.
Also, rest assured, that if there is no camp season in 2020, we will be back in 2021 without fail.
- When we know, you’ll know
Camp Narnia will be cancelled if government orders forbid gatherings of up to 100 people in August 2020, or if we have reason to believe that running the camp would provide a too high a health risk to our staff and campers. As soon as we know how we will proceed, we will contact all parents and campers directly.
For now, take care of yourselves and your families, and don’t hesitate if there is anything your camp community can do to make these crazy days a little more pleasant. With any luck, we’ll be gathered on the dancing lawn in a few month’s time, having another safe, fun and memorable summer! Whatever happens, we will be your summer camp regardless, and do whatever we can to bring some camp magic to your summer this year.
Do Your Best and Enjoy Every Step,
Sam and Joel
Camp Narnia
