Camp Gitchigomee

While it saddens all members of the Board of Directors to share, it has been decided that we will once again not be running our regularly scheduled children’s camps during the summer of 2021. After almost a year of hoping, following precautions, and monitoring the local COVID-19 situation, we have determined that our current situation and 2021 projections are not conducive to the environment necessary to plan and run our camps this July. Similarly, our 75th Anniversary celebr...ations originally scheduled for August 2020 have been postponed until July 29th Aug 1st, 2022 and we are very much looking forward to the expectation that we will be able to safely gather at this time. Please check our website, Facebook, Instagram, or email us at [email protected] to sign up to receive our new tri-annual newsletter for updates. As always, the health and safety of our campers and staff is our top priority. Whether battling physical, mental, or emotional strain during this uncertain time, we can take comfort that the Lord loves and restores: "Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security" (Jeremiah 33:6). Camp Gitchigomee’s Rental Coordinator will continue to follow all direction provided by our local Health Authority as changes may occur; at this point, we are offering rental groups our non-power/water option throughout the summer of 2021. For more information on rental rates or to contact our rental coordinator, please see our website. The Board would also like to announce to its membership that the 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held on March 23rd, 2021 at 7:00pm via Zoom. We welcome all members and camp supporters to attend. Links and directions to attend will be sent with the agenda and our AGM reports closer to the date. If you have not been receiving email correspondence from us regarding our monthly meetings and would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us at [email protected] at your earliest convenience to let us know. Lastly, we would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to all members, volunteers, and supporters for your ongoing dedication to the camp mission, even during our unanticipated prolonged off-season. This camp is only made possible through the generous donations of time, money, and prayer from our incredible camp community. We hope that you remain safe and well, knowing that you are in our prayers, Camp Gitchigomee Board of Directors

It’s that time again! We are very much looking forward to seeing many faces we’ve missed all year. If you need the link and materials for the meeting tomorrow, please email [email protected] and we will send them your way!

Congratulations to Rev. Jonathan on this new appointment!

Happy Early Valentine’s! Due to our province’s current stay-at-home orders, we are extending the usual deadline to become a 2021 member with voting privileges until FEBRUARY 15th! Let us know if you need the membership application forms sent to your email or physically dropped off to you and then picked up - contact free! All membership support is appreciated

The first winter edition of our newsletter - the Gitchigomee Gab - is out now! If you did not get a copy emailed to you and you want one, email us today at [email protected]! Lots of info in this edition INCLUDING a reminder to get your membership applications/renewals in asap. Email us today if you need an application or have any questions!

If you are able to partake in this Christmas Baking Fundraiser being put on by St. Thomas’ ACW and MU in any way, they would appreciate it if you could get in touch

We still have special 2020 logs available by donation! If you or your child were missing camp G this summer, this is the perfect keepsake to remember the strange year and support the camp for the future. *Suggested* donation of $5. Send us a message here or email [email protected] to arrange for yours!

We are accepting orders from now until September 4th for Camp Gitchigomee Hoodies! Hoodies must be paid for in advance via Cash, Cheque, or E-transfer. Please email Roberta with orders, to arrange payments and with any questions: [email protected]

Hello valued members, volunteers, and campers, First, I would like to thank you all for your incredible hard work and support that has continued to make Camp Gitchigomee what it is. In our 75th Anniversary year, it has been incredible to look back on the many ways God has moved in us to shape the Camp Gitchigomee community over the years, and you are the heart of this community. Unfortunately, due to the current global COVID-19 crisis, that community is going to have to look ...a little different this year. The Board of Directors are currently engaged in email discussions on how this will impact Camp Gitchigomee this year. We have had to cancel all previously scheduled upcoming events including: The Annual General Meeting Camp Auxiliary Bake Sale Log Painting The Two-Bit Auction Fundraiser Thank you to everyone who has contributed with planning, donating, and making yourselves available to help out at these events. It is our hope that these events can be postponed and run at later dates. The Board will continue to discuss the situation as it develops and provide updates as plans are made or things change. At this time, the Board feels it is best not to open up camper registration for this summer season until the end of April, at which point we are hoping for some clarity on the situation ahead and time to better prepare and make decisions. In uncertain times it is important that we continue to reach out and support each other and find a way to connect, even if that is at a distance. We will continue to post memories from the past 75 years of camp to our Facebook and Instagram pages, please send in any photos or stories you wish to share, share our posts and comment to reach out to each other. For those seeking community at this time the Diocese of Algoma has provided a list of congregations putting worship services online, as well as prayer resources you can use during these challenging times, please see the links below: https://www.dioceseofalgoma.com//congregations-live-strea/ https://www.dioceseofalgoma.com//prayer-resources-for-use/ Thank you all again for the continued support of the Camp Gitchigomee mission. In our current situation, we are amazed and inspired by the strength and love in our camp family. Thank you also for working with us to keep our communities safe and healthy through physical distancing. We will continue to pray for healing and the ability to come together in physical community again soon. - Camp Gitchigomee Board of Directors

Good morning Camp Community! If you are a member and/or signed up for our mailing list, you will have received our very FIRST email newsletter, sent yesterday! We are so excited to bring you the Gitchigomee Gab to keep you in the loop with everything that is still happening with our beautiful camp year-round. One item in the newsletter that you shouldn't miss out on is our 2020 Log Fundraiser! We think that it's important that we mark this unique year with a commemorative log - and you no longer have to ruin your streak! As stated below, logs are available by donation with a suggested donation of $5. Contact us here, or email us at [email protected] (attn: Maranda) to arrange to get yours!

Our board is monitoring the health situation closely to ensure that our incredible camp family is not encouraged to put ourselves or our loved ones at risk. Due to recent recommendations from local and national health agencies to limit social gatherings, the AGM originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th, 2020 has been postponed. We will announce the new date as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued support. We are continuing... to pray for the health of the world and our Camp G family at this time. Be safe. Spread love.

This month, we are missing our usual Camp weeks but we can reminisce about past fun and dream about future gatherings. Send us some of your favourite Camp memories!

**EDIT: This event is cancelled for the time/date scheduled. We hope to reschedule it before too long. Thank you for all the interest! ** You are invited to join us for Camp Gitchigomee Log Painting at 7pm on April 10th, 2020 at Gathering Table (228 Pearl St. - Please use the accessible ramp entrance) Come out to join the fun and help paint the camp logs for 2020! No experience is necessary - we will teach you. ... Each log is hand cut, sanded, and painted. We have a different colour for each week of camp, and different colours and symbols for each of the many jobs and duties performed by staff. You will even earn a red "L.P." log by joining in to help paint them! Please bring a snack to share (NO nuts or fish) while you come help out and meet some of the amazing people who help run our camp each year. If you have any questions about this event, email [email protected] or leave a message on our voicemail at 622-0020. We look forward to seeing you!

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2020 camping season due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This will include the children's camps run in July as well as the 75th Anniversary weekend planned for August. The Board is planning to run the 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2021, so please continue to follow our website for updates. It is with heavy hearts that we announce this decision, however the Board puts the health and safety of all... staff and campers at highest priority. We hope that you and your families, especially the young campers disappointed with this news, are well at this time and will continue to pray for all members of our Camp Gitchigomee family through this uncertain time. "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well" 3 John 1:2 It is unclear at this time to understand what the impact will be for rental groups. Camp Gitchigomee will follow all direction put out by the Health Authority in this regard, if any groups previously booked would like to cancel their rental, please reach out to our rental coordinator through our email at [email protected] The Board would also like to announce to it's membership plans to host the AGM via Zoom June 9th at 7:00pm. Links and directions to attend this meeting will be sent by email with last year's AGM minutes closer to the date. We would like to express our deepest thanks to our volunteers for their continued efforts throughout the off season, their ongoing dedication to the camp mission is inspiring. Hoping this message finds you safe and well, Camp Gitchigomee Board of Directors

This year, we're celebrating Camp Gitchigomee's 75th Anniversary!! Do you have photos from your or your child's time at camp? We'd love to see them! Send us your photos to share the memories!

It's almost that time of year again - our 2-Bit Auction fundraiser is just around the corner! Tickets will be coming soon, but mark the date in your calendars now so you don't miss out: April 24th, 2020 at the West Thunder Community Centre Do you have a donation item/basket OR are you interested in a fun-filled, fast-paced night of volunteering? Email [email protected] for more information on how to get involved. We are collecting donations until March 1st, 2020.

Thank you for all of your support! Come out for a good dinner, great company and fun prizes!