As summer registration opened this week, some of you may be wondering – what is camp like for students during COVID-19?
Youth camp certainly looks different in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but after hosting families over the summer and offering church retreats as well as a youth retreat this fall, we are confident we can run camp in a safe and healthy way. But what is it like for the students? We talked with Plymouth Covenant Youth Pastor, Craig Sanborn about his students’ experience at our Senior High Fall Retreat.
How many of your students attended the fall youth retreat?
We had approximately 80 students and leaders attend.
What was their experience like?
It was different but it was still “camp.” So much has been taken from students this past year. Consequently, students have developed a new and greater appreciation for organizations or ministries offering opportunities for them even if it isn’t exactly what they had previously experienced. During my informal exit polls before we left camp on Sunday students gave the weekend experience rave reviews!
How did your students feel about wearing a mask?
Nobody loves wearing masks but students have grown accustomed to doing so. Wearing masks is not a hard sell for what they get to experience overall.
Did you feel like camp was safe?
CPBC has 100% done their part to keep campers safe.
Did the students from your church who attended the retreat have fun, despite the differences in programming?
My students had a blast! Nobody was blindsided by changes or the differences in programming. They accept the changes and are thankful to be together at a place that means so much to them. Just being there is special! Everything else that happens is a bonus!
How did you coordinate transportation?
I thought transportation would be a tricky one but families were more than willing and able to do the pick up and drop off. Some families allowed their children to carpool and a couple students received rides from my adult leaders.
Any final thoughts or anything you would like to share about your camp experience during COVID?
Covenant Pines Bible Camp means the world to my students. It’s where they surrendered their life to Jesus. It’s where they make monumental decisions about their future. It’s where they make and build friendships that will last throughout their lifetime. Covenant Pines Bible Camp is the place where they feel free to be who God has created them to be without the worldly pressure to conform and fit it. Therefore, just being on the property is a win and feels like home no matter what the changes are or slight risks that may exist.
To read more about what changes, as well and health and safety measure are taking place in Summer 2021, check out our Summer FAQ page.
In July of 2020, after months of brainstorming, pivoting and ultimately cancelling our summer youth programs, we found ourselves in a financial crisis. We knew we needed the support from our churches, individuals and businesses to move forward into 2021. We launched our Seeing The Big Picture Campaign – a fundraising effort to raise $250,000 by the end of the year.
Today we conclude our Big Picture Campaign with $311,025. We are overwhelmed with gratitude – this exceeds our goal more than $60,000. We are so thankful to serve such a faithful God who has provided for us through your generosity.
In addition to our Big Picture Campaign, we also received $161,965 in restricted gifts in the past six months. These are gifts given to scholarships, capital improvements, the new Worship Center and other designated areas of ministry. This totals $472,990 given in the past six months by 474 individuals, churches and businesses.
We could not have done this without you. Thank you – from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are now able to look to the future and even cover some anticipated income loss in 2021 thanks to these gifts. We have so hopeful for this next year in ministry.
Now what?
Your gifts will benefit campers for generations to come. These funds have put us in a good financial position going into 2021, allowing us to continue to do ministry and encourage campers to take a next step in Christian faith. As we move forward into 2021, we will continue to update you on what is happening at CPM, and we still encourage you to keep us in mind as you discern where to donate. We know this year will be different, but we also know God is faithful! Our summer 2021 registration opens Monday at CPBC, and Canoe Trip registration is underway at AC.
Winter Retreat Calendar Changes
We have made some significant changes to our 2021 Winter Retreat Calendar. Below are calendar changes that include new retreat options.
January 22-24: Parent/Grandparent + Child Retreat
January 29-31: Winter Getaway
February 19-21: Winter Getaway
February 26-28: OneLife Retreat
March 12-14: Craft Camp
March 19-21: Women’s Retreat
All of these retreats will follow COVID-19 guidelines, as it is our number one priority to provide a safe and healthy retreat experience.
Registration and details for these retreats will be available in mid December. We will post updates on our website and social media pages.
If your church is interested in hosting a retreat at Covenant Pines Bible Camp, we would still love to have you! Start by reading this article on how we are able to do retreats during COVID-19, and contact Angie to discuss availability and details.
Camp has looked different in Fall 2020 but God has still been a work. Emmanuel and Excelsior Covenant both had plans to do a Confirmation Retreat and a Youth Retreat. The ‘how’ to do a retreat at camp has been complicated by COVID- but it is not impossible. Covenant Pines has worked hard to do all we can to make camp as safe as possible and we are thankful to Emmanuel and Excelsior Covenant for their desire to work together and get their families and students to camp. Here is what they both had to say about the retreat experience, both churches had this fall at Covenant Pines.
Chris Studenski, Founding and Senior Pastor
Emmanuel Covenant Church
We were created for community. What better place to foster it than CPBC’s beautiful, four-season setting?
Yes. It CAN be done! We just brought 100+ to camp and would do it again in a heartbeat!
If planning a COVID-conscious Fall Retreat wasn’t challenging enough, we got hit with record cold and snow! It would have been tempting to throw in the towel, but we’re SO glad we didn’t. With the help of the remarkable team at Covenant Pines, we were able to give our church family memories that will last a lifetime. We found ways to safely sing outdoors around multiple campfires. We found ways to safely enjoy games. We were able to conduct physically-distanced sessions and services that brought us together.
And…. the food was just as amazing as always!
The Covenant Pines facility is like a Swiss Army Knife. The CPBC staff can help you make the most out of it. If you have ideas, they can help you bring them to life in safe and responsible ways. If you could use some creative help, they can draw from their own wealth of experience along with best practices from all around the country. Regardless of your sense of readiness, the team at Covenant Pines can help you prepare for, and guide you through, an event that people will thank you for.
It could be a long time before things return to normal. There are a number of wise voices saying they never will.
In a time when so much has been taken away, an event at Covenant Pines is a gift that you can give your family, friends, or church.
Kris Causton, Creative Resource Pastor
Excelsior Covenant Church
Our fall confirmation retreat is a significant time for our students to connect with each other and to dive deeper into the focus of teaching for the year. We really did not want to miss out on the impact of the retreat but knew with Covid that we had to make some changes. So, instead of piling 20+ kids into two vans and rooming together in a few cabins, we asked for parents to come along with their child and room together. The retreat center gave us enough room for each parent and student to have their own living space/bathroom, and the south side of the dining hall had enough room to distance for our teaching times. The beautiful outdoor space at Covenant Pines was part of our learning and connecting space in so many ways. We had teaching time on the beach, played games outside, shared a bonfire, and outdoor free time gave kids time to be together in ways they cannot indoors.
It turned out to be a wonderful weekend! Parents and students who were skeptical about the presence of so many adults were either pleasantly surprised or at least glad to have a retreat rather than not!
Lindsay said, “I felt like we ran 4 retreats: a student retreat, a parent/child retreat, a men’s retreat and a women’s retreat all in one as we watched different groups interact.”
Thank you Covenant Pines, for welcoming us, working with us, and investing in our ministry!
If you are interested in discussing what your church retreat could look like, start by reaching out to our Guest Service Director, Angie.
Winter Retreat Calendar Changes
We have made some significant changes to our 2021 Winter Retreat Calendar. We typically have offered rental retreats for small groups, but have made the decision to open camp up to families and individuals.
Adventurous Christians will offer two different retreat formats this winter. Family Wilderness Retreats where you can enjoy camp with your family and our Solitude Retreat that are focused on individual reflection and spiritual formation.
| Family Wilderness Retreats | Solitude Retreat |
| January 15-18 | January 8-10 |
| January 22-24 | |
| February 5-7 | |
| February 26-28 | |
| March 5-7 |
All of these retreats will follow COVID-19 guidelines, as it is our number one priority to provide a safe and healthy retreat experience.
Registration and details for these retreats will be available on December 1st, 2020. We will post updates on our website and social media pages.
If your church or group is interested in hosting a retreat at Adventurous Christians, that is still possible. Reach out to Lina to discuss availability and details