COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information
We will keep this page updated as the Coronavirus situation rapidly evolves.
We are committed to updating you timely communication as we continue to closely monitor information related to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Our highest priority is, and always will be, the safety, health and well-being of our of camp community.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
June 3, 2023
The novelty of the Covid virus was both its novelty (we hadn’t seen anything quite like it, so we had no immunity) and its ability to quickly mutate (therefore, waves of infection caused by new variants). Data has shown that the novelty has worn off, and barring some major shift in the virus, the SARS CoV2 virus and its offspring will join the long list of respiratory viruses that routinely infect us, complicating our lives but not threatening them.
This new reality is summarized in a May 2023 joint statement from the American Camp Association and the Alliance for Camp Health:
“COVID-19 is one of a multitude of respiratory viruses that may be present at camp this year, the vast majority of which are mild, self-limited, and do not require testing to change the treatment or trajectory of the illness in healthy children.”
With this in mind, here is what will happen with any staff member who develops symptoms of an upper respiratory infection (URI) while at Pilgrim Pines/Camp Squanto in the summer of 2023:
If a staff member develops URI symptoms with fever, they will be removed from camp activities and monitored.
We suggest you test your family member/camper before arriving at camp, especially if your family member/camper is exhibiting signs of Covid
Given that Covid is no longer a unique threat, campers and staff with URI symptoms will not be routinely tested for Covid, as it would not change the above management.
December 2022
In conjunction with health professionals, we will continue to make appropriate adjustments to our protocols in order to create the least restrictive yet most safe camp experience this coming summer.
We expect parents/guardians and campers to self-monitor symptoms and potential close contacts prior to camp, and notify the camp office for guidance in either case.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to navigate forward. We’ll update in the spring of 2023 as summer camp grows closer.
July 12, 2022
We want to make you aware of an important change in your preparation for delivering your child to camp, the requirement of a COVID test before you leave home and onsite testing.
In response to increasing cases and camp closures, and in the hope that we can remain fully operational all summer to serve all campers, we are asking campers to:
Test for COVID within 24 hours of your departure for camp. Rapid tests are acceptable. Upon arrival, you/your camper will be asked to see a timestamped negative test result. We will then test your camper onsite as a double layer of protection.
Contact our camp nurse, Beth Kelpen, if your home test is positive. Additionally, please contact Beth if your child has shown COVID symptoms in the five days prior to the start of your camp program (symptoms include headache, sore throat, fever, fatigue, cough, etc.) or if your camper has had close contact with a COVID-positive person during the five days prior to the start of camp.
You may obtain free, at-home tests at covid.gov. If you are unable to test at home, we will administer a test upon arrival. If your child tests positive then, they will not be able to remain at camp. If your child tests positive at any time during camp, we will work with you to arrange their pick-up as soon as possible. Until you arrive, we will care for your child in an isolated environment.
Additionally, we are continuing some previous COVID protocols:
- Rapid tests will be conducted onsite if merited (we will always obtain parental permission first)
- Temporary isolation areas have been set aside for COVID-positive campers until they can be picked up
- Programming will occur outdoors as much as possible, weather permitting
Thank you for helping us create a safe, healthy experience for all campers. If you have questions, please contact Beth at the information below.
Sincerely,
Jim Condap, Executive Director
Beth Kelpen, Camp Squanto Nurse
603.352.0443 ext. 111
UPDATE: May 2022
Following a safe and successful 2021 summer of ministry, we are grateful to be planning for summer 2022. In conjunction with health professionals, we will continue to make appropriate adjustments to our protocols in order to prioritize safety. We are strongly encouraging all eligible campers and staff to get vaccinated prior to participating in summer camp.
If you have COVID-19 we ask that you do not come to camp.
If you have symptoms or have been recently exposed to someone who has COVID-19, we ask that you test negative within 24 hours of coming to camp.
At this time, we expect enrollment capacities to be back to pre-COVID levels. We expect families, individuals, parents, and campers to self-monitor symptoms and potential close contacts prior to camp, and notify the camp office for guidance in either case. Expect that our Summer 2022 COVID-19 protocols could be updated as more guidance emerges. Thanks for your patience as we continue to navigate this!
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2022
The New Hampshire Division of Public Health updated its recommendations for the use of face coverings on February 23, 2022. This new guidance no longer recommends universal face mask use, in either indoor or outdoor settings, including specifically in school settings. Accordingly, effective Monday, February 28th, 2022, the wearing of masks will be optional at Pilgrim Pines.
The wearing of masks has been and will likely continue to be a polarizing issue. As we move forward, we ask that individual decisions to wear or not wear a mask be respected by all members of our community, regardless of individual beliefs.
We are incredibly proud of our community and the manner in which we, together, have navigated the past two years of uncertainty. Thank you for your continued support!
UPDATE: November 2021
Please check your individual retreat/event for updated guidelines.
UPDATE: August 26, 2021
Come to Camp Healthy!
We are now hosting groups at Pilgrim Pines. Our priority is for the safety and health of our staff and guests. Before you come to camp, please click the button below for our current guidelines. As you know, guidance is changing quickly.
Our staff will be practicing social distancing or will be wearing face masks when interacting with others indoors.
We ask that all guests wear a face mask while in the food line for meals. When groups are in their meeting spaces and lodging accommodations, it is up to the Group Leader to determine Covid-19 guidelines appropriate for their particular group.
Thank you for playing a part in keeping our community healthy and safe!
Update: August 15, 2020
We thank God for a wonderful summer of welcoming individuals and families to Pilgrim Pines to enjoy great teaching, recreation, and quality time together. We are so thankful that we were able to be open and to be a place of retreat for so many wonderful people. While things were different this summer, camp continued to be a place of rest and joy for so many.
As we look ahead to the Fall/Winter season, we will not be able to accommodate the needs of our groups and retreats this year. With indoor social distancing requirements, we are unable to accommodate groups of more than 36 people. In addition, the majority of weekend groups and Road Scholar programs have cancelled which dramatically impacts our revenue and ability to operate this Fall/Winter.
Therefore, we will not be hosting groups or retreats this Fall and Winter season. We will be closely monitoring the guidelines and status of COVID-19 and hope that we are able to reopen for Spring 2021.
If your group has a reservation between now and March 31, 2021, we will be reaching out to you shortly to reschedule your event.
At this time, we are accepting group reservations starting April 1, 2021 with the understanding that Pilgrim Pines has the right to reschedule events as needed.
We are currently accepting Summer 2021 reservations for Family Camp.
We will plan for Camp Squanto 2021 with registration opening by December 1st.
Thank you for your continued support as we continue to navigate these times together!
Update: June 12
We are so excited to welcome guests to Pilgrim Pines this summer. This is a new experience for all of us. We thank you for your support and cooperation as we go through this new season together!
Our traditional Family Camp will be different as we incorporate all state and local guidelines into how we can safely operate this summer.
We welcome weekly guests to
“Summer at the Pines 2020”.
UPDATE: May 29, 2020
Thank you for your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.
We are awaiting information from the Governor’s office in regards to housing & lodging for our summer Family Camp season. This information will be key to us as we make decisions as to how Family Camp may look this summer. We are hopeful that we can offer a safe & responsible Family Camp experience for guests & staff. Certainly, it will be modified and feel different from previous summers but we hope to hang on to the key experiences that make it so special for so many. We know that Family Camp is deeply important to all of you as it is to our staff. We expect to have information your way in the coming days. Hang in there!
UPDATE: May 21, 2020
UPDATE: May 4, 2020
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
We remember the verse listed above as we think about the summer months ahead of us. As a staff, we are trying to be patient as the world around us changes and adjusts to our new reality of living with Covid-19. We trust that God’s hand is upon Pilgrim Pines, our staff, and our camp families.
Is camp still going to happen? The honest answer is that we don’t know yet. However, we are hopeful and optimistic. We are waiting on guidance from the CDC, State of NH, and the American Camping Association. They are working together to develop guidelines that outline how camp might be able to operate safely this summer. We will rely heavily on their guidance as well as other state and local health officials. Our #1 priority is the safety and health of our campers and staff.
If there is a safe way for camp to happen this summer, we will clearly communicate what that will look like for you and your family. We will provide information about pre-arrival requirements, screening requirements, preventative onsite measures, changes to programming, and our communicable disease plan. If at any point, you or your camper is unable to attend camp due to illness or comfort level, we will provide a full refund of any payments that you have made.
In the event that camp cannot safely take place this summer, our current cancellation policy will be replaced and full refunds will be available. Any camp payments that have been made can be turned into a donation (we will issue a donation receipt for your records), transferred to 2021, or refunded to you. Donations are very much needed at this time.
Thank you for your patience as we await the next new set of guidelines and regulations. We are praying and planning for a summer full of campers.
Stay safe, stay hopeful.
UPDATE: April 9, 2020
While the safety of campers, staff and our community remains the top priority, we do continue to believe that the 2020 summer camp season will, in some form, happen. However, we do not know what life will look like in June, when summer programs are scheduled to begin. Nevertheless, we continue to plan in faith and hope for summer camp knowing that it will be different for the summer of 2020. We are working on several different scenarios for Camp Squanto, Family Camp and our Camping area. It’s a bit of a waiting game right now so please keep camp in your prayers as we seek to make wise and responsible decisions for our amazing camp family. We hope that our camp families stay safe and healthy. Remember to wash your hands and don’t forget whose hands you are in.
UPDATE: MARCH 28, 2020
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has asked all NH residents to stay home and has ordered all nonessential businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Pilgrim Pines is now closed until further notice. We are still taking reservations for Family Camp, Camp Squanto and guest group retreats. The best way to contact us during these uncertain times is: info@pilgrimpines.org. We will reply within 24 hours. Thank you. Stay safe, be hopeful.
UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2020
Dear Friends of Pilgrim Pines,
We are thinking of you and praying for you during these days. It’s a new world for all of us, and we remind ourselves that we are invited in every way to bring our concerns to God - who is faithful. At Pilgrim Pines, we are taking precautions, planning, looking for creative ways to serve our community, and anticipating what may be next. All the while, we are seeking God as we navigate our lives, our families and ministry through these uncertain times.
We expect that New Hampshire will continue to implement safety precautions and perhaps issue a shelter in place order. In anticipation of that, we are now exploring what this will mean and how to maintain essential administrative and operational functions within the boundaries of the order. Thank you for your patience as we work through these anticipated changes.
We do not know what life will look like in June, when summer programs are scheduled to begin. Nevertheless, we continue to plan in faith and hope for summer camp. Our deep hope is that we will be able to love and serve all people anticipating spiritual growth through the important ministries of Camp Squanto and Mayflower Family Camp.
Our primary concern is for the health and safety of our campers, their families, our staff and communities. We are committed to adhering to the guidance of the CDC and our public officials. We will make decisions in accordance with that guidance. We can assure you that we will communicate early and clearly if there are changes to the summer schedule.
To stay in touch with camp, follow us on Facebook & Instagram and check www.pilgrimpines.org.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.
God’s peace to you.
Jim Condap
Executive Director
UPDATE: MARCH 17, 2020
All events & activities for the next eight weeks have been canceled. Please check our Facebook page for more updates.
Update: March 13, 2020
All activities for the coming weekend, March 13-15 have been canceled.
Update: March 12, 2020
With the growing concerns around COVID-19 and recent recommendations made by local, state, and federal health officials, Pilgrim Pines has made the following decisions:
Spring Fling will be postponed from March 28, 2020 to September 18, 2020. Tickets are available on our website for the new date of September 18, 2020. Any tickets purchased for the March 28th date will be honored for the September 18th date. If you already purchased tickets and are unable to attend the September date, please contact Jim Condap at jim@pilgrimpines.org or 603.352.0443.
Exhale Retreat (April 3-5, 2020) has been cancelled. Full refunds will be processed in the next 5 business days.
These decisions were made out of an abundance of love and caution for our camp family and community. We are especially concerned about those community members who may be most vulnerable and while not attending these events, may be exposed afterward unintentionally.
Guest Groups
For guest groups with upcoming retreats -
If your group is over 100 guests, then we recommend that we work together to reschedule your retreat for a future date.
If your group is smaller and under 100 guests, we are prepared to host your group.
We ask that your group follows all recommendations made by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS).
Anyone who has recently traveled to China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and Japan should stay home from camp and not attend Pilgrim Pines and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States.
Anyone with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or any flu-like symptoms should stay home from camp and not attend Pilgrim Pines.
Pilgrim Pines uses best practices for cleaning and disinfecting camp with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectant.
Currently, all touch points (light switches, doorknobs, handles, water fountains, bathrooms, etc.) as well as all hard surfaces (desks, tables, counter tops, etc.) are cleaned daily with registered disinfectants, which is recognized to fight COVID-19. Plans for additional focused deep cleaning of high traffic areas and buildings are in place and deployed as necessary. All staff are trained to use disinfectants in a safe and effective manner.
Our team is regularly re-assessing procedures to determine if additional measures are necessary. We have ordered extra hand sanitizer stations, cleaning products and CDC-approved wipes and will be distributing them throughout camp for staff use.
Our Food Services Department always follows federal guidelines for proper food handling and personal hygiene practices that can help prevent food employees from spreading viruses and bacteria to food. These practices include: excluding ill food employees from working with food; using proper hand washing procedures; and eliminating bare hand contact with foods. Additionally, our kitchen area is sanitized daily.
Guest rooms will be treated with an electrostatic sprayer that disinfects all surfaces and fabrics. Fresh linens are provided to all guests. Bathrooms and all hard surfaces are cleaned with registered disinfectants.
Summer Programs
As the summer camp season grows closer, we hope to have more clarity around this virus, as well as any impact it may have to this year’s summer camp season. We will notify you prior to the start of camp regarding any necessary changes to our camp policies in respect to COVID-19.
As a country, we are in unfamiliar territory. While none of us can predict the future, we want to assure our camp community that you can count on all of us at Pilgrim Pines to always be aware, sensible, and thoughtful in approach. Please feel free to reach out to me at jim@pilgrimpines.org with questions at any time.
Update: March 10, 2020
Dear Pilgrim Pines Community,
I am writing today to update you on the current recommendations regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and its impact on our camp and community. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS).
Camp guests specific who have traveled internationally:
* Travelers from Level 3 Travel Advisory countries (China, Iran, South Korea and Italy as of today, March 10th) should stay home from camp and not attend Pilgrim Pines spring events and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States.
* Travelers from Level 2 Travel Advisory countries (Japan as of today, March 10th) are advised to monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States, and 'limit interactions at large gatherings.' We interpret this to mean stay home from Pilgrim Pines spring events.
We do ask that any camp guests that traveled to these countries notify Pilgrim Pines and follow the self-quarantine guidelines issued by the CDC. While current guidance states that it is acceptable for any children who live with travelers to these countries to attend camp, we ask that those children also follow the self-quarantine guidelines.
Camp guests who have returned from other locations (including those with other travel notices for COVID-19) may continue to attend camp. They are not being monitored by public health authorities so they should be counseled to remain alert for fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).
We continue to encourage all camp guests and staff to engage in the following preventative measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Practicing these measures at home and in the community will also help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:
Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose with unwashed hands.
Do not share personal items.
Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick. Remain home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (without fever-reducing medication) or signs of a fever (i.e., chills, feeling warm, flushed appearance), and respiratory symptoms are improving.
Cover your cough or sneeze.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For the most up to date information on COVID-19:
U.S. CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
NH DHHS website: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/2019-ncov.htm
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. This is a rapidly evolving situation and one that can be frightening - I welcome questions and want to hear your concerns so that we can ensure our communications are helping alleviate anxiety while providing necessary information.
Jim Condap
Executive Director
Update: March 2020 Camp Update
We are staying abreast of recent developments by receiving CDC updates and have regular communication with health professionals.
We are working on establishing a disease/outbreak plan for camp that includes all the steps of prevention, intervention, communication with parents, debriefing, and a plan if the camp is placed in quarantine.
We will be cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces with household, bleach-based cleaning agent. Disinfectants and hand sanitizers will be used/available all over camp.
All staff and campers will wash hands often with soap and water. hand sanitizer stations will be set up throughout camp.
During staff training we will introduce social distancing and require everyone to check in with health staff at the first sign of illness. We will have staff evaluate themselves and campers every morning for any influenza like illness. We will follow the plan for hand washing, sanitation and cough etiquette and conduct good physical assessments of folks who become ill at camp. We will obtain recent travel history of anyone who becomes ill; isolate from general population; treat symptomatically; notify health department if we have concerns regarding COVID-19.
The death rate associated with COVID-19 is currently below that of the current flu; consequently, flu currently poses more risk to campers & staff than COVID-19. Keep that in mind.
Classic, communicable disease personal protection behaviors help reduce exposure impacts from COVID-19 just as they do for other illnesses.