News for everyone

Goshen Leader Update #8 – ALTERNATIVE CAMP SURVEY

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Hello Goshen Leaders!

Thank you again for all of your kind words, support, and understanding during challenging times. We have begun the refund process and those who have requested will begin to see those credits take effect shortly. I’m writing to you all today for feedback. As we put our alternative programs in place for this summer, I want them to be shaped by those who hold the highest stake in our programs: all of you.

Please take some time and fill out a very brief survey found here: 2020 Summer Camp Alternative Program Survey

Also, feel free to forward along to any families who may have vested interest in these programs. I want to ensure that whatever program we create is one that is designed to fit your needs.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you all again and stay safe!

-Phil

NCAC Summer Camp 2020 Update

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As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is the Boy Scouts of America’s top priority. As such, we have taken a careful and informed approach in evaluating whether to run summer camp this year. Since the spread of this pandemic, we have been continually monitoring the situation, and consulting with health experts, government officials and other camp professionals.

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that, after a thorough review, the National Capital Area Council has decided to suspend our resident camp programs at Goshen Scout Reservation, Camp William B. Snyder, Camp Airy, and the Day Camp program for the 2020 summer season. We know camp is an important part of every Scout’s summer, and this decision was not made lightly. This is not the end of our summer programming, however; NCAC has assembled a team of volunteers who are designing a fun, exciting alternative program that provides advancement opportunities for our Scouts. More information on these programs will be coming soon.

As promised, we will be issuing refunds for any payments already made towards camp. Your unit will have the following options for your refund:

  1. Roll over some or all of your payments to Summer 2021.
    We look forward to getting our summer camp community back together as soon as possible; rolling your payment forward as a deposit for next year ensures you will be a part of that fun!
  2. Request a refund for your 2020 fees.
    We appreciate your patience as we determine how to make refunds available.

If you have already registered for summer camp, please discuss with your unit and inform us which option you would prefer by following this link. If we have not heard from you by June 30, 2020, we will roll your deposit to next year.

Link to Cancellation Form

Our entire team is saddened that we will not be able to see you at camp this summer. This is an extraordinarily challenging time unlike anything we have experienced. Our hope is we all emerge from this challenging moment stronger than before.

Most importantly, we look forward to providing the full range of Scouting programs, including outdoor adventures, as soon as the situation allows. For Scouting At Home information and resources, please visit ncacbsa.org/scouting-at-home.

We hope all our Scouting families stay healthy and positive in our current environment and join us in preparing for future great summer camp experiences at Camp!

Goshen Scout Reservation Update #7

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Hello Goshen Leaders!

Phil Barbash here with some more important updates for this summer:

  1. Our early bird payment deadline is this Friday. At 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 30th, the price will switch over. Please make every effort to get your youth/adults registered to avoid the price hike.
  2. We had a very generous donor come forward and replenish the supply of money for camperships. Thus, if you have the youth who are going to be in need, please have them continue to apply. We will approve the camperships as we have funds for and inform the applicants directly on how to register.
  3. Some units have been asking questions on how making a payment online works. Please see here: www.gotogoshen.org/registration/registration-tips-making-a-payment/

COVID-19 Updates:

  1. A couple of changes in how we operate summer camp this summer:
    1. We will no longer be having large group gatherings at camp. This includes but is not limited to flag ceremonies, campfires, and camp-wide events.
    2. We are moving in the direction of 1 person tents. At this time we are asking that all units begin the process of identifying how many tents could be brought to camp with them, in an effort to supplement the camp tents for up to half of the units adult/youth. We will have more information on this as far as how we are tracking it moving forward. Needs will be communicated on a camp by camp, week by week basis.
    3. We are looking at our options as far as daily screening procedures, food service operations, and transportation to/from camp. Rest assured, there will be more changes communicated moving forward.
  2. Please continue to communicate with your doctors in order to get physicals signed. I understand that this is a challenging task and I am awaiting a response from BSA national on what, if any, decision is going to be made regarding part C of the med form.
  3. If you are already interested in preemptively changing your unit’s week at camp to a later week, we have created an online form to do so here: www.gotogoshen.org/weekchange/

Finally, our refund request form is live and can be found here: www.gotogoshen.org/refund. Please remember that if we end up cancelling camp altogether, or the week your unit/youth are attending camp, we will issues a full 100% refund.

That’s all for now. As always, thank you for everything you do and keep the feedback coming on what you would like to see on our end. We will all get through this together!

-Phil

Goshen Leader Update #6-COVID-19 Update

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Hello Goshen Leaders!

Phil Barbash here with some more updates regarding Summer Camp and the ongoing pandemic:

  1. Will Summer Camp 2020 happen?
    The NCAC Executive Board will throughly discuss summer camp 2020 during the next full board meeting. We expect an initial decision regarding summer camp after that meeting in mid-May.  There many variables to consider in this matter and the decision could include operate as scheduled, modify or shorten the season, or cancel the entire season. This is obviously a moving target, and we could have announcements out sooner than that.
  2. Will the April 30th Early Bird Fee Deadline be Extended Again?
    At this time, we will not be offering an additional extension to the 4/30 deadline. Timing dictates the need to secure realistic attendance figures in order to begin ordering supplies and finalize staffing. We want to reiterate that should NCAC cancel any week, or the full summer, we will issue a 100% refund to all youth/adults who paid and registered for immersions camp. We do recognize that this may be creating a financial strain for some families In your, but please recognize paid attendance will be a significant variable in the summer camp decision making process.
  3. Is there any information regarding Part C of the medical form?
    No new information is available at this time regarding Part C of the medical form. Legal and medical experts are assisting the BSA in the creation of a policy that offers flexibility, but ensures the safety of youth and adults who attend summer camp. We realize this is time sensitive. So, as soon as we know, we will let you know.

Please be aware our NCAC Enterprise Risk Management Committee has been working with our Camping and Outdoor Programming committee to create a new list of health and safety policies and procedures that will likely need to be implemented this summer pending our ability to operate. We will have that document available as soon as it is finalized. Please let me know if you have any feedback on this matter.

I would like to provide you with more definitive answers regarding the overall summer season. Unfortunately there are still to many unknown variables. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide you with regular updates. Until next time, stay safe and let’s all hope/pray that a summer camp season is the light at the end of the tunnel.

-Phil

Goshen Scout Reservation Leader Update #5

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Hello Goshen leaders!

Phil Barbash here. Hope everyone is staying safe! Two quick updates:

  1. We are working on identifying additional campership money for those families who may need extra assistance with camp this year due to layoffs, furloughs, etc. We will provide details as soon as we have them. Please do continue to apply, as the campership application has been reopened online. It is here: https://www.gotogoshen.org/registration/#camperships
  2. National is in the process of reviewing what the requirements would be for Part C of the BSA med form this year, should we need to adjust. We will be in touch as soon as we hear the details.

Thanks again for hanging with us and please remember that all of these updates that I send out are posted here: https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/latest-news/. Stay safe!

-Phil

Goshen Leader Update #4-COVID-19 Update

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Hello All,

I hope everyone is staying safe. I unfortunately do not have much of an update for you regarding COVID-19 at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and blast information as we have it. A few notes:

  1. Please review our revised refund policy, as well as our updated early bird deadline and merit badge registration opening date. As a point of reference, every email I send out is listed here: https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/latest-news/.
  2. Our website is fully updated with information for 2020. I do want to draw everyone’s attention to the forms and downloads page here: https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/forms-downloads/. The top of that list on the left has the adult leader guide for all of Goshen. Please keep in mind that there is one overall guide for Goshen and one for your individual camp. Both will have useful information and both can be given to parents in your units who want to know what to expect.
  3. We are still looking for staff for the summer, specifically those that are shooting sports or waterfront inclined, and have reach the ripe age of 21. Please help spread the word and direct all applicants here: https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/goshen-staff/.

That’s all for now. As always, please let us know if you have any questions and thank you for bearing with us!

-Phil

Goshen Scout Reservation Leader Update #3 – IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19

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Hello Goshen Leaders!

I hope everyone is staying safe and thank you for all you have done and are doing to support Goshen Scout Reservation. I’m writing you today with a couple of updates:

  1. I have been asked a few times now about refunds. Here is our official statement moving forward:We are planning for an outstanding summer camp season at Goshen Scout Reservation.  That said, as we are all aware there are circumstances beyond our control that could impact our summer programming.  Should National Capital Area Council be forced by the Covid-19 virus to cancel the 2020 summer season, the following refund policy will be in place:
    • Summer camp conducted as scheduled – normal refund policy (85% refund if requested in writing before 6/12/2020 and NO refund after 6/12/2020).
    • Summer camp canceled by National Capital Area Council – 100% refund

    This policy removes your risk of making a commitment during this uncertain time.  We encourage you to make your summer plans now and spend your summer with us at Goshen!

  2. We are going to once again move the opening date of merit badge registration to 9AM on 05/01/20. This will put it at the same time as the early bird deadline and will limit confusion.
  3. BSA national is working on potential adjustments to our policy on the BSA med form part C being required for camp. At this time there is no update, but I will send it as soon as I have it.

We will continue to send updates on a weekly basis. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. Thanks!

-Phil