Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

** Statement below posted April 21st, 2020 **
Click here for subsequent statement posted May 8th >>


Update on Spring Groups & Retreats:

Governor Hogan has closed Maryland public schools and cancelled school activities thru May 15 in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.  In accordance with state mandates, RVR has suspended our retreat and outdoor education programs until at least that date.  RVR's campus is currently closed to the public. We will continue to monitor the recommendations from the CDC and State Health Department and will reassess the need to extend this suspension as updates are provided.

Update on Summer Camp:

We know these are challenging, unsettling times.  Like all of you, we are continuously monitoring the ever-changing situation as our nation deals with the COVID-19 health emergency.  Our hearts are broken for the loss, the suffering, and the strain that the virus has caused within our communities and across the world.  Now, more than ever, kids need a safe, fun, wholesome place to be—the value of what a week of camp at RVR can provide.

However, the safety of our campers and staff must be our top priority.  We are in regular communication with the State and County health departments, the American Camping Association and the Christian Camp and Conference Association to get the best information on how to safely conduct summer camp. We are hoping and praying that we’ll be able to conduct summer camp as scheduled; but we realize that the decision may be out of our hands.  We may be facing a summer that doesn’t look anything like our original plan.  It’s still our mission to deliver a meaningful camp experience this summer, so we are working hard to develop new and innovative programming, should the need arise to amend our camp offerings.  We expect to make a decision about any modifications to summer camp by May 15th

If our traditional camp program is cancelled due to federal or state health mandates, or we deem it unsafe to conduct camp as normal, we will have these options available:

  • Deferment/Donation: You can rollover your deposit to 2021, and secure your exact same spot for next summer at THIS year’s price. If you’ve paid more than the deposit already, you can roll that money over to 2021 as well, or you could make all or part of it a tax-deductible donation to RVR.
     
  • Full Refund: If deferring to next year and/or making a donation is not an option for you, we can cancel your registration and honor a full refund of your camp payment. 

If camp is cancelled, we will email all registered families with further instructions on how to inform us of your choice.  Please continue to check back on this page for updates.  

NOTE: We will not process any change requests for summer camp registrations until after May 15.

Would You Consider a Donation?

As you can imagine, RVR has already been significantly impacted by our Outdoor Education field trips and youth retreats being cancelled due to COVID-19 this spring.  Any donation you are able to make would ensure that RVR is able to continue providing life-changing camp experiences for years to come.  

We thank you for your patience, confidence, and support of RVR.  We are all in this together, waiting to see how this crisis evolves and trusting in God’s perfect plan.  We hope to see you all this summer, and we continue to pray for the health and well-being of your families!

- Your Friends At RVR

 


**Prior statement below, posted March 13th, 2020, updated March 30th**


Dear Camper Families,

As you know, Governor Hogan has closed Maryland public schools and canceled school activities from March 16 thru April 27, in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.  In accordance with state mandates, RVR has suspended our retreat and outdoor education programs during those specific dates.  We will continue to monitor the recommendations from the CDC and State Health Department and will reassess the need to extend this suspension as updates are provided.

We are hoping, praying and expecting that the crisis will have passed by the time summer comes, and at this time we are planning to proceed with camp as scheduled!  Of course, the health and safety of our campers & staff are our highest priority as we endure this situation.  We will trust that our elected officials are enacting measures for our collective protection, and we will remain in alignment with their recommendations.

We are developing our summer virus prevention plan right now in accordance with the recommendations from the CDC, MD State Health Department, the Association of Camp Nursing and our own health care team.   You can expect additional screening measures to be in place for camper check-in, to ensure all campers are healthy when they are admitted to camp.  We will send details about those additional admission procedures as we get closer to summer.  We will also have additional health & safety protocols in place during summer camp.

We will continue to do our part to ensure that RVR is a safe & healthy environment for our guests & staff.  We will communicate with all of you if there are new developments that would impact summer camp.  We trust in God's plan, and in His word:  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”  Psalm 46:1  

Thank you for your patience, and we wish you all the best as you care for your families.  We will continue to update this page as information changes.

Jon Bisset
Executive Director, River Valley Ranch