MORAVIAN CAMPING
Moravian camping from a distance
W
ith the challenges and changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of Moravian camping ministries across the Northern and Southern Provinces prayerfully considered what to do with the 2020 season. While a very difficult decision to make—and in many ways heartbreaking—stay-over camps for this summer were cancelled throughout the Moravian camping program. However, that didn’t stop leaders from working to bring a little of the Moravian camping spirit home. In this issue, we look at just a few of the creative ways our camps reached out to Moravian youth and their families. Virtual Camp at Laurel Ridge Even though they can’t be “on the mountain,” many campers from the Southern Province vis-
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ited Laurel Ridge virtually, thanks to the efforts of the Laurel Ridge staff. “Laurel Ridge has seen tremendous response from campers and parents with signups for our virtual camp,” said Scarlett Dowdy, program manager at Laurel Ridge. “We are at nearly a 45 percent registration rate from last year’s numbers, with 175 virtual registrations, while some parents of campers allowed us to keep the full registration, whether their kids signed up for virtual camp or not.” Each registered camper received a “Laurel Ridge Camp Crate” which included their camp shirt, 60th anniversary “swag,” a letter from a summer staffer, a canteen treat, s’mores kit, all their arts and crafts supplies, the curriculum and their own login information for Camp (held through Google Classroom which houses Zoom links and videos).
The Moravian
