COVID-19 Response | Camp Qwanoes

CAMP QWANOES COVID-19 UPDATE

View our Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

Updated April 13, 2022

All Systems Go!

On March 10, 2022, BC’s Provincial Health Office, Dr. Bonnie Henry, removed COVID restrictions for overnight camps! We had been hoping and praying for that day for a LONG time! Since then other restrictions have also changed - the following is a summary of how this affects Qwanoes.

Summer Camps & Family Retreats!

Registration has been underway since early January and we are thankful that we can welcome MANY more campers this summer! Space is still available in most camps – register today! Choose from nine overnight on-site camps, five overnight SeaQuest kayak adventure camps, three family retreats and more!

Do Campers Have To be Vaccinated?

No! We have never required children and youth to be vaccinated to attend our camps, retreats or events. As of April 8 adults are not required to be vaccinated to attend adult and family retreats, or any other event.

We Remain Committed To Everyone’s Health & Safety

We continue to be concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, as we are about any potential sickness. As always, health and safety are highest priority at Camp Qwanoes and we have extensive policies and procedures in place. Our plans and protocols for 2022 will be guided constantly by COVID-19 updates from B.C. and Canadian health authorities and government officials, and other reputable sources. We are ready to adapt however needed. For example, all campers are required to complete an “Camp Screening” form before they can enter the camp.

Staff Opportunities

We are building our summer 2022 staff team and there are opportunities to serve for a week or two or for the entire summer, including many financially supported positions. Apply today! We also have opportunities for some year-round roles. Many will be needed to help prepare the camp for the summer. Join in!

Re-Setting Qwanoes To Run At Full Capacity

Offering a life-changing week to thousands of campers (and surviving two years of COVID!) takes an enormous team effort! We are all so grateful for everyone who has rallied around the camp. I invite your partnership to help us re-set the camp to run at full capacity! There are opportunities for volunteers and for donations – and every gift helps. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for the coming summer!

Financial Needs Remain – Partner With Us!

The financial impact of the COVID-19 changes and cancelled programs has been extensive. So much had to be raised to make it through - thank you to everyone who has been a part! The needs are still great – and your gifts are still needed to allow us to re-set the camp and able to reach as many kids as possible.

Donate today and know that every amount helps and will be a huge encouragement. You can also call us to donate over the phone or you can mail a cheque.

Our Purpose & Passion Remains The Same

Our heart and love for kids remains as strong as ever!

Since 1966 the heart of Qwanoes has always been on full display in the summer…it’s when camp is fully alive. It’s been 56 summers filled with wonder and adventure, love and caring. Sun-filled days where kids are accepted for who they are by staff who really care. A safe place where kids can be kids and friendships can form…all in this beautiful, west-coast oceanfront haven where everyone is like part of the family. We call it life like no other.

Camp is an ideal place for fun-filled, life-changing adventure and we believe that kids need restorative and uplifting spaces like camp more than ever today.

In John 12:46 Jesus said: “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”

All of us at Qwanoes cling to this truth and our faith and trust remains in him. And not only does he light up our path, he also wants to lead us on - and he has MUCH in store. So hold on and hold tight – there is adventure ahead!

On behalf of the entire board and staff team at Qwanoes.

Scott Bayley
Executive Director

Updated January 6, 2022

Happy New Year!

2021 was sure a unique adventure-filled year here at Camp Qwanoes! It included a day I’ll never forget – this past May 27^th.

That’s the day Dr. Bonnie Henry surprised us all and announced that overnight camps could happen. We were so excited – immediately we threw a party with staff…and in the midst of music, flags waving and excitement one came over to me and said, “I’ve never prayed for something more in all my life” and I could see tears in his eyes.

We are thankful for EVERYONE who came this past year – you made it an incredible year, despite all the challenges due to COVID-19. The saddest part of 2021 for us was not being able to run at full capacity due to COVID restrictions…it was heart-breaking having so many left on wait lists.

Bring On 2022!

We know there is still much uncertainty in our world, and of course we will continue to closely monitor and respectfully follow ALL public health guidelines. We have been committed to this all the way through. Yet our hope and prayer is that camps will be at full capacity or at least nearer to full capacity in summer 2022. With the safety of our guests, staff, campers and their families in mind, all of our staff are now required to be fully-vaccinated effective January 1, 2022.

We are currently not requiring children and youth campers to be vaccinated for children’s and youth camps and retreats, but we will if that becomes required by BC Public Health. Note that ages 12 and up are required to be fully vaccinated for all adult and family retreats and camps (as is currently required by BC Public Health).

Our summer programs will include nine overnight on-site camps (Juniors, Junior High and Youth Camp), five SeaQuest kayaking adventure camps, and our leadership programs (Step-Out, CIT, and LIT). Our retreat programs will start with Juniors Retreat in April, Young Adults Retreat in May, our three Family options (Spring Family Retreat, Summer Family Retreat, and Family Work Weekend), and fall retreats. We are hoping our Open House on June 11 can happen in-person this year.

Sadly, we are not planning to offer Day Camps in 2022, unless COVID-19 restrictions affect overnight camps. We’ve loved running day camps the past two summers and are thankful for everyone who came. We apologize for this inconvenience. With overnight camps not being possible in 2020 and limited in 2021, there have been so many children and youth from the Mainland and further away on the Island who have not been able to come.

Registration For 2022 Programs Begins January 7 @ 9:00 am
We have a brand-new online registration system and it will go live on January 7 @ 9:00 am! We hope you’ll like it. One feature is you can register more than one child at the same time and you will receive immediate confirmation for your registration.

We Remain Committed To Everyone’s Health & Safety

We continue to be deeply concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. As always, health and safety are highest priority at Camp Qwanoes and we have extensive policies and procedures in place. Our plans and protocols for 2022 will be guided constantly by COVID-19 updates from B.C. and Canadian health authorities and government officials, and other reputable sources. We are also ready to adapt however needed.

Staff Opportunities

Thank You!

I would like to thank EVERYONE for their patience, prayers and help in 2020 & 2021 – together we made it through! There’s been deep sadness from cancelled programs and missing everyone who was not able to come.

We’ve also experienced much joy through welcoming so many to new, adapted programs. A highlight has been the outpouring of financial support from so many people. We are so grateful.

Financial Needs Remain – Partner With Us!

The financial impact of the COVID-19 changes and cancelled programs has been immense. To continue to make a difference in the lives of children and youth we needed to raise over $1,000,000 since March 2020. We are extremely thankful for God’s provision through so many people, churches, and organizations! This combined effort of our Qwanoes community has been overwhelming.

Yet, with all the uncertainty and changes we still have big needs ahead in 2022, and we invite your continued help.

Plus, from March 2020 onwards we froze all possible spending, postponed all non-essential projects, and sadly had to reduce our year-round staff, just to make it through. With our capacity greatly reduced due to restrictions, we did not need to have everything ready as we normally would.

This allowed us to delay big things (like upgrading a wakeboard boat or fixing a damaged cabin) and small things (like replacing broken dishes) and MANY things in-between. But now this needs to change!

With this goal in mind we launched a one-month December donation drive to “Re-Set” the camp so we can BRING BACK MORE CAMPERS!

We need to raise $350,000 by the end of 2021. We’ve carefully reviewed all areas of camp to identify how to restore Qwanoes to run at full capacity. Needs are in every area… including the newest need coming from the recent rainstorm damage.

Click here to donate and know that every amount helps and will be a huge encouragement. You can also call us to donate over the phone or you can mail a cheque.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back! For this to be possible we continue to need your financial partnership.

Our Purpose & Passion Remains The Same

Regardless of the COVID constraints since March 2020 – our heart and love for kids remains as strong as ever! And we can’t wait to live this out in 2022.

Camp is an ideal place for fun-filled, life-changing adventure and we believe that kids need restorative and uplifting spaces like camp more than ever today.

“BOTH FEET, NO FEAR, WE’RE SHIFTING TO HIGH GEAR”

These words from our 2021 theme song capture our thoughts for life! In John 12:46 Jesus said: “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”

On behalf of the entire board and staff team at Qwanoes.

Scott Bayley
Executive Director

PS. LET’S ALL DO OUR PART

This has been hard for everyone. We all hope and pray that the COVID-19 situation will change sooner than later.

Please join us in continuing to follow our Provincial Health Officer and other leaders – let’s do all we can to help stop the spread of this virus. Let’s also ask God to intervene and stop the spread of this virus and bring healing to all who are suffering.

We want you to know that we are praying for all the children, youth and families throughout Metro Vancouver, up and down Vancouver Island and beyond. We invite you to share any prayer requests that you may have – it would be an honour for us to lift them up to God.

— Drone shots from Qwanoes on the first full day of Spring, March 20, 2020.