News from our diocesan camp and retreat center,
July 2020
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From the Woods -
A message from our Executive Director
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Greetings my friends,
What a long strange trip these past few months have been! Back on March 13, Chanco sent out notification that we would suspend activity for two weeks in response to the evolving outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, our lives have all changed in drastic ways, including the suspension of Camp Chancoās normal camp operations for the 2020 season. Through the summer, we have welcomed many families who have enjoyed our summer get-aways program. Now, as you will read in the articles below, Chanco is preparing to welcome retreat groups back this fall.
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Iād like to take a moment now to share with you what the past four months have looked like at Chanco. A Paycheck Protection Program grant through the CARES act and significant donor support through #GivingTuesdayNow have helped us to maintain Chancoās commitment to the year-round staff who serve our campers and guests. I sincerely thank our friends who have supported us during this unprecedented time. You have truly made a difference.
ļ»æLet me assure you that the staff has been busy, preparing for your next visit. One of the most exciting projects that we completed was hanging all of the camper plaques in our new Dining Hall. Click
here
or this photo to check out a video of all our newly hung plaques; I think you will agree that they bring an old familiar feel to our shiny new space. This is just one of many improvements you will notice the next time you come to Chanco. While the full list of projects completed by our staff during the period of suspended operations is too long to list, here are a few other examples to share with you:
- Repairs to the dock
- Significant interior and exterior painting
- Landscaping work, including new plantings
- Built new lifeguard tower
- Installed new fencing
As we have continued to care for and improve this beloved place, we have been eagerly anticipating your return. Through the summer, it has been great to connect with those of you who have come with your family for a summer get-away at Chanco. And now, we feel it is appropriate to welcome retreat groups back to our magical woods. I invite you to come to Chanco for some much needed mental recovery, walk the beach, enjoy a kayaking trip or paddle boarding, sit around a crackling campfire, enjoy a meal prepared by our team, and look for your name on one of the old camp plaques. I very much look forward to welcoming you all back home to Chanco.
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Gareth Kalfas, Executive Director
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Chanco is open for retreats!
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Starting August 10
th
, Chanco would like to welcome back any and all who would like to bring a group to Chanco for a beautiful and fun retreat on the James River. We know COVID-19 is still around, but we assure you, we will take your safety seriously and will work with you to maintain CDC safety guidelines to keep your guests happy, healthy, and having a great time! Schedule your retreat today by calling us at 888-724-2626 or emailing us at
hospitality@chanco.or
g
. We look forward to hosting you soon!
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Family Camp
Join us for Camp Chanco fun
for the whole family!
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Guess what Chanco families: we have some very exciting news! We couldnāt go all summer without a little bit of summer camp, we just missed you too much! We are excited to announce we will be hosting FAMILY CAMP 2020. Not just the Family CampING weāve been doing, but actual, we do it every year, fun for all families FAMILY CAMP! Bring your family August 13
th
-16
th
for an extended weekend of family, fun and Chanco! Safety is a priority and we are focusing all our efforts into making sure we can have fun and keep our Chanco family healthy.
Click here
for a flyer with more information. Register your family
here
for some good olā Chanco fun!
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We Won!
Thanks to your vote, we are number one!
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Once again, Chanco earns the top slot as āBest Summer Campā as voted by Virginia Living Magazine! Thank you to all our friends who voted for us ā we know weāre number one and now the rest of Virginia does too!
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Virtual Worship Services
ļ»æat Chanco
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Chanco is pleased to have offered virtual worship services throughout the month of July. Thank you to the Rev. Eileen Walsh, the Rev. Charlie Bauer, Scott Goodspeed, Lexi Barnhill, Gareth Kalfas, Karey Sitzler and our videographer Casey Cole for their assistance with these services! And a very special thank you to Bishop Susan Haynes for officiating last week's service. Click
here
or this image to see Bishop Susan officiate a service of healing on the bluff. Visit our You Tube channel
here
for all of our worship services. We appreciate you joining us for virtual worship and hope that they bring you just a little bit of Chanco spirit during this time.
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Missing your Chanco gear this year?
Check out our new on line camp store!
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You asked - we listened! Chanco t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, coffee mugs and more are now available on our on line store.
Click here
to visit our store or visit our website at
www.chanco.org
and stock up on that Chanco gear you missed getting this summer! Get your gear while supplies last! Questions? Contact us at 888-724-2626 or
hospitality@chanco.org
.
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Food for the Soul Retreat
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Join us for our Food for the Soul retreat offered September 26-27, 2020. Participants last year enjoyed wonderful fellowship, incredible food, a cooking lesson with Chef Rafael, & learning about and tasting Virginia wine as well as discussions about the importance of nourishing your spirit.
Questions? Contact us at
hospitality@chanco.org
. or 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626).
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Chanco on the James Camp and Conference Center
in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia
394 Floods Drive, Spring Grove, VA 23881
Phone: 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626)
Fax: 757-294-0727
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