COVID-19 and Gales Creek Camp
3.27.20
Dear GCC Community,
We want you to that know that your Gales Creek Camp family is thinking of you. These are uncertain times for everyone, and for families who live with type 1 diabetes, it can be even more worrying. When it comes to COVID-19 and our T1D kids,
check out this encouraging guidance from JDRF
.
Gales Creek Camp exists for kids and families living with type 1 diabetes, and we wanted to reach out to update you on plans for camp. At this time, we’re still hopeful that camp will happen this summer.
We meet regularly to re-assess the situation, and we are monitoring the developments of this pandemic as it relates to camp.
The GCC volunteer executive team is made up of representatives from the diabetes medical community, from education, and from varied industries. They provide insight and expertise that feed the decision-making.
Diabetes summer camp is unique, and it comes with a unique set of challenges under these circumstances. At the moment, our major points of consideration include:
·
Camp is a gathering place of about 100 people on-site at any given time. As we get closer to summer, depending on how things have progressed, health authorities or our own Medical Committee may determine that the risk is too great to bring our campers together this year.
·
GCC relies heavily on its medical volunteers. Because of the enormous stress being put on the medical system, these doctors, PAs and nurses are necessarily focused elsewhere. At present, they are largely unavailable during the planning phases of camp—and more importantly, they are likely to be unavailable or severely limited during the camp season.
·
GCC also relies heavily on donations of medical supplies. Many of these basic supplies (like exam gloves, alcohol swabs, syringes) are in high demand, and the concern is that they won’t be available to us.
Whatever comes, we will strive to provide timely updates. If it becomes impossible to hold onsite camp this summer, we will let you know as soon as possible. In that event, we will work to develop a few engaging “virtual camp” opportunities that can provide some connection between our campers and families. And we will stand ready to bring people together again as soon as it’s safe to do so.
We appreciate that you are a part of the Gales Creek Camp Community. We wish you the best as you navigate this uncertain time. And we look forward to seeing you again.
We will camp on.
