In the summer of 1974, Richard Nixon was president of the United States (he would resign in early August of that same year). Also that summer, in June, Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union. Chief Justice Earl Warren died in July 1974, as did baseball legend Dizzy Dean. More to the point, the summer of 1974 was the last summer where I did not participate in summer camp in some form or fashion—either as camper, counselor, or director. For 45 straight years I have been at camp.
Having consulted at length with Woodland Camp, and with our shepherds, it has been decided that we will not host camp this year. Like other recent decisions, this decision was not made lightly. As for Woodland, they have canceled all programs at least through the month of June, and that may well be extended. Woodland is currently awaiting specific guidelines from the public health department—guidelines that, once received, will take them at least three weeks to implement. As for West Metro and our campers and parents, we are concerned about the short-term and long-term effects that persistent close proximity (inherent in a summer camp environment) may have on our membership, as well as on those we serve outside our membership. This is in no way ideal, of course. Yet we are convinced it is the best course in this unusual time.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact me at regray8@bellsouth.net.
–Ricky
