Success Story: How a Resort Achieved a COVID-FREE Summer

CAMP-of-the-WOODS, a Christian Family Resort and Conference Center located in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, achieved a COVID-free summer due to their extensive health and safety plan.

“We were diligent and detailed,” says the President of the organization, Jim Hammond.

CAMP-of-the-WOODS successfully served over 1500 guests during a nine-week period without a single incidence of COVID-19.

“From the beginning, we cast a vision for what we wanted the summer to look like. When COVID-19 hit, several key employees worked long hours to produce a comprehensive health and safety plan meeting all county and state requirements,” Hammond explains.

“I look back and can’t believe how much we did,” says Natalie Ciccarello, the Executive Assistant, “The State asked for a single page document; we gave them a binder’s worth of thorough plans.”

Joy Huseland, the Director of Tapawingo, the girls’ camp run on the island of Lake Pleasant, routinely worked with the healthcare and leadership teams to write up COVID-19 procedures for Tapawingo and CAMP-of-the-WOODS. The procedures thoroughly explained how each department would operate safely under the guidelines. They covered healthcare information and action plans for each department, following an operational standard for social distancing and sanitization. Every day throughout the planning process and into the summer the group met to review updated research and data to refine their policies and protocols.   

Huseland says, “We felt led to open for the summer so we approached our summer planning with determination.” The team knew the risk of reopening, but because of their dedication and desire to provide a place for people to get away they were able to pull it off.  She added, “It became a place of healing and rest for many people.”

One of the resort’s accountants, Oscar Avila, reported that they had calculated over 100 different financial scenarios to operate under the challenging COVID conditions. Kriscinda Frazier, another accountant added that, “It was difficult to project when none of us knew what was going to happen, but many people rallied around to support us in prayer and donations.”

Avila commented that it was difficult wading through the information they needed to apply for the PPP loan (Paycheck Protection Program). “We received the application so late it was a miracle that we were able to receive the money.” The Finance team wasn’t sure the bank would approve their application, especially seeing how the economy was doing.

Randy Huseland, the Director of Technology, utilized his prior banking and technical experience to help with the extensive planning process that would require the use of new technology to allow programs to continue while ensuring safe distancing.   “It took weeks to research the financial and operational impact while planning out the new live stream setup and app,” Huseland commented.

However, Huseland later acknowledged, “It’s not just a job here. We wouldn’t do what we’re doing and work as hard as we work if it was just a job. We see this as a ministry, and we pour our heart and soul into it knowing the impact this ministry makes on so many people and families.”

Huseland worked closely with Tim Underwood, the Director of Operations, who oversaw the entire planning process. After talking with resident and associate members who attended camp this summer, Underwood stated that many guests said they were glad a place like CAMP-of-the-WOODS was open as a refuge in a time of fear and unrest.

Although some guests were concerned that their experience would be inferior in comparison to past summers, they quickly found the new socially distant family activities, temperature checks, new dining hall and chapel procedures didn’t detract from their overall positive experience.  “CAMP-of-the-WOODS has done a marvelous job with the social distancing, friendly reminders, and hand sanitizers in strategic places — it gave us a sense of normalcy even though we are in the midst of a pandemic,” remarked one member.  Others said, “Honestly, we felt safer here than anywhere else.”, “We were very blessed to see the precautions that were taken coming into Camp” and “You kind of forget COVID exists sometimes up here because of how safe they’ve made it.”

When asked if Underwood thought they were still able to make an impact despite all setbacks, he said, “Yes, all across the board, from live streaming services to worship sessions on the beach. Even what our children’s ministry staff were able to put together - there weren’t many places that were doing anything for kids at that time, so to be able to have puppet shows on the beach and be able to adapt and provide like that was awesome.”

Joe Ciccarello, the Director of Personnel, who was instrumental in planning, stated that they had to reconfigure their summer staff model three times in the span of four weeks in order to meet the needs of their guests. The lower guest count greatly affected the number of summer staff they could hire.

He says, “The staff that we did have, we knew were coming from difficult times, so our number one focus was caring for our staff. ‘Pleasant surprise’ doesn’t do it justice; the summer staff exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

The CAMP-of-the-WOODS team all agreed that though it felt very uncertain at times, they grew as a team and as an administration. Despite the stress of the unknown, they would all do it again to provide peace, rest, and healing for guests and staff alike.

Frazier stated that “Despite all the operational and financial obstacles, we were still able to have a safe and fun summer season.” Joy Huseland smiled, “I think the story is still being written.”

CAMP-of-the-WOODS looks forward to continuing to serve their guests in summer 2021. 

For more information, go to www.cotw.org