What is Family Camp going to look like?

Pre-Camp Paperwork (pdf)

Family Camp Pre-Camp Health Screening (pdf)

A Letter to Family Camp from the Executive Director

Dear Family Camp,

We are so excited that, in spite of these unprecedented and uncertain times, we continue to receive reservations for the 109th Annual Family Camp.  The Family Camp team is working hard planning and preparing in spite of the COVID-19 virus. If you have attended the event in the past, you have come to expect, “a certain way of doing things.”  I would invite you to let it all go!  For those of you who have never attended the event before, good news!  You are not burdened with “how it’s always been done.” 

Isaiah 43:19 says:
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Bay Shore is doing a new thing; making a way through the “wilderness.”  It will be different, but we believe it will be good, special, memorable and life-changing.  And we invite you to be a part of it.

We have reviewed all the health and safety guidelines and recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC,) the American Camping Association (ACA,) and the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Agency, (LARA,) and we believe we have designed operational protocols to help mitigate risk.

We are still finalizing those operational details, and Family Camp could still be impacted by decisions from our State government, but here are some of the details that you can expect.

General Information

  • Prior to arriving at camp, please monitor you and your children for COVID-19 symptoms. (See Pre-Camp Health Screening Form.)
  • Expect a health screening, including a temperature check when you arrive.
  • Gates into camp will be monitored when they are open. They will be closed during the overnight hours.  Set hours are yet to be finalized.
  • Masks are recommended indoors, or outdoors where social distancing cannot be maintained. Plan to bring one with you.
  • Meals will be available in the dining hall and will meet the health and safety protocols for food service.  In house seating and take out service will be available.  In-house, dining will be served cafeteria-style and there will be no self-serve items.
  • Increased cleaning and sanitization procedures have been implemented in the bathrooms, dining hall, and meeting spaces.
  • The pool is operating on a reduced capacity (100.)  Swim periods are scheduled for 50 minutes with a 10-minute break for sanitization procedures.
  • The playground will be disinfected daily.  Children should be supervised at the playground.

Evening Worship

  • Strict capacity restrictions will be in place. We’ll be moving the evening worship into a large tent just outside the Tabernacle.  This will allow us to provide adequate social distancing.  Feel free to bring your own comfortable outdoor seating. Limited Tabernacle seating will be available for those who would prefer indoor seating. Worship audio and video will be available in the Tabernacle.
  • Live streaming may be available.

Children and Children’s Programming

  • Children’s and youth programming will continue. Kids will be assigned to groups of 10 or fewer.
  • Children should remain with their family, when not participating in the children’s programming.

Bible Study

  • Patton Lodge room capacity will be reduced to allow for adequate social distancing. An outdoor seating option will be available.

In the coming days, we anticipate our planning and procedures will be refined even further. Please be patient with us. Check here for updates.

This year is the 109th Anniversary of Bay Shore Camp.  We are pleased that we are able to find a way to continue the tradition of meeting together at Family Camp in these uncertain times.  Over the years, the Bay Shore ministry has grown to become so much more and we are pleased to report that we are moving forward with our mission and have opened our overnight children’s and youth camps for the summer. (Already, young lives have been changed for Jesus.) However, the COVID-19 virus has created unprecedented economic challenges for the ministry at Bay Shore Camp. Now, more than ever, the continued financial support of our Family Camp supporters is essential. Your registration fees and offerings at Family Camp are ways we’re able to sustain the ministry.

We recognize that attending Family Camp this year may not be the right decision for your family. We’ll miss you! And, we know that you’ll miss being here. In your absence, would you consider supporting the ministry, with a gift similar to how you’ve supported the ministry in the past? Any financial gift will help minimize the negative financial impact we’re currently experiencing. Thank you in advance for your help.

We look forward to continuing this long-standing tradition and can’t wait to provide a life-changing family camp for you this summer!

If you have further questions about the operation of Family Camp at Bay Shore Camp, please don’t hesitate to email us, info@bayshorecamp.org, or call, 989-883-2501.

Peace and Blessings,

Jeff Parsons
Executive Director

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