Special Announcement from Chip May, Executive Director
I am deeply disappointed to announce that after much consideration, analysis and prayer, Camp Arcadia’s leadership (board of directors and management team) have decided to cancel our retreats through June 27. This includes our volunteer Opening Weekend, the Summer Starter retreat (formerly named the Golf & The Gospel retreat), and our two teen retreats – the Alpha and Omega Teen Retreats.
We mourn the loss of these unique ministries of Camp Arcadia. We mourn the loss of the gathering of a volunteer community who transform Camp with their hard work and willing spirit. We mourn the loss of the gathering of adults that grows in faith and fellowship every year as we start our retreat season. We mourn the loss of the gathering of teens that has lifelong impact upon faith and friendships. It is devastating to not host these retreats, but our decision is grounded in our commitment to providing a safe environment for you and our staff.
We desire to connect people with a community of Christian believers, foster faith, inspire joy, and point to our Savior, Jesus Christ. To that end we will be providing opportunities to carry out Camp’s mission even if we can’t come together at Camp Arcadia. For our Teen Week guests, Camp will be offering a Teen Connect program digitally from June 21-27, 2020. This includes a Bible study, small groups and evening Vespers. All teens currently registered will receive a Camp swag bag in the mail in June, which includes a Camp Arcadia t-shirt.
For those that are registered for these retreats, we will be reaching out to you to ask you to make your deposit into a donation. Your donation is crucial to Camp Arcadia’s financial stability and it will allow us to continue to carry out its mission now and in years to come. Of course, we will give a partial or full refund if that is desired.
Please join me in praying for the college-aged staff members that are hired to serve on staff as their start date has been delayed and their summer is uncertain. I also ask that you pray for the campers that will not be able to come to Camp, that they might remember that they are not alone and they have a loving God in Jesus that is always with them. Finally, I ask for your prayers for the Camp leadership as we discern the future of the rest of our summer season. Camp’s board of directors will be meeting in mid-May to evaluate the family retreat schedule.
Thank you for standing together as the Camp Arcadia family as we, armed with God’s love and His eternal promises, come together for each other and for Camp Arcadia’s ministry.
9 Responses
Thank you for all that you do for Camp Arcadia. Even though we are saddened by the cancellation of the early retreats, we totally understand. We will support you in any way possible. 🙏❤️
Our prayers enfold each of you — management staff and board as you wrestled with a most difficult, but very wise decision. Times are too uncertain and the lives of our staff and guests too precious to risk anyone’s life.
It is a deeply sad time for all who love Camp Arcadia, but love will prevail and God will give creativity and wisdom as you minister in a totally new way.
Stan and Karla
Chip,
Thank you for the update, I’m sure it has Ben a gut wrenching gut wrenching time through this pandemic. Camp Arcadia and everyone associated with it are in our prayers! Stay strong and stay healthy.
God’s Blessings,
John and Deb
Thank you for all your hard work and your faithfulness, and by this I mean to be thanking your whole staff, and the Board.
I’m so sad that your summer schedule had to be shortened. My family is planning on coming in August and praying that we’ll still be able to come.
Today, I’m contacting the Michigan Soeaker of the House of Representatives and pleading that the Michigan lawmakers open up the state for summer tourism.
I don’t live in Michigan, but maybe the more outside contacts they get, the sooner the state will open.
May God open Michigan and bless RKD!
Why would anyone who is not an epidemiologist or public heath expert reach out to a government leader urging them to do anything that might put more lives at risk when we are in the midst of a global pandemic?
Yes, it is extremely sad that Camp Arcadia has cancelled the first part of its summer season and most likely will end up doing the same for its remaining months, but that is far better than risking the lives of the dozens of multigenerational families who would otherwise vacation there this year. I can’t think of a better environment for the coronavirus to spread as so many people are in close proximity for the entire week, then travel back to cities across the country while potentially serving as asymptomatic carriers who could infect other family and friends.
I am urging all who read this comment thread to do the exact opposite and please do *not* contact Speaker Chatfield. (Thank goodness that decision is not up to him anyway, but Michigan’s very capable Governor Whitmer.)
If anyone from any state would like to contact the Speaker of the House in Michigan, his name is Lee Chatfield. His email is:
LeeChatfield@house.mi.gov
I encourage you to do this…
and to keep praying!!
A tough message to deliver. Well done, Chip. No matter what, we serve Him who will revive and make all things new. Peace to all.
We know as Christians GOD is with RKD. HE will get us through this.