Hi everyone, Colleen Foehrenbacher, executive director of Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center here.
I’m coming to you today with updates on our summer programming at Eagle Bluff. However, before that I wanted to take a few moments to speak to our partner schools and their students and families in the Twin Cities and beyond:
Your friends at Eagle Bluff are thinking about you and send you well wishes during this time of grief and unrest. We hope you are staying safe, and staying strong despite all the hurt caused by the death of George Floyd and so many other people of color. As an organization, we are committed to continually working with our partner schools, teachers, families and communities to do all that we can to make our campus and programming more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to all. Racism and injustice have no place in this world and we want to recognize all the organizations and individuals working tirelessly on the frontlines to end racism, fight injustice and make our world a better place. Thank you for all that you do, and for all Eagle Bluff can learn from you as we continue our mission to empower people to care for the earth and each other.
In regards to our 2020 summer programming at Eagle Bluff, we have come to the difficult conclusion that we will be unable to offer youth overnight camps this summer. Per regulations from the state of Minnesota, overnight camps are currently not allowed, and for the purposes of staffing, planning, and providing clarity to our many camp families, this was a tough decision that we had to make. We may still be able to offer family overnight camps as planned in July, so those have not yet been cancelled. We appreciate the patience and guidance our camp families have given us while we worked through this decision-making process.
In lieu of overnight camps, I’m excited to announce we will be offering weekly public events, classes, and outdoor recreation opportunities for individuals and families as well as weeklong day camps during the weeks of July 6th, July 20th, and August 3rd. We have Survival Day Camps, Wildlife Day Camps, and Adventure Day Camps, available to children going into grades 3 through 5, and 6 through 8. All activities and camps we host will be limited to ten participants apiece to comply with state public health requirements. Our new day camps will have the same focus on fun and adventure as our usual camps, without the sleepaway component (and with procedures enacted to help keep participants safe and healthy). Please visit our Summer 2020 webpage at eaglebluffmn.org/2020 to learn more about these exciting new summer programs!
In closing, I want to say thank you to all our students, campers, families and the entire Eagle Bluff community for the incredible outpouring of love and support you’ve shown us during these difficult times. Eagle Bluff wouldn’t exist without you and I am humbled daily by your support. Thank you for all you do to bring people together through the transformative power of nature and the outdoors.
