Central Sierra Christian summer camps fight to stay alive during coronavirus pandemic

San Joaquin Valley Christian summer camps are struggling as the coronavirus pandemic continues to punch holes in the economy.

The financial strain of COVID-19 has touched Christian camps like Calvin Crest above Oakhurst and Hume Lake Christian Camp near Grant Grove.

When they closed on March 14, all of Calvin Crest’s staff were furloughed for about seven weeks. The camp also had to apply for a loan through the federal coronavirus-relief Paycheck Protection Program, which they received during the second round of fund distribution.

They were able to bring back half of their staff using the money they received.

“By the end of 2021, we will have lost over $1 million of revenue,” said Tiffany Staman, executive director of Calvin Crest. “It has had a huge impact on staff and revenue.”

Staman said they’ve received a lot of support from the community, including the Presbytery of San Joaquin. Reverend Les Hyder, executive presbyter, said they came together as a church community to help with loan deferment agreements, assist laid-off employees, and advertised for the camp’s fundraiser. They also encouraged members to let the camp retain any reservation fees they had deposited to cover their camp fees.

Hyder said Calvin Crest serves an integral role in connecting Presbyterian churches within the Central Valley.

Hume Lake

Hume Lake Christian Camp also had to cancel in-person camp. With the bulk of its revenue pulling from summer camp sessions, in-person camp cancellations have had an impact on the financial prospects for Hume Lake, according to Executive Director Dathan Brown.

“We had little to no revenue for months,” said Brown. “Not only with the loss of spring, the loss of large-scale summer, but also with the uncertainty of fall and maybe even winter, we were slated to lose about $19 million in revenue.”

Hume Lake has managed to limit its economic losses to $6 million by slashing its budget and imposing spending, hiring and traveling freezes. Camp leaders are hoping a fundraising campaign that so far has raised $1.7 million will pay ff.

Like The Well Community Church, churches affiliated with Hume Lake have also encouraged their members to let the camp keep their dues and donate additional funds to help keep the camp afloat. Members have also been invited to make use of the camp’s open lodging facilities.

Chris Schultz, executive pastor of ministry at The Well, said they had planned on sending more than 400 students to Hume Lake this summer before COVID-19 forced closures.

“Hume holds a special place in our church history,” said Schultz. “We just love the people, so it grieves us that they’re not able to hold camps this summer and do what they have been doing for so long.”

Due to COVID-19, Christian camps have continued hosting online camp sessions. Most camps have also opened their grounds for socially distanced family camping, but staffers say the experience is not the same.

“It has been hard not having our campers come together,” Staman said. “There’s just a magic that happens, so not seeing our campers come together and experience those beautiful moments that are life-changing for them, that’s been really sad to not see that.”