Over the past couple of months, Mountain T.O.P. staff and board members have been faithfully learning, listening, and investigating the impact of COVID-19. We have come to the point where we believe the hurdles to hosting camps have become insurmountable. So it is with heavy hearts that we are announcing Mountain T.O.P.’s 45th summer will not include youth and adult participant groups. We are transitioning to a summer staff only model.
This decision was hard. So many of you understand because you have had to make hard decisions in this time, too. It is sad to think of what we will lose this summer not being together, in-person. Because the health and safety of our community and campers have always been primary, our desire to follow the best practices for camps as outlined by the American Camping Association makes the logistics for our particular camper programs non-viable.
The good news is that we are continuing to do the ministry we have done for the past 44 summers through our summer staff. They will be showing our neighbors love through home repairs and front yard day camps. They will be helping to deliver meals to children, coming alongside the school system to ensure a continuity in access to food. We are confident in a safe plan to deliver these services in an area that was struggling long before a global pandemic.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the churches who registered for summer 2020. Thank you for walking this road with us. Your patience and partnership have spurred us on in seeking out the best possible solution in an ever-changing environment. The knowledge we have gained during this time will help shape programs moving forward.
Our approach to this summer encompasses the values we have always upheld: faith, transformation, stewardship, and connection. We endeavor to be sustained by our faith in God and an expectation for what God has in store for this summer and beyond. As we reset our expectations, we do so with an ever-deepening sense of mission and purpose.
FAQ
Why are we canceling now?
We were waiting for the American Camping Association to release their summer camp guidelines which were released the week of May 17th.
It is our desire to uphold the best practices (versus good or better) outlined by the CDC and ACA for health and safety. The logistics necessary to uphold the highest standards during an overnight camp experience are an insurmountable obstacle for the 2020 summer.
Because of our desire to elevate our existing health and safety protocols, it has become extremely difficult to maintain the integrity of the programming Mountain T.O.P. delivers.
How will our summer staff work safely in the service area?
We will be practicing no physical contact with families and children in the service area. Major home repair projects will encompass work that is on the exterior of homes. Day Camp will deliver its program to children at their homes in front yards. Mountain T.O.P. is a Summer Food Service subsite, and meal delivery will still be a part of our summer ministry. Summer staff will be trained on the best practices for keeping the community and themselves healthy.
What is our refund policy for summer 2020 participants?
Traditionally churches make payments under an agreement that all payments are nonrefundable. However, we have made adjustments to those policies given the unique and unprecedented situations we all find ourselves in. Our adjustments reflect our desire to maintain the valuable relationships we have with our churches to ensure that Mountain T.O.P. can continue to respond to God’s call on us throughout our service area long after COVID-19. We understand that this health crisis is impacting us all in really severe ways, especially financially, and are hoping that we can move forward in a way that is helpful to all of us.
Mountain T.O.P. will be keeping the deposit and second payment, which is $165/person, for most churches. Churches have the opportunity to choose whether they would like to donate the remaining paid fees, transfer those fees to their 2021 trip, or have them refunded. Mountain T.O.P. depends on camper fees to cover 51% of our annual budget. The funds from camper first and second payments cover the cost of full and part time (non-summer) staff members as they prepare for the summer (developing program, hiring summer staff, etc), camp facility maintenance & enhancement and insurance & utilities on our camps. The loss of the summer program results in the ministry facing a difficult financial situation. The funds retained help offset some of the costs already incurred.
Will we have a Fall Adults In Ministry season?
At this point, we are anticipating a Fall AIM season. We expect how we carry out participant activities to continue to evolve, and we are committed to put into place proper guidelines so that we can safely continue to work in the service area with participants in the Fall.
How can you help?
There is still much work to do throughout our service area. In addition to the health impact of COVID-19, rural counties are at a disadvantage in accessing much needed economic recovery resources. For Mountain T.O.P., the pandemic may have slowed us down, but it will not stop us from fulfilling God’s call upon this ministry. You can help us by keeping us in your prayers, give as you can, and volunteering again when the time is right. Our partnership with you means more than we can express. Thank you for standing with us.