Dear Parents:

It is with very heavy hearts that we share that we will be cancelling our Summer 2020 sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We didn't want to write this letter.  We did everything we could to make camp work, but after hours of meetings with the leadership team and other camp professionals, it became clear that this is the right, albeit incredibly sad, decision.  We were looking forward to camp, just like you and your families. 

There are many reasons why we are unable to open, but the biggest one is this: Jameson Ranch Camp has always been committed to the well-being of our entire camp community. While camp is never risk-free, our first priority has always been and will continue to be the health and safety of our campers and staff. After listening carefully to guidance from public health officials in Kern County and California, the camp community, and professional organizations like the American Camp Association, the Western Association of Independent Camps, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, we came to the conclusion that it would not be in the best interest of our campers, staff members and families to run our camp program this summer.  

For more than 85 years, JRC has been about family. To us, that means holding hands at barn dances, linking arms in Rose Arbor every night while we sing, and the daily high fives and hugs that make us feel loved. Camp is being close and enjoying each other’s company. It is laughter, camaraderie and community. The leadership team strongly feels that we cannot alter our program to comply with social distancing guidelines while also providing the same enriching experience that campers and staff have enjoyed for decades. 

We know that this is a challenging time for you, as it is for us. You are being called upon to be strong, brave, and innovative. You’re being asked to be everything for your families, and that is hard. Thank you for everything you are doing. 

Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., has a number of helpful videos with how to navigate this pandemic, including this video on how to help kids manage disappointment over cancelled summer plans. We hope you’ll find this helpful as you and your family continue to process the current environment.

We know that this summer won’t be the same without camp, but we are committed to continuing to create community throughout the year and we know that we will all be more ready and excited for Summer 2021 than we have ever been. 

You will be receiving a survey with additional information about refunds and registration in the coming week or two. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all. Thank you for all you do.

-Erica, Caitlin, Ross & Debby