Camp Sequoia 2020: A Place to Thrive

Camp Sequoia has rented the entire Laurel Lake Retreat Center in Indiana County, PA. We’re in the same neighborhood as Punxsutawney Phil and his home on Gobbler’s Knob. In this year of the unusual, Groundhog Day has a certain poetic justice to it. This location allows us provide the Camp Sequoia experience in a location that expands our program offerings and still provides for creature comforts that makes our community feel at home.

Camp Sequoia will work with families who need to make session modifications because of the updated dates. Email or call us and we will be happy to figure it out!

Chef Sam, with a culinary degree and expertise in camp and event catering leads our dining staff. He has worked with Camp Sequoia and is familiar with our menus so naturally we are looking forward to the same high-quality dining that we’ve had in the past. Director Lux is looking forward to Wing Night and Bill can’t wait for Steak Night.

We are thrilled to have our new drone program, go-karts, mountain bikes, and ALL of the activities that make camp amazing. We have a site that allows for us to do all of these things without having to use van transportation once camp starts in line with CDC best practice recommendations.

Of course, we will have both of these camp favorites. We’ll also have Xena and Bill and Mystery Minor as well.

Safety is always a top priority and this year we are working with Vault Health to administer at home saliva sampling as a passport to camp.  Enrolled families will get details on this process that is done in the days before camp and DOES NOT require a visit to a physician’s office. Vault Health is using the Rutgers Clinical Genomics Laboratory to detect RNA from COVID-19. This FDA approved test has been shown to be more accurate than the nasopharyngeal swab tests, which is why Camp Sequoia chose it for our pre-camp screening of both campers and staff. For details on the science and methodology of this test, or any questions about camper health and safety please email us at office@camp-sequoia.com. According to the recently passed CARES Act, this screening is covered by insurance and Vault Health will provide families with specific details directly. However, given the importance of this screening for both campers and staff, CAMP SEQUOIA will cover any costs of pre-camp testing for kids that are not reimbursed by insurance. As always, we have multiple nurses on-site and have the facilities to provide self-contained accommodations for kids (as we always have), for anyone who is symptomatic.  We additionally have the CDC recommended and World Health Organization approved cleaning and PPE supplies in stock at our health center to ensure that we have the resources to appropriately deal with any illness or injury at camp. We will have enhanced hand sanitizing stations throughout camp with WHO approved hand sanitizer (we have both regular and pineapple scented) in addition to staff and visual print reminders on handwashing and personal hygiene consistent with CDC guidelines.

We will further keep kids safe by limiting off site visitors and eliminating off camp excursions.

Because we are testing all campers and staff before they arrive — and we will also be doing periodic screening throughout camp including infrared temperature checks–most of the enhanced cleaning and COVID mandated guidance will not impact camper life. We have always been a low-density campus and are exceeding the CDC and PA Department of Health guidance regarding distancing and size of groups as our divisions travel in age-based cohorts by selected camper activity. There is no requirement for campers to wear masks, and we anticipate that because we are pre-screening our entire community, campers will be able to enjoy an incredible summer experience while at camp.

Our staff training is over two-weeks long and all staff will be screened by Vault Health, just like our camper community. While we believe that staff members are best with our campers when they have time off to rejuvenate, this year staff time off-site on non-working hours will be curtailed in accordance with current guidelines and best practices.

Campers can arrive at Camp Sequoia through one of three ways this summer: family drop off at camp, family drop off at a centralized bus location or pick up from a local airport. Local pick-ups in DuBois and Pittsburgh are also options for the summer. Details on staggered drop-off times and more specific logistical details will come closer to the beginning of camp. Of course, please call us if you have immediate questions, especially if you need to make flight arrangements.

Camp Trucking is transporting our camper luggage to camp and they have procedures in place to ensure that bags are isolated and arrive at camp ready for our campers to have a great summer.

There are several great local options. We recommend checking out Jackson Run and Plantation Getaway

Brian and Reema will be happy to walk you through any of the details of our Summer 2020 season and you can reach us at reema@camp-sequoia.com