By Ethan Ready

Camp Cancelled

Ness Lake Bible Camp cancels summer camps

May 26, 2020 | 2:46 PM

It was the last thing that hadn’t yet been crossed off of Rebecca Harris’ calendar.

This summer, however, will be the first one in a while that her two daughters will not be campers at Ness Lake Bible Camp.

On Thursday (May 21, 2020), the camp posted to its Facebook page to notify the public that it would be cancelling their 2020 summer camps. The decision was made in order to ensure the health and safety of both campers and the staff.

“It’s just crushing. We were so excited. We had so much momentum going,” said Camp Director Elliott Harder. “Last year, setting the record for the number of campers, and then this year we were on pace to do even more. There was going to be over 2,000 campers here. It’s devastating for our team to be looking at something so good and to just not have it. And then wondering when are things going to settle down, ever.”

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Harder projects that the financial hit could be as a high as $750,000 this summer due to the cancellation of camps.

Harris admits as disappointing as the news is, she understands a tough decision was made.

“I wasn’t surprised. I think I was expecting it,” Harris said, admitting it was the final thing her family had yet to cross off their summer calendar. “I know that they were hoping, and they were waiting as long as they could to make that call, but when I heard it I wasn’t surprised.”

She says she does feel the camp has made the decision with everyone’s best interest in mind but is disappointed that her daughters will miss out on one of their favourite parts of the summer break.

Instead, the Harris family has opted to seize the opportunity to do some family camping over the summer as a way to further explore the province.

“It’s allowing us time as a family that we wouldn’t have had. My husband is off work as well and so we’re thinking maybe this is the year we take the tent and go explore in BC, and camp a little bit more as a family rather than them at camp.”

In the meantime, Harder says they will be utilizing this time to perform some needed maintenance on some of their cabins and other facilities around the camp.

Ness Lake Bible Camp is also looking into ways of potentially bringing single-day activities into Prince George as a way to still have that connection between his staff and the community.

Despite the cancellation of their camps, Harder just hopes families do still find a way to enjoy the outdoors and spent this unique and uncertain time together.