Takodah YMCA Executive Director, Artie Lang, announces that we have made the difficult decision to cancel Camp Takodah for this summer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Camp Takodah cancel summer camp for this year?

We have been monitoring COVID-19 carefully in partnership with the CDC, State Department, YMCA of the USA, American Camp Association, NH Governor, NH Department of Health & Human Services, and Association of Camp Nurses. After receiving guidance from these agencies, our Board of Directors and professional staff unanimously agreed that it would be impossible for us to run summer camp in a safe and socially responsible way that reflected our mission and values — and felt like our traditional summer camp experience.

Will there be summer camp next year? What will it be like?

Yes! We plan to offer Summer Camp in 2021, and we cannot wait for the time when we can be together again. It is still too soon to predict exactly what will happen next year; however, we anticipate the current summer camp guidelines loosening as the country continues to improve testing and treatments – and as herd immunity and vaccines mitigate the threat of COVID-19. We recognize that there could be lasting changes to summer camp healthcare management, and our focus will be on making adjustments that enable us to run summer camp in a safe and socially responsible way that reflects our mission and values — and feels like our traditional summer camp experience.

Do you have any advice for talking to my camper about summer camp cancellation?

Campers have already sacrificed so much during this difficult time, and they have been holding out hope for summer camp. We expect this decision will be especially hard for them. We hope our blog post, Talking to Campers About a Summer Without Takodah, helps you in sharing this news with them.

What do I need to do right now?

We will send a Tuition Preference Form to all currently registered campers via Survey Monkey on Friday. If you do not see an email from Survey Monkey on Friday, then please check your spam or junk email folders. You might also consider whitelisting Survey Monkey in your email account.

When you receive the survey, please complete one survey for each of your campers right away. When you submit the survey, we will adjust your account based on your pre-registration and tuition preferences.

We promise to process your requests as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that we have 1,250+ campers, and it will take us more time than normal to process your request. Thank you in advance for your patience.

How can I support Camp Takodah?

We want to be open and honest with you about Camp Takodah facing a devastating $1.2 million deficit due to the loss of summer camp. We need your support more than ever to ensure that Takodah is around for many years to come.

If you are in a financial position to help, then please consider making a donation to the Takodah YMCA Emergency Fund, which will help sustain the mission and operations of Camp Takodah until Summer 2021. You can make an easy and secure donation online. Every donation makes a difference, and we are beyond grateful for your support.

What will happen with the money I’ve already paid for Summer 2020?

Some of our camper families are struggling, and we are offering full refunds to anyone in need.

At the same time, we want to be open and honest with you about Camp Takodah facing a devastating $1.2 million deficit due to the loss of summer camp. We need your support more than ever to ensure that Takodah is around for many years to come.

If you’re in a financial position to help, then please consider donating the money you have already paid for Summer 2020 to the Takodah YMCA Emergency Fund, which will help sustain the mission and operations of Camp Takodah until Summer 2021. Another way to help is by simply transferring the money you’ve already paid for Summer 2020 as a credit to your Summer 2021 account. We’re beyond grateful for your support.

Can I pre-register for Summer 2021?

Yes! It is important to register for Summer Camp 2021 now. Takodah always sells out. If you wait to register, then you will risk losing your spot for next summer. All it takes is a $125 deposit per session, which will simply be transferred from the fees you have already paid for Summer 2020. Keep in mind that your deposit will be fully refundable and transferrable until February 14, 2021, which means you have nothing to lose if you change your mind later.

When you pre-register your camper for Summer 2021 now, you will lock in this year’s rates for next summer and avoid our normal price increases. You will also receive a $25 discount, 2020 Early Bird Shirt, special 2020 CT, and limited-edition Takodah mittens.

When will Summer 2021 registration open to the public?

Families registered for Summer Camp 2020 are able to pre-register until May 29, 2020. Starting on June 1, we will open any available spots to families currently on our waitlists. Then on June 15, 2020, we will open registration to the public. Takodah always sells out. Please stick to the registration dates/guidelines to ensure that you do not lose your spot for next summer. If you have friends or family who wish to guarantee a spot for next year, then please urge them to register on the earliest date that is applicable to them.

What if my camper will be old enough to be an LC next summer?

If your camper will complete 10^th grade in June 2021, then they will be eligible for the LC Program in Summer 2021. All currently registered campers who meet the age/grade requirement are guaranteed spots in the LC Program for 2021. They will not need to fill out an application or submit reference forms. You will simply need to register them for the LC Program now.

What if my camper was going to be an LC this summer and will be old enough to be a LIT next summer?

If your camper is currently registered to be an LC this summer, then we encourage you to register them for the Leader-In-Training (LIT) program for Summer 2021. All currently registered LCs are guaranteed spots in the LIT Program for 2021. They will not need to fill out an application or submit reference forms. During the 2021 LIT Program, we will combine the curriculums from LC and LIT. Missing the LC program this summer will not impact their chances of getting into the LIT Program in Summer 2021 or applying for staff positions in Summer 2022.

What if my camper was going to be a LIT this summer and will be old enough to be a staff member next summer?

We know that LIT is one of the most transformative summers for our campers. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 – and if there is any way for us to do a modified LIT experience at the end of this summer, then we will reach out to you with additional information.

If your camper was registered to be a LIT this summer, then we encourage them to apply for a staff position for Summer 2021. The staff application will be available no later than June 1, 2020, and we will send you an email reminder at that time. Missing the LIT program this summer will not impact their chances of getting a staff position in Summer 2021.

When will staff applications open for next summer?

We plan to open staff applications for Summer 2021 on June 1, 2020. We will send an email reminder to all applicable campers, parents, and staff at that time.

What about Early Bird Shirts, pre-registration mittens, CTs, and 10-Year Jackets?

If your camper is currently registered for Summer 2020 and you pre-register them for Summer 2021, then we will mail an Early Bird Shirt and pre-registration mittens to you this summer. In addition, we will create a special Summer 2020 CT, which we will send to your camper with their Early Bird Shirt and pre-registration mittens.

Summer 2020 will not count for numbered CTs or 10-Year Jackets. All campers who were eligible for numbered CTs or 10-Year Jackets will receive them if and when they attend Summer 2021.

Will Camp Takodah offer virtual summer camp this year?

We do not plan to offer any virtual summer camp programming this year. When we surveyed our camp families, they resoundingly said that they have been inundated with virtual programming options – and virtual programming was not something they wanted or needed from Camp Takodah.

We will continue to stay active on social media, and we encourage campers to keep in contact with their camp friends.

Can I visit Camp Takodah this summer?

Camp Takodah is currently closed for the health and safety of everyone. If ‘shelter in place’ and ‘social distancing’ restrictions loosen during the summer, then we will consider opening Camp Takodah for visits by campers and their families. We will reach out to you about options if and when they are available.

What if I have other questions?

Please feel free to contact the Camp Office at 603-352-0447 or info@takodahymca.org. As you can imagine, our staff are extremely busy with pre-registrations and tuition refunds. We thank you in advance as our response times will likely be significantly slower than usual.