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Summer 2020

Pali will not be opening for summer 2020.

Dear Pali families,

In June of 1990, at the age of twenty-one, as I excitedly waited for the arrival of my first group of 21 Pali Day Campers to exit their vans, I never imagined I would be in the camping industry 30+ years later, let alone have grown Pali into the year round multi-dimensional business which include a summer resident camp, an outdoor school and a Conference Center.

Since 1990, the Pali brand has had on average double-digit growth each and every year with the exception of the great recession of 2009, where we shrank 8.9%.

My Father’s sage advice to me was always be ready for the unexpected. Heeding that advice, I annually purchased expensive liability and business interruption insurance and hired a significant number of the best in industry staff to ensure that our staff to camper ratio is better than anyone else in the industry.

That has led Pali to successfully operating 30+ years without a customer liability insurance claim, giving us excellent social media ratings and having served over 1 million satisfied participants.

Going into 2020, we felt we were prepared for all potential disruptions.

We were prepared, when Pali went from pretty much sold out through June, with 600+ students attending our Outdoor Education Program each week and our weekend conference programs filled, to closed in 72 hours.

We were prepared, when we found out that our expensive Business Interruption policy would not cover this loss, because of an exclusion.

We were prepared, when we were told by our government, that a two-weeks shut down was being extended to a 2-month shut down and would be back up and running by May 15th. It was a huge financial shock, but we were prepared.

When we received the final word yesterday, June 16th, that the government would not allow Pali Adventures to open, even though campgrounds, beaches, day camps, hotels, restaurants, public pools, movie theaters could – we were not prepared in the slightest.

Since mid-March, Hamm’s, Snacks, Tuppence, Amy and the entire overnight camp team have been competently and tirelessly preparing for a completely different 2020 summer, full of personal protective equipment, social distancing, pod cabins and countless other adjustments suggested by the American Camping Association and the CDC.

On May 22nd, almost a month ago, I spoke with California’s Head of Health and Human Services, Mark Ghaly, who reassured us that Pali had nothing to worry about with regards to operating for summer 2020, and camp regulations would be coming out from his office the following week.

Based on that conversation, we instructed our summer camp staff to arrive the following week to begin training.  In a mad dash, we purchased personal protective equipment, set up all of our redesigned approved activities, purchased food, and ensued on training our staff on how to run camp in a Covid world.

Over the next few weeks we received two additional assurances, that we would be good to go from our County Supervisors office.

On Tuesday, June 9th, 5 days before camp was scheduled to open, we received a letter from the health department that we were not permitted to open.

Since the moment we received that letter, we have been trying anything and everything under the sun to get the health department to approve our opening.  We hired a political consultant, spoke at length with all of our local elected government offices and tried to get Pali reclassified as a Campground, a hotel and a dozen other machinations.  We performed a letter writing campaign to our elected officials – all to no avail.

The letter writing campaign, while not allowing us success, was successful in giving us clarity. We finally heard back from the State that they would not be releasing any resident camp guidance to counties any time soon and the county was clear that they would not allow us to open until they received that approval from the State, game over.

I know this letter was long winded and probably TMI for many of you.  I just wanted to be as clear as possible, that we tried our hardest to provide a summer camp program for your children and I tried as hard as possible to provide continued employment for as many of our full-time, year-round, employees as possible.

In addition to the normal 100+ summer camp staff that Pali employs, we have 70+ year-round behind the scenes full time employees, who prepare food, clean the cabins, pay the bills, create our marketing materials and maintain and constantly upgrade our facility.  Each of these people support their families and I feel a moral responsibility to financially support them.

Our plan and wish, is for Pali to return stronger and more resilient when we are finally allowed by the government to reopen.

I look forward to the day when our mountain once again rings with the sound of children playing, learning, laughing and simply being kids at camp.

Disappointed but forever optimistic,

Andy Wexler
Owner
Pali Adventures

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What you can expect during summer 2020

We know how much the camp community means to everyone, and we have been working non-stop to put measures in place that will allow us to run safely and professionally during the 2020 season. We are excited to provide a wonderful, albeit different, camp experience.

Before sending your child to Pali Adventures, we want to make sure you understand how camp is likely to operate this summer and the changes that we will be making to our regular operations in order to keep our entire camp community as safe as possible. Please keep in mind, this plan will remain fluid, and some sections could be amended as new guidance and recommendations become available.

  • While we wish that we could control every possible risk, and while we will use our best efforts to keep your child safe from the COVID-19 virus, we want to make clear that we cannot promise or guarantee that this or any other pathogen will not enter camp, and that by the very nature of the personal interaction that takes place in the camp environment, there is always a risk of your child becoming infected with this or any other communicable disease. We want you to be fully aware of this risk in making the decision to send your child to camp this summer, and that you are willing to assume and accept it on your child’s behalf.
  • Our efforts to keep all of our campers safe include minimizing contact with anyone outside of the camp community. As such, no parent visitation will be permitted during each camper’s stay at camp and campers will not be permitted to leave camp for any reason except for emergencies.
  • It is not recommended that your child attend camp this summer if they are considered to be at high risk for severe illness. If you are adamant that your child attends camp you will be required to submit approval from your child’s primary care provider stating that the camp environment is an acceptable place for them to be this summer as well as an additional waiver form stating that you are aware of the risk involved in sending your child to camp and that you are willing to accept those risks.
  • To ensure that your child arrives to camp in the best of health we will ask you to complete a pre-screening of your child’s health during the 14 days prior to their arrival to camp. A pre-screening form will be emailed to you on which you will be able to record your child’s temperature as well as observing for and asking about the presence of any COVID 19 symptoms. You will be required to submit this pre-screening form to healthcare personnel upon your arrival to camp. Your child will not be admitted to camp if any of the following are indicated or reported on the pre-screening form:
    • Camper, or parent on their behalf, has not completed the pre-screen document and self-monitored symptoms prior to camp.
    • The pre-screen form reports a temperature above 99.9°F and/ or other symptoms typical of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to their arrival to camp.
    • The pre-screen form identifies the camper has been exposed to someone with the listed symptoms or diagnosis of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to their arrival to camp.
    • The pre-screen form identifies that a member of a household where the camper resides has been sick with COVID-19 symptoms in the 14 days prior to camp.
    • The camper has tested positive for COVID-19 and has not had a follow-up test to ensure that they are no longer infected.
    • The camper has had signs and symptoms or been exposed to someone with the listed symptoms or diagnosis of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to their arrival to camp and have not met the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation.
    • Your help, and your diligent pre-screening and evaluation of your child, will help us to provide the safest possible program this summer. If your child exhibits symptoms and, or, does not meet the criteria for admission to camp, for the safety of our entire camp population, please contact our office to reschedule your child’s arrival to an appropriate later session or next summer.
  • Upon arrival to, and before being granted admittance to camp, each camper will undergo a thorough and stringent health screening administered by our health care team. Criteria for non-admittance as a result of the health screening on campgrounds include:
    • The camper has a temperature higher than 99.9°F.
    • Information listed on the pre-screening form indicates the camper should not be admitted to camp.
    • The camper exhibits or admits to having or, recently having had, signs and symptoms of Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to camp.
    • The camper exhibits signs or symptoms of other communicable disease(s) (e.g. strep throat, conjunctivitis)
  • Because we want to do everything to keep camp operating in a safe manner, during the camp session if your child is exhibiting symptoms of, or tests positive for, COVID-19 or other communicable disease, they will be quarantined and you will be required to pick them up from camp within 12 hours of being notified of their quarantine. If your child becomes sick or requires medical attention beyond the abilities of our nursing staff from outside of camp to address non COVID-19 related issues you will also be required to make immediate arrangements to pick up your child. We will not be making trips to the local urgent care or other medical centers throughout the summer (exceptions will be made in circumstances when immediate medical attention is required). We understand the hardship this could present, but we want to do all we can to assure the safety of both your child and the rest of the camp population.
  • This summer, in the interest of camper and staff health, we will not be offering or operating any of our regularly scheduled transportation services. Parents will be required to drop off and pick up their camper(s) from camp.
  • In the interest of the health and safety of our entire camp community, if your camper develops COVID-19 related symptoms in the two weeks after they return home from camp please notify the camp immediately. We will then perform contact tracing and reach out to everyone that your camper may have been in contact with during their time at camp to encourage them to closely monitor either their child or themselves.
  • We had originally planned for a capacity of 420 campers. That capacity has been cut to just 200 campers. Each cabin group will be considered to be a ‘household’. Each ‘household’ will be permitted to join with up to three other ‘households’ to form a cohort. Cohorts will remain consistent for the length of a session and will only share the same space during evening activities and meals. Physical distance between each of the households will continue to be maintained. Campers will not be permitted to move from their cabin to a different cabin upon arrival to camp or at any point during their session.
  • While each ‘household’ is in its own cabin the members of the household will not be required to wear masks. Cloth face coverings may however be required during any indoor activity or whenever physical distancing from others outside of the ‘household’ is not possible. Face coverings may also be required while moving through the dining hall (not while eating – that would be quite difficult!) and during any visits to the health center. Pali Adventures will provide each camper with their own face covering for use throughout their time at camp however campers (and parents) will have to have their own face covering when they arrive to camp and proceed through the initial health screening. It is imperative that your camper is able, and agrees, to follow staff member instructions regarding the use of face masks and is comfortable donning and doffing PPE. Any child who is not able or willing to comply with the safety measures that have been put in place for the benefit of the entire camp community will be required to be picked up from camp immediately.
  • Pali Adventures is known for its incredible programming diversity. In order to offer the safest possible activities this summer and remain in compliance with American Camp Association and CDC guidelines and requirements we have had to restructure our program. Rather than our typical specialty and elective based programs which allow our campers to mix and mingle with campers from other cabins at a variety of different activities, this summer we will be operating a cabin-based program. Campers will select from one of two super specialty tracts and will then be bunked along with other campers of the same gender who have selected the same activity tract. Each cabin will stay together during each activity period and will rotate through the exciting program offerings within their chosen tract over the course of their session. While this is quite different to our regular mode of operation, we believe campers will create deeper bonds and stronger friendships with their cabin mates after sharing so many incredible experiences with them. We are also excited to introduce new activities to some campers who may never have thought about trying something outside of their comfort zone before.

    Creative & Performance Specialty Tract

    Adventure Specialty Tract

  • We have been doing all we can to open camp for the 2020 season. As in any year, much of the cost to prepare and operate a camp is incurred prior to the camp season. For this reason, if camp closes before the scheduled last day, whether by government order or by a decision of the directors that doing so is in the best interests of campers and staff, or, if you find that you are not able to attend camp this year as a result of travel restrictions or the inability or unwillingness to adhere to the conditions listed above, we cannot promise to provide any refunds of your tuition. Unused tuition will be rolled over to next year without penalty. Refunds may be requested, and we will do all we can to make things right with you, however, it may take some time for our cash flow to be able to accommodate refund requests.

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