Letter to Nature Kids Families Regarding COVID-19
Dear Nature Kids families,
We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy and accessing nature to support physical and mental well-being during these unprecedented times. We want you to know of significant changes that Nature Kids will be implementing in order to provide us the best chance to safely serve as many youth and families as possible this summer.
All Nature Kids programs will experience changes in either number of campers that can attend or dates the camps take place as organizations determine how to comply with COVID-19 related laws and regulations. It is with a heavy heart that we share these difficult decisions regarding Nature Kids programs. We care deeply about our families, and we empathize with the struggles that these decisions will bring. We will show up alongside families to the best of our ability and we will be as fair as possible in determining participants for reduced camp sizes. We will be following up with all of the families who are enrolled or on the wait list individually over the next few weeks as we learn more information about each camp.
Below is the information we currently have:
THORNE DAY CAMP
Thorne will be switching to a small group size nature camp model for all of its week-long camps. To maximize safety during this time of COVID 19, each camp will be two weeks in duration and instructors will have one week off between working with different groups of students. For the safety of our students and teachers, we will not be transporting students in vehicles this summer. Our Small Group Nature Camp program will operate out of Coal Creek. Unfortunately, Thorne will only have the capacity to serve 20% of the campers planned for this summer. The dates of the Thorne day camps will change. We will be in touch with the families enrolled via the phone to let you know if your child will be able to attend camp.
OTHER NATURE KIDS PROGRAMS
Other programs in Nature Kids will likely change as well but we do not have fully updated information to share with you. All of our partners are working on contingency plans for the summer. As soon as our partners communicate with us regarding what they are planning to do this summer, we will be in touch with the families of those enrolled. This includes Cal-Wood, YMCA, Santa Maria, and Keystone Science School camps.
AN OFFERING TO OUR COMMUNITY: NATURE MENTORS
We greatly apologize for any inconvenience caused to your family by the changes we are making. As an offering to all of those families who won’t be able to participate in a Nature Kids program this summer, we will provide for free throughout the summer a weekly virtual nature resource that will include activities and advice parents can use to help get their kids outside on their own. We will also offer any enrolled camp family a free 15 minute virtual consultation with one of our expert instructors (available in English and Spanish) so that parents can receive any direct support they might need and get questions answered about safely and joyously exploring in nature with their children.
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK
Lastly, please know that we aim to be as flexible as possible in supporting parents at this time. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about how we can support your family during these challenging times, please do not hesitate to reach out by sending an e-mail to info@
nullnaturekidslafayette.org or by calling 720.601.4964.
THANK YOU AND NEXT STEPS
We will be following up with all of the families who are enrolled or on the wait list individually over the next few weeks. Please be patient as we complete this process. As soon as we have more information we will release a FAQ that will better explain how we plan to provide a safe, convenient, fun, and engaging experience to all of our 2020 campers and their parents.
Yours in nature,
The Nature Kids Team
Nature Kids Lafayette Is In The News!
The challenge of going outside every day was featured in Boulder’s local newspaper, The Daily Camera. The efforts of Nature Kids, including support of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and the Promotores with the nature bags, are recognized in the article. Thank you to our very active and compassionate community!
CLICK HERE to read the article.
Nature Kids Lafayette 2020 E-Newsletters
See what the Nature Kids families are up to!
NKJN In the News
Outside Every Day Challenge Helps Families Stay Active During Coronavirus Closures, Daily Camera, April 23, 2020
Lafayette Receives $2.8 Grant Aimed at Getting Kids Outdoors, Daily Camera, Dec. 8 2016
Lafayette among communities receiving grants aimed at luring kids outdoors, Daily Camera, Oct. 24, 2015
