From the Workcamp Ministry
It is with a heavy heart that we are writing to announce the decision to cancel all workcamps this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In cancelling workcamps, we are choosing to prioritize health and safety and protect workcamp participants, local communities, and service site partners from unnecessary risk. Please know that this was not an easy decision to make and that we will greatly miss serving alongside the workcamp participants this year.
Although we cannot gather in person, we are excited to announce that we have a new plan to stay connected with those who registered for workcamps. We will be offering weekly times of connection, reflection, and fellowship from the end of June to the beginning of August. We will invite participants to join us via Zoom each week to hear a reflection on the workcamp curriculum from a workcamp director, engage in a discussion, and play some fun virtual games! For those who can’t join us live, we’ll post a video of the reflection to watch later.
Additionally, we will be sending all registered participants a digital copy of our 2020 participant devotional book to follow along with this year’s curriculum, “Voices for Peace.” Advisors may receive a digital copy of the leadership book in addition to the participant book.
What about money? Registrants have been invited to let us know which of the following three options they choose: to donate any portion of what they have already paid as a gift to support Church of the Brethren ministries, and get a refund of anything beyond what they would like to donate; to make a donation of $75 or more and receive a 2020 workcamp t-shirt as a “thank you” for supporting the workcamp ministry, as well as a printed version of the participant devotional book; or to receive a full refund.
We continue to pray for all of you, for those who are ill with COVID-19, for their families, and for the front-line workers who are responding to this crisis. May we find healing in each other, peace in God’s everlasting presence, and hope in the ways that God continues to move in and through all of us.
— Hannah Shultz, coordinator of Short-term Service, and Kara Miller and Liana Smith, assistant workcamp coordinators and volunteer recruiters serving through Brethren Volunteer Service. For questions or concerns contact cobworkcamps@brethren.org or 847-429-4337. Find out more about the Workcamp Ministry at www.brethren.org/workcamps .