Dear Perlman Camp Community,

This is the letter we didn’t want to write. Unfortunately, today we have to share the difficult news that Perlman Camp will not open for Summer 2020.    

Since the pandemic began, we have been working to create a pathway to open camp. We spent countless hours discussing the options, communicating with health professionals, and reviewing the guidelines. Sadly, we have come to the conclusion that the risks and challenges posed by COVID-19 are too significant for us to be assured we can safely operate camp this summer.

We share in the loss you are feeling. This summer, campers will not gather together at flagpole, hobby wheel, Sobel Hall, or the Dining Hall.  Our first-year campers will not be recognized at the opening campfire and we will not be able to celebrate our 5 and 10 year campers. We are missing out on camp traditions and rites of passage, such as Mud Day, Senior trips, and Maccabiah. This is going to be a difficult summer for all of us.

And yet the Perlman community remains strong. We will support one another and find ways to connect throughout the summer and into next year. This journey will help us build strength, empathy and resilience in ourselves and our children. And when we all take that first step into Lake Como in the Summer of 2021, it will be that much sweeter.  

 

Next week, we will send information discussing the options for your camper’s tuition.  As we explained in the recent webinar, the decision to cancel camp has significant financial implications for our organization. We are grateful to so many of you who have already committed to making a donation of all or a portion of your summer’s tuition to Perlman. This is critical to our future success. For those who request them, Perlman Camp is committed to honoring future credits and/or full refunds. 

In June we will share details about our plans for virtual summer programming. We know it won’t be the same – but we will do everything we can to capture some of the Perlman magic even while we are apart.

 

We continue to be humbled and grateful for this community each and every day.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rachel Levine

Director, Perlman Camp