COVID-19 Action at Christian Camp Affects 10,000 Guests
By Jondi Gumz
The Mount Hermon Conference Center, founded in 1906, hosts about 10,000 summer campers each year, and 2020 is the first time in history that it will be closed. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
The Mount Hermon Conference Center, a one-of-a-kind place on 400 acres of redwood forest in Felton, has been in operation since 1906 but it will be close this summer to prevent the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19.
The Scotts Valley Times asked Mike Romberger, the president/CEO of Mount Hermon Conference Center, about the decision.
Romberger: Mount Hermon is a unique place in that we have one camp area called Redwood Camp, which is for elementary school children.
One camp is called Ponderosa Lodge, which is for middle school and high school age youth. And the Conference Center is where we do family camp, a camp for the entire family all at once. As far as I’m aware, Mount Hermon has the largest family camp in the country, if not the world.
I began coming to Mount Hermon as a 6-year-old boy as my parents would drive us up from Southern California to participate. My extended family is like so many others who come to Mount Hermon year after year, multiple generations, some who’ve been coming for literally 50 or more straight summers.
To be closed is very hard on many who love it here so much. Mount Hermon began as a Christian camp in 1906 and still represents Jesus in all that we do to this day.
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Q: What did the health officer say?
We were fortunate to have helpful and prompt communication with the county, who advised us off the record that the likelihood of large group gatherings was highly improbable for the summer months. This information, paired with our own desire to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests, staff and residents, led to our decision to cancel our programs for the summer.
Q: How many summer guests do you usually have?
In our three camp areas – Conference Center, Ponderosa Lodge, Redwood Camp – we host approximately 10,000 summer campers of all ages and stages of life.
Q: Where do your summer guests come from?
Our summer guests come from all over California, and some from other states as well. The majority come from the Bay Area.
Q: How many Mount Hermon employees are affected?
We employ approximately 250 summer staff, mostly college students, who will now not be able to work. Yes, we already did the hiring for the summer. This is especially sad as they are great young men and women who love on the children and youth who come to camp. We are still in process in how this closure will affect our year-round staff.
Q: Is this the first time Mount Hermon will not operate in the summer?
Mount Hermon is the first Christian Camp west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1906, with this being its 114th summer. And yes, this is the first summer in its storied history that it will be closed.
Q: Will you try to do some sort of virtual camper experience?
Yes. We are preparing a “Camp-in-a-Box” experience, which will be available to families when summer begins. It will allow families to enjoy a family camp experience, including games, activities, and spiritual teachings from the Bible.