June 3rd 2020 Update

COVID-19 UPDATE

Lots of information here; please read carefully.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Westminster Camp Ajawah Camping Board has voted to cancel scenario two for the summer of 2020.

We’ve scoured the CDC guidelines for opening camps, and see no way to safely open, and hold a program that still captures the Ajawah-essence, until August (scenario #3) at the very earliest. While even August is unlikely, we will let all scenarios play out as long as we can.

SCENARIO #3 is as follows:
By 3:00p.m. on Sunday, July 26, we will announce if we will cancel all sessions for the summer, or follow this schedule:
(Two 10-day sessions)
G1: Aug 2-11
B1: Aug 13-22

For now, our staff will be putting all our focus into the most magical VIRTUAL CAMP we can muster, which will mostly follow the normal camp dates (Girls Camp: June 21-July 17; Boys Camp: July 19-August 14). Please stay tuned for more details.

We have closed registration for regular camp at this time. We are in the process of figuring out the most seamless way to issue refunds and will contact you once the process is confirmed. We are also figuring out the process for registering for virtual camp and will provide the information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience!!

We hope you are safe and well in these uncertain times. Ajawah wishes you the best to you and yours!

May 19th 2020 Update

Dear Ajawah Family,

The Ajawah Executive Board and the COVID-19 Committee has decided this evening to cancel scenario #1, due to the projections for those dates. Regular camp dates for the summer of 2020 will be changed.

While we realize scenario #2 is also very unlikely, we will continue to monitor the numbers and hope for the best. Scenarios 2 & 3 are as follows:

SCENARIO #2:

At 3:00p.m. on Sunday, July 5, we will announce if we will hold the following amended schedule of four 10-day sessions:

G1: July 11-20

G2: July 22-31

B1: Aug 2-11

B2: Aug 13-22

SCENARIO #3:

At 3:00p.m. on Sunday, July 26, we will announce if we will cancel all sessions for the summer, or follow this schedule:

(Two 10-day sessions)

G1: Aug 2-11

B1: Aug 13-22

We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we feel we waited as long as we possibly could to see if the projections would go a different way. If you have any questions, please contact us via our website: Ajawah.org.

May 13th 2020 Update

Calling all former Ajawah staff or Board members!!!

Wouldn’t you love to spend a day up at Camp Ajawah, the Camp of our dreams? Well, we need you to do just that.

Since we cannot have our regularly-scheduled work days, we are asking if you (along with your household) would be willing to come up to camp to get some work done. Abiding by all social distancing measures, we will oversee the schedule and take precautions for it to be a safe experience.

We will limit the volunteers to former or current staff, and former or current board members and their respective households.

Most of what we need done is good old fashioned deep cleaning, Ajawah-style: scrubbing fridges, floors, toilets, cleaning gutters, walls, screens, etc. There is also a need for some more skilled labor, some light repairs, scraping and painting, fixing floor boards, etc. We have 4-hour jobs, and 2-day jobs. Attached here is the list we need done.

Please:

Look at the list, and choose a task you’d like to tackle. Think about your group’s number and skill-level.

Decide on a date you can go up. We won’t allow more than four groups at a time, so being flexible with your dates may be helpful.

Report via email to Chingla Thao at chinglathao@gmail.com. He’ll give you further instructions.

April 22nd 2020 Update

As we work together to keep people safe, we will not gather for the 90th reunion this June.

But SAVE THESE DATES:

Saturday, September 12, 2020, for a dinner at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Details will follow.
Also save the weekend of June 12-14, 2021, for good, old fashioned Ajawah fun!

April 15th 2020 Update

Dearest Ajawah Family,

As the world is gripped by this pandemic, so are our hearts, wondering and hoping that Camp can go on as planned this summer. Like everyone in the world, we just don’t know what the future holds. Please know that our decisions will be made by heeding the advice of the CDC, the MNDOH, and other local authorities. Ajawah is fortunate to have a dynamic Camping Board, with varied knowledge and gifts, and a loyal and capable medical staff.

The following are our summer plans. There is a lot of information, so please read carefully:

SCENARIO #1: NORMAL SCHEDULE

Based on current data and models from the MN Dept of Health, keeping these dates is unlikely, but information is updated frequently, so we are holding out hope.

At 3:00p.m. on Sunday, June 7, we will announce if there will be no changes to our current schedule, keeping our four 13-day sessions:

*G1: June 21-July 3
*G2: July 5-17
*B1: July 19-31
*B2: Aug 2-14

SCENARIO #2:

At 3:00p.m. on Sunday, July 5, we will announce if we will follow the following amended schedule of four 10-day sessions:

*G1: July 11-20
*G2: July 22-31
*B1: Aug 2-11
*B2: Aug 13-22

SCENARIO #3:

At 3:00p.m. on Sunday, July 26, we will announce if we will cancel all sessions for the summer, or follow this schedule:

(Two 10-day sessions)

*G1: Aug 2-11
*B1: Aug 13-22

Communication:

We will post decisions on our official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CampAjawah), on our website (Ajawah.org), and on our Instagram (@friendsofajawah). We will also send an email to all registered campers.

Parents, we need your help.

We realize that these alternative times for Camp mean that you may need to adjust your plans quickly. The same is true for us, our staff, and the many people we need to get Camp ready. Please help make these adaptations go smoother by filling out these forms as soon as possible:

*Fill out this quick survey: https://forms.gle/sDzYsDVNhYDFfbpU6

*Fill out your camp forms on your Parent Dashboard.

A word about registration fees:

Should the sessions be shortened, prices will be appropriately reduced. If you need to cancel your reservation, or will attend a shortened session(s), we will grant a full or prorated refund.

If your child isn’t able to attend, or if her/his/their session(s) is shortened, you will have the option to make a donation if you are able. Please know that any extra monies we receive will go toward camperships. A large percentage of our families use camperships in a normal year, and we anticipate they will be of even greater need this summer due to COVID-19.

You can register for Ajawah this summer at Ajawah.org.

If you have other questions or concerns, you can also contact Boys’ Camp Director, Dave Moore at (612) 747-8364 or Girls’ Camp Director, Mindy Meier at (701) 625-1544.

April 6th 2020 Update

Hello, Friends of Ajawah!

Someone posted a meme last week:

Stay home, so we can go to our home away from home!

How true! And how sad it is that we are needing to make plans otherwise.

Please know that’s exactly what we’re doing: making plans. The Ajawah Camping Board is busy at work ironing out details about how the summer may need to be amended. We ask for your gracious patience, and expect to unveil our plans within the next week or so.

Until then, stay home! And keep the Ajawah spirit alive through caring about your neighbors, creative connections, and enjoying the outdoors.

We will be in touch soon!

Tilly 🧡💙🧡💙

March 21st 2020 Update

Hello, Friends of Ajawah!

It’s a sad day when we need to brace ourselves for the possibility of our 90-year-old tradition being altered in any way. The Camping Board is doing just that, preparing for all different scenarios to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foremost, we will put the safety and security of our campers and staff first, following the guidelines of the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health. Plus, we have Ajawah alums, our Medical Director, Dr. Linda Peitzman, and Dr. Leah Schrupp Werowinski staying abreast of all pertinent information to ensure a good, safe decision. We are well aware that the projections don’t look good for the 90th reunion on June 12,13-14, nor the first session of girls’ camp, which starts on June 21. If we do need to cancel or alter camp in any way, and you’ve already registered, please know you will have the option of receiving a full refund.

However, we are Ajawah. Our brave leader and Board Chair, Yimeem Vu, reminds us that we are used to solving problems, to being prepared, and to being good civil servants. We will be in touch with updates as soon as we have them. Please stay safe, stay separated, check in with your neighbors, and thank a healthcare worker—from a distance.

We will update every Sunday evening on our official Facebook page (@Ajawah), and on our official website, which will soon be getting a whole new facelift: Ajawah.org.