COVID-19 Statement
From The President
Dear Grace Adventures Family,
As we are fully into the summer season, we continue to find creative ways to serve children and families here at Grace Adventures. We were thrilled to be able to open Dunes Harbor Family Camp at the beginning of June and so many people have told us how refreshing it has been to take a break and focus on spending intentional time with their families.
Our ministry at Paradise Ranch has also pivoted into a Christian Dude Ranch model, and we have been able to offer riding lessons, training lessons, and other horsemanship experiences to both our summer campers and our local equine community.
Beginning this month we will also be serving retreat and training groups on our main campus for the first time since March. We have been working with our state and local officials to develop procedures and follow all guidelines and recommendations to minimize risk as we open campus to safely serve children and families.
Community Worship continues to remain suspended at this time. Due to the nature of the program, the utmost concern for the health and safety of those we serve, and the average attendance each week we are continuing to evaluate if and when we might be able to safely run this program.
As the ministry of Grace Adventures continues to move forward, please join us is praying:
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For the hundreds of children and their families who were disappointed that camp was cancelled.
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For the staff as we serve in different capacities.
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For all those we will be able to serve this summer at our main campus, Dunes Harbor, and Paradise Ranch.
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That God would continue to provide for the ongoing needs of Grace Adventures. For more information on how you can get involved click here
Thank you for being a part of the Grace Adventures family, we are excited for what God will continue to do through His people and the ministry of Grace this year.
Our Decision Making Process
While there have been no known direct contacts with the coronavirus at Grace Adventures, we are closely monitoring local, state, and national statements regarding the novel coronavirus cases and following the directives from these agencies.
We have developed protocols that will allow us to minimize risk and create a safe environment to serve children, adults, and families during this season. The health and safety of our staff and those we serve is our highest priority.
The following decisions and deadlines that we have/will be making are using the following criteria:
- Federal and State mandates
- CDC, State, and local health department recommendations
- Proper mitigation processes that can realistically be implemented
- What is wise for our guests and staff
We have cancelled all of our Summer Camp programs for 2020.
All Camper Families have been notified by email and phone call of the cancellation as well as what they can do with any camp fees that have been paid.
If you are missing an e-mail or haven't decided what you would like to do with your Summer Camp fees, please fill out this form to let us know what you would like to do.
Summer Camp:
If your child was registered for summer camp at Grace Adventures or Paradise Ranch you will have been sent an email with more information. There will be a form for you to complete that will allow you to transfer any money paid to a 2021 summer camp, donate some or all of what was paid to support the ongoing ministry of Grace Adventures, or receive a full refund.
If you did not receive this email and your child was registered for summer camp, please visit our Summer Camp 2020 webpage or contact our office.
Dunes Harbor Family Camp:
Any cancellation made 10 or more days before the reservation will be assessed a $10 processing fee and the remainder of the deposit will be returned. Any cancellation within 10 days of the reservation will forfeit their deposit. If at any time a government directive or health concern impacts the dates of your stay be assured that we will help you find an alternative date for your reservation or we will provide a full refund.
Churches, Schools, and Guest Groups:
Grace Adventures is open and serving groups. We are legally able to be open in Phase 4 of the Governor's reopening plan. We are safely able to be open as we are following the clear guidance from both state regulations and the local health department. If a group is looking to cancel their experience, the normal Cancellation Policy within their group contract applies:
All group deposits are non-refundable. Cancelling an event outside of 90 calendar days forfeits the deposit.
If a group cancels their event at any time within the 90 calendar day period prior to the beginning date of their retreat, regardless of the date of the contract signing, the group is responsible for 75% of the guaranteed minimum as stated in their contract. However, if Grace Adventures can arrange a full or partial replacement group, then the group may be eligible for a cancellation discount. The cancellation discount would amount to the guaranteed minimum of the replacement group.
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If any Federal or State mandates are made that do not allow the experience to happen (i.e. Stay Home extended over retreat dates) or we are inside a two-week window where it is unsafe for the experience to happen, we will work to reschedule your experience, when possible, roll-over any payments into a 2021 reservation, or provide a full refund. Group leaders may contact our office at 231-873-3662.
We continue to implement a number of practices to maintain and extend our safety protocols for guests and our staff:
- We are monitoring federal, state, and local information related to COVID-19
- We are providing ongoing training for staff in safe and effective cleaning practices
- Per Governor orders 2020-146 and 2020-164, all participants and staff are required to wear masks during events on our Grace Adventures and Paradise Ranch campuses when indoors and during outdoor activities where social distancing is not possible. Masks are not required to be worn when sleeping, eating, swimming, or during high intensity activity.
- Posting content regarding recommended handwashing procedures in restrooms, breakrooms, offices, and common areas to increase awareness of simple prevention methods
- Increased cycles and procedures for frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas
- Use of CDC recommended cleaning supplies and disinfectants throughout our facility
- Adjustment of staff schedules and working arrangements, where necessary, to support social distancing practices
Grace Adventures’ leadership team and Board of Directors have been working hard to plan and adjust for the ministry and economic impacts that face the ministry now and in the future because of COVID-19. We know that, because of the cancellation of our spring programs, summer camps, and partnership camps, we will have a minimum of a $1,000,000 loss of income for 2020.
While we pray this is not the case, we are also planning for the impact of potentially not working with school and retreat groups this fall. Initial estimates are that this could cause a loss of income of $1,900,000 or more.
Would you please pray that we would have wisdom as we steward the ministry God has entrusted us with, and how you might help us bridge the gap until we are able to resume all of our ministry programs?
It is because of the faithful investment of people like you that Grace continues to move forward in these challenging times.
We are Praying for You
Most importantly, please know that we are praying for you. We know that it can be difficult to be isolated from family and businesses and portfolios may be struggling. If there's anything you need or any specific ways we can be praying for you and your family, please let us know.
Like Caleb and Joshua, the two spies who gave Israel a favorable report of the Promised Land, we are eagerly looking forward to what God will continue to do through His people and Grace Adventures in spite of the challenges ahead. God has been so faithful for the last 74 years and we know that he will continue to be faithful for generations to come. We covet your prayers during this time and will continue to lift you up as well.
Additional Resources
Further information on the virus and preventative steps that should be taken can be found on the following websites.
CDC general site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
MDHHS general site: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus
District Health Department #10: https://www.dhd10.org/coronavirus/
Tips For Talking With Your Children About COVID-19: Parent Handout
