Information about how COVID-19 impacts the 2020 camping season will be available here.

August 31, 2020

Facility availability is changing starting September 21.

Camp is open 7 days a week until Sunday, September 20. Following this date, the camp is open but washrooms and outhouses will be locked from Monday morning until Friday evening, as per ministry requirements. If campers are staying on the property during these time, be aware that you will need to use your own facilities in your trailer.

The pool will be closed as of Friday, September 25.

The camp will be open for the Thanksgiving weekend.

The final 2020 workbee is taking place on Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Following the workbee, the camp electricity and water will be shut off in preparation for cold weather.

July 7, 2020

There are new rules to follow when using the swimming pool. These include:

• Use the sanitizer station at the pool gate when entering
• Pool capacity is reduced to 10
• Maintain social distancing when in the pool and on the deck area
• No chairs or other common touch surface items are to be on the pool deck

Please note that common touch surfaces will be sanitized three times per day.

June 11, 2020

We are very pleased to share, that in light of this week’s announcement from the provincial government, we are able to open our camp further, within the guidelines of the Stage 2 re-opening plan that the province has outlined. As you have likely heard, private parks are able to open as of Friday June 12th, 2020.

This is what the changes look like for us at Severn Bridge Camp as of Friday June 12, 2020:

1. Overnight stays are allowed.
2. Our washrooms and outhouses are open and can be used.
3. Groups of 10 people can gather, keeping physically distanced.
4. Our pool can open, once it has passed inspection by the local health authorities.
5. Leaseholders and guests are allowed on the grounds, abiding by physical distancing and group size regulations.
6. The playground areas remain CLOSED.

We have had our first Work Bee and 22 people attended and completed a lot of much needed work on our campground. A BIG thank you to those who came and helped. Please remember our next Work Bee is this Saturday June 13th, from 9am to 3pm. The focus is on prepping and painting. If you can come and help, it would be greatly appreciated. For any questions or details, please reach out directly to Garry Walton at walton197221@yahoo.com or 705.333.5539. Please remember, due to the restrictions:

• The kitchen is closed
• NO coffee break or lunch will be provided. Time will be given for breaks and lunch. Please bring your own food and drinks

Work Bee dates for 2020!

• Jun 13, Jul 4, Jul 18-25 (camp week) and Oct 17
• 9am to 3pm

As the restrictions are lifted and the number who can gather is increased, we look forward to having our Annual Meeting. More details will follow regarding this, but the date has been tentatively set for July 4, 2020 – following the Work Bee, at the camp.

May 19, 2020

With a sad heart, the Severn Bridge Camp board decided on May 18, that we would
cancel our Family Camp for 2020. We are going to utilize this pause in our
programming to re-imagine what family camp should look like going forward.

It was also determined that we would strive to be flexible enough to react with
something, should the group size restrictions be eased a little.  Again, we will use the
time to reflect, hear from God and work towards improvement for coming seasons. We
will take advantage of this time, to pay down our loan to The Free Methodist Church in
Canada and take on some maintenance projects around the grounds.

Initially, this will involve the replacement of roofs on the Creekside and Hillside motel
units. Anyone interested in assisting with this project, please reach out directly to Garry
Walton at – walton197221@yahoo.com or 705.333.5539.

We are excited to announce the Work Bee dates for 2020! They are subject to change,
depending on the announcements from the province. We will remain flexible and adjust
as needed, to comply with the authorities. During all Work Bees, the guidelines laid out
by the Ministry of Health in regard to physical distancing, will need to be practiced.
Detailed instructions will be given at each Work Bee as to the current requirements.

Dates – May 30, Jun 13, Jul 4, Jul 18-25 (camp week) and Oct 17

Time – 9am to 3pm

Important details:

• The washrooms remain closed
• Outhouses can be used, and hand sanitizer will be provided
• The kitchen is closed
• NO coffee break or lunch will be provided. Time will be given for
  breaks and lunch. Please bring your own food and drinks.

As the restrictions are lifted and the number who can gather is increased, we look
forward to having our Annual Meeting. More details will follow regarding this, but the
date has been tentatively set for Jul 4, 2020 – following the Work Bee, at the camp.

We are happy to share that the Custodian position at camp this season will be shared
by Ron & Sharon Brooks and Dwayne & Sandie Mortley. Please keep these couples
in your prayers as they serve at the camp this summer!

The summer of 2020 is going to look different than usual for many of us. We won’t be
anticipating Family Camp as in past years. That being said, let’s not loose our sense of
community! Let’s engage together in ways that we may not have thought of before.
What will your contribution be during this time…? Can you pray, give or volunteer some time? Let’s get creative and look for ways to seize this time to build into each
other. Do you have an idea of something we can do? We would love to hear from you,
so please email your ideas and thoughts to – severnbridgecamp@gmail.com.

Trust all are safe and healthy and looking forward to what God enables us to become at
this point in our history.

May 15, 2020

Dear Friends,

First, we would like to thank you for your patience and prayers. The uncertain times we
are experiencing are challenging to navigate. We face ever changing updates on
regulations, that affect our daily lives. This communication is intended to help wade
through the re-opening plan, as it pertains to Severn Bridge Camp.

On May 14, 2020, there was a new announcement from the Ontario government. They
are implementing Stage 1, to open up the province. Local municipalities are scrambling
to put the infrastructure in place, to roll out this huge endeavour.

We urge you to be kind and communicate graciously, as we grapple with the many
details of the regulations. Please find a link below, with full details, to the official ruling,
that we must follow in the re-opening process:

Please visit this link https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20219

The highlights are:

1. The camp is only open to leaseholders. There is no need to book a time slot for entry
to the grounds any longer. Access is to enable preparation and maintenance only and is
not intended for recreation or pleasure.

2. All recreational and shared facilities in the camp, such as washrooms, are closed.

3. Other areas of the camp are closed to the general public and are only opened for the
purpose of preparing the camp for reopening.

4. Day access only – this means no overnight stays.

5. When at the camp, public health guidelines must be strictly followed:

a) Physical Distancing – maintaining 6 ft or 2 m from others
b) Do not come at all if you are sick or have symptoms
c) Wash your hands frequently
d) Cough and/or sneeze into your arm
e) Do not gather, only with those from your household

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
directly at – 705.721.7520.

Please remember, the restrictions are put in place to keep us all safe and healthy. Your
prayers are coveted and your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Severn Bridge Camp

April 20, 2020

The Government of Ontario and the District of Muskoka have closed our campground! Seasonal trailer parks and recreational campgrounds are not listed as essential businesses and, as such, were required to be closed as of 11:59 p.m. on April 4, 2020.

The people who use Severn Bridge Camp as their primary residence may stay here, while the remainder of the camp is closed to the general public. If you have a residence elsewhere in Ontario, you will not be permitted to stay in the campground. If any resident is returning directly to Severn Bridge Camp, they are required to obey the mandatory 14 day quarantine upon arrival under the Quarantine Act, which took effect on March 25, 2020.

The District of Muskoka will begin enforcing this provincial order, and so we have been asked to inform people connected to Severn Bridge Camp about this provincial order.

April 19, 2020 – 2020 COVID-19 Update & Yearly Leases – Letter to Campers

April 8, 2020 – Letter to Severn Bridge Camp from Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit