PAINTSVILLE, Ky. -- Due to social distancing protocols put in place to flatten the curve related to the spread of COVID-19, Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) will not be offering residential (overnight) or day camp at either Camp AJ or Camp Shawnee this summer. CAP will be offering virtual camp and will be sharing additional details in the coming weeks.

“We remain dedicated to our campers and families,” said Anita Seals, vice president of CAP’s human service programs. “CAP’s summer camps have been serving children in Appalachia for more than 35 years. Our employees and volunteers are committed to continuing to provide creative, engaging programming for campers despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.”

Although CAP’s two physical camp locations will remain closed this summer, camp staff will be offering a full virtual summer camp experience for youth in Appalachia.

“We understand that this will be an adjustment for our campers as well as their families,” Seals said. “Our staff have been monitoring this situation closely and working to put plans in place to make ensure that CAP continues to meet the needs of families.”

Camp staff had already started using social media platforms after schools were closed due to COVID-19 to stay connected with students that they work with during the academic year. This work laid the foundation on which to build an even more robust virtual camp experience when summer arrives.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding that is needed during these challenging times,” Seals added. “We are excited that we can use this as an opportunity to continue to invest in our young people. That is the main focus of our staff.”

Want a sneak peak of what that might look like? Follow our camp pages on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/campshawnee/ and https://www.instagram.com/capcampaj/