As you may have guessed from the title, we are moving Camp Vineyard 2020 from an in-person event to an online event this year. After much discussion, prayer, and advice from relevant agencies, our friends at Woodland have decided that they will not be able to host any events in June, which includes Camp Vineyard. We were expecting this, and have been planning for it.

I Registered for Camp Vineyard 2020 – Will I Get a Refund?

Yes! We will start processing the refunds for CV 2020 this week. You will receive an email from the system when your registration has been processed, and the full refund of any money paid directly to Camp should show up on your bank statement within a few days.

Why Can’t Camp Be Rescheduled or My Registration Transferred to 2021?

As explained in our previous update, the complexities of rescheduling this event made it very unlikely. As of this writing, Woodland is not yet sure if they will be able to host any groups in July, pending guidelines from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Rather than wait too late to be able to do any kind of an event, we elected to make the switch now.

For 2021, we decided that starting with a clean slate was the most fair for Campers and easiest for both our admin staff and parents/youth leaders. We are going to focus on doing an awesome online event this year, and then turn our energies toward making Camp Vineyard 2021 the best it can be.

Ok, So What’s Camp Vineyard 2020 Online?

June 22-26, we are going to have Camp! But different. Each day, during the times of the Morning Thing, Neat! Groups, Big Game, Evening Session, as well as the Opening and Closing Sessions we will be doing streams on Facebook Live (and other platforms, if available). You’ll be able to not only watch these, we have ways you will be able to participate from home! And all of the streams will be absolutely free!

Will There Be Color Teams?

Of course! We are going to take the names of everyone signed up for Camp – including the wait list – and put you on Color Teams! Yes, even all the adults! On June 1st, we will post the list of teams so you know what team you’re on. From then until June 7th, you can submit your ideas for names for your team. On June 8th, we’ll announce the winning names for the teams, then all of you artists and Tik-Tok dance enthusiasts can get to work submitting pictures and video of designs for your team’s flag and performances of your team’s cheer by June 19th! We will announce the winners of Best Name, Best Flag, and Best Cheer in the Opening Session on the 22nd!

But I Really Wanted a Shirt and a Name Tag!

Starting TODAY through May 31st, you’ll be able to purchase a Camp Vineyard 2020 t-shirt and a name tag at campvineyard.com/store and we’ll mail your shirt and name tag to you before Camp. You don’t have to have one to participate in Camp online, but it’s a fun thing to have! These will only be available until May 31st, so don’t wait!

What About Big Game and CTC’s?

Glad you asked! We are going to do a mix of things. Do you remember an April Fool’s joke from a few years ago where we “created” a Fantasy Ultimate Quidditch league? Well…we have years of data about our most popular Color Team Competitions, and we’re going to simulate the results of all of the CTC matchups based on real-world games in prior years! (Ok, this is some high-density nerd stuff. All the fantasy sports geeks are loving this idea, though.)

For Big Game, we are going to do some games on Zoom! Want to take part? Let us know! You’ll need your parents’ permission, earbuds, and a computer or tablet capable of running Zoom. We’re definitely going to do the Big Game Trivia Challenge (complete with 60-second challenges at home), plus some other fun games. More on that later.

What About Worship, Sermons, Devotionals, and Neat! Groups? And Spirit Points?!

On it. We’re planning to put together a “Greatest Hits” of Camp Vineyard speakers for the Evening Sessions, along with devotionals in Morning Thing. Worship, we are working on. For Neat! Groups, you’ll get to learn along at home each day from one of our three favorite Neat! Group instructors following the devotionals in Morning Thing.

We’re going to be giving away Spirit Points for all sorts of stuff. If its safe to do so, we want to see you out and about doing acts of kindness in your neighborhoods, with your churches, and even at home. You might even get Spirit Points for doing the dishes. And if you and your siblings want to race to do a cheer to see whose team calls cleanup at your house, well, we won’t stop you!

It’s going to be different. And for some of you, this would’ve been your first or last year to come to Camp. And I’m sorry. We’re still going to have fun, but it’s not the same; and if you’re feeling sad, that’s ok. Waking up at home on June 22nd is going to be very, very weird for all of us. But it’s my hope that this once-in-a-lifetime (God willing) online Camp event will still make that week special for you.

As always, if you have questions, email us at info@campvineyard.com. In the meantime, stay safe, and start thinking about those team names!