2020 Notification – Alumni

Dear Camp Huckins Friends and Alumni, 

This has been a challenging spring for all of us as we adjust to tremendous uncertainty related to COVID-19 and let go of so many of our treasured activities, traditions and routines. We hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. Our COVID-19 Task Force, Board of Directors and staff have been exploring how to safely run our camp programs in the context of this pandemic. Many questions remain unanswered about what needs to be in place to ensure that camp is safe this summer.  

In an effort to protect campers and staff, and to make sure Camp Huckins is positioned to continue serving campers, families and friends for years to come, we have decided to cancel our traditional on-site camp programs. This decision has been incredibly difficult. We know how important our time together at Camp is for every member of the community and how much we look forward to returning each summer. We are heartbroken.  

While we are confident that Camp will remain constant and true, current guidance teaches that we need to nurture that magic in some way other than being together at Huckins. We are certain that you have many questions about what this means for our campers, staff and for Huckins. We have included information here to address some of those questions. We will be in touch with more information and opportunities to connect. Please visit the website for updated information on our plans to celebrate Jody and her legacy.  

Although we may not physically be together under the pines this summer, we know what makes Huckins special is not the iconic buildings, the tall pines, the sparkling lake or the calling loons. The magic exists in the people and the relationships that are formed there. We know how to help one another when things are hard, how to reach out when we see that someone needs a boost, and how to continue to celebrate all successes large and small. We are stronger together and the Huckins staff will be in touch to provide opportunities for us to come together, and to share ways that you can help support our campers, staff and ensure Huckins comes out of this chapter stronger than ever. 

We have communicated with our 2020 staff and camper families. Thank you in advance for waiting until Saturday to discuss this on social media to allow all the opportunity to share this with their children. This will be a huge disappointment for our Huckins community. Please know you are not alone – Jody, Heather and the entire Huckins staff are sharing in that feeling and we are here to help.  Jody and Heather created a video message for our campers you can view here. We are developing creative ways for our camp community to interact this summer – to laugh, cry, learn and sing. This summer will be different and at times it will be difficult. But we are confident that the spirit of Camp Huckins will endure. We are Nellie Girls. We are resilient and we will come out of this stronger than ever.  

Zoom conversations are planned for the next few weeks to allow space for questions, and to share how we are feeling and what we need from each other as we move forward. Details will be available on our website, www.camphuckins.org. We look ahead to the next time we can safely gather on the shores of Lake Ossipee, home of the Laughing Loon.  

Until then, remember that you “belong to Huckins and Huckins belongs to you”. 

In the Huckins spirit, 

Jody and Heather