Hello Nicolet Family,
My name is Jeremy Starz and I am the proud co-owner of Camp Nicolet with my mom Georgi Starz. We feel so lucky to be part of this 75-year tradition and are here to share some news with you today. We have made the painfully difficult decision to postpone our summer camp sessions until 2021. We know how much of a disappointment this is to so many of our wonderful campers, alumni, and staff who look forward to joining us here each summer as part of the Nicolet family and who call this special place home.
Our hearts are heavy in delivering this news to you. Throughout our 75 year tradition, our number one priority is the safety of campers and staff. We have never been through something as unique as the current COVID-19 situation, and despite months of careful planning, talking with industry leaders, other camps, and our own family, we’ve decided this situation does not allow us to deliver on our lasting promise to make Camp Nicolet a safe summer home.
Please know this was not an easy decision to make. Over the past several weeks & months we’ve analyzed every new guideline for overnight camps put out by both the ACA and CDC and have determined that there is just still so much we do not know. Without understanding fully how this disease is managed and spreads, we cannot guarantee camp will be the safe space that it has been for so many years. As you know, we’ve looked at many options to try to modify our camp programs and facilities to welcome campers and staff here this summer, but ultimately we’ve determined it’s not possible to deliver our standard of safety and fun to our Nicolet family.
It is also important to note we have had more interest and enthusiasm in our summer camp programs than ever in Nicolet’s history! While we know it is nearly unfathomable to not be able to spend the summer with you singing together, enjoying the sunshine on Franklin Lake, and sharing in the joy of building new friendships and experiences, we hope you will commit to helping us keep up this positive momentum and enthusiasm for Nicolet and our summer programs as we roll into 2021. We do not know what the coming weeks and months will bring, but we do know that we will be spending our time preparing ourselves and our facilities to deliver a safe experience next summer.
Thank you for the kindness you’ve offered our family throughout this extraordinarily difficult time; we feel blessed to be surrounded by such a kind and supportive Nicolet family and hope you know how much we will miss all of you this summer. We hope you can continue to offer us grace and patience as we move through a summer that looks far different than we’ve ever seen before.
As always, “Think Sunshine” and we can’t wait to see you in 2021. Special thanks to my sister, Chloe Starz, for her assistance with authoring today’s update.
Very sincerely,
Jeremy Starz – Owner & Director of Operations
Georgi Starz – Owner & Executive Director