Camp Quinipet opens summer 2021 registration

Camp Quinipet & Retreat Center, closed during 2020 due to the pandemic, opens summer 2021 registration on New Year’s Day, as its executive director projecsts confidence in developing standards for safe operation.

“We are really looking forward to opening Quinipet this summer, and we are planning to do so safely,” Executive Director Brooke Bradley said in a message on the camp website. “Many camps across the country did open in 2020, and we are learning how they managed with the COVID pandemic.

“We pledge to do everything we can to make 2021 a safe and successful summer for our campers,” she said.

Like other sleepaway camps in New York, Quinipet is licensed by the Department of Health (DOH), which issues strict standards that conservatively reflect evolving health guidelines.

“With the swiftly changing COVID landscape, we anticipate having DOH requirements for summer 2021 sometime mid-spring,” Bradley said. “When we know these requirements, we will share them with you and adjust our protocols.”

Meantime, Quinipet is working with groups of camp professionals and learning best practices from other camps that were able to operate safely in 2020. in fact, Bradley is the New York/New Jersey co-chair of the standards committee for the American Camp Association, which has developed operating procedures based on guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I am committed to operating Quinipet safely,” she said. “We continue to closely monitor issues and solutions.”

Already making changes for 2021

Quinipet is already making changes for 2021 at its 25-acre campus on the Island’s northwest shore, including two hand-washing sinks in the main camp and hand-sanitizing stations in every building.

“We are prepared to serve meals in small groups across camp to limit numbers in buildings,” she said. “We are purchasing approved backpack sanitizer sprayers and stepping up cleaning and disinfecting areas. Programming will be organized in pods and conducted outdoors as much as possible. “

The requirements around wearing masks, pre-camp testing, and vaccinations are yet to be determined, Bradley said. “We promise to keep you posted.”

Summer 2021 registration begins January 1

Quinipet has been serving campers and families since 1947. It offers eight, week-long overnight and day camp sessions, and a popular sailing program that can be attended as a stand-alone or in or combination with the other programs.

The first session of camp is slated to begin Sunday, July 4; the costs are:

• Overnight (for ages 7 to 16), and CREW Leadership (for ages 14 to 19), $880 per week
• Overnight with sailing (for ages 9 to 16), $945 per week
• Day (for ages 5 to 15), $610 per week, $675 with sailing
• Community sailing (for ages 9 to 15), offered in AM or PM sessions, $450

If you wish to register a child for a summer program at Camp Quinipet, visit quinipet.org.

When the 2020 season was canceled, some families chose to roll over deposits to the next season, Bradley said. Those funds will be applied to their accounts upon enrollment.

“We are so thankful for all of you who have stayed in touch with us throughout this unsettling time,” she said. “We remain here for you and look forward to supporting your campers this summer.”

About Camp Quinipet

The camp, founded and operated by the Methodist Church, takes its name from the five large boulders (roughly, in Latin quinque petra) at the property’s shoreline. The camp’s iconic gazebo sits atop the largest rock.

“Quinipet is built upon the rocks of faith, courage, love, humility and honesty,” the camp’s website says. This creates “a foundation that welcomes campers from all walks of life, faith, and church affiliation.” 

As an accredited camp, Quinipet undergoes the ACA’s comprehensive review of its operation, from staff qualifications to emergency management, and meets the NYS DOH requirements for children’s camps. Quinipet has a Registered Nurse on-site in the camp Health Center. It uses the Shelter Island Family Medical Health Clinic and the Eastern Long Island Hospital for care requiring a physician.

Learn more at quinipet.org.