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COVID-19 closes Okanagan College summer camps

Popular Camp OC put on shelf from Salmon Arm to Penticton, and Revelstoke, until 2021
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Okanagan College has announced it’s cancelling its popular Camp OC offerings for 2020 due to COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)

There will be no summer camps at Okanagan College due to COVID-19.

The college announced Monday, May 25, it was cancelling its Camp OC summer camp offerings for 2020.

“We have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation,” said Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Training for Okanagan College. “And given what we understand about safety and limitations, we have made the decision to cancel Camp OC this summer.”

Silvestrone said it was a difficult decision for the college, one that was made with the best interest of campers, students, staff and surrounding communities in mind.

“Given the nature of our camps, the vast array of indoor and outdoor activities – which make physical distancing impossible to guarantee – we determined we simply could not facilitate Camp OC this year in a way that would ensure everyone’s health and safety,” he said.

Camp OC offers educational, fun and interactive camps to students from Grades 1-12, with a unique array of offerings at each of the college’s campuses from Salmon Arm to Penticton, as well as its Revelstoke Centre. This summer would have marked the 16th year the camps were offered.

“We know Camp OC is a much-loved resource in our communities and it saddens us not to be able to offer it,” said Silvestrone. “We hope people will take heart in knowing that Camp OC will return. We are now starting to explore new youth program opportunities and build our plans for summer 2021.”

All registrants will receive a full refund. The college has reached out to registrants and will begin issuing refunds as soon as possible.

More information about Camp OC 2021 and any other new youth programs will be posted on campoc.ca as it is known.

READ MORE: More summertime learning opportunities for teens at Okanagan College



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