Readout from the Vice President's Call with Summer Camp Owners and Operators

Today, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the American Camp Association by phone and led a discussion with camp owners and operators across the country to discuss the approach to safely and responsibly reopening summer camps across the country amid COVID-19.

Vice President Pence and White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx discussed the best practices to help the over 20 million children who attend summer camp each year get back to camp. They discussed educational resources released by the American Camp Association and CDC guidance for youth and summer camps, which are meant to supplement any state and local regulations that summer camps must comply with.

Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender provided an update on a recent clarification of the Paycheck Protection Program so that seasonal employers, like camps, can access the forgivable loans.

Since President Trump announced the guidelines for Opening Up America Again, we have seen businesses and economies begin to reopen across the country. The Vice President thanked the participants on the call for their commitment to enriching the lives of children across the country and to following guidelines to safely and responsibly open up their camps this summer.

Participants on the call:

• Vice Presdient Mike Pence
• Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Response Coordinator
• Dr. Michael Faulkender, U.S. Department of Treasury
• Dail Ballard, Methodist Camps of North Carolina, Garner, NC
• Kent Biery Executive Director, Summer's Best Two Weeks Camp, Boswell, PA
• Tish Bolger, CEO Girl Scouts, Saint Paul, MN
• Scott Brody, Board Chair, American Camp Association, Sharon, MA
• Bette Bussel, Executive Director, ACA New England Affiliate, Lexington, MA
• Christa Cassidy, ACA Chief Financial Officer, Mooresville, IN
• Meg Clark, Owner, Camp Longhollow, Austin, TX
• Eli Cochran, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Ernst, Burlington, KY
• Brian Crater, Ronald McDonald Camps, Mountain Center, CA
• Catherine Curry, Director, Latin School Day Camp, Chicago, IL
• Henry DeHart, COO, American Camp Association, Raleigh, NC
• Anne Derber, Board Vice-Chair, American Camp Association and newly Retired Overnight Camp Director, Presque Isle, WI
• Shannon Donovan-Monti, Executive Director, Chimney Corners Camp YMCA, Lee, MA
• Aaron Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning Association, Washington, DC
• Dawn Ewing, Executive Director, Project Morry, Port Chester, NY
• Kelley Freridge, ACA Chief Marketing Officer, Grand Rapids, MI
• Rich Garbinsky, General Manager, Pinnacle Sport Summer Day Camp, Medina, OH
• Roberto Gil, Deputy Director – Camping, Fresh Air Fund, New York, NY
• Dayna Hardin, President, CampGroup, Winnetka, IL
• Gregg Hunter, CEO, Christian Camp and Conference Center Association, Colorado Springs, CO
• Amy Katzenberger, ACA Chief Program Officer, Crawfordsville, IN
• Betsy Kelder, Board President, ACA New England Affiliate, Arlington, MA
• Sterling Leija, ACA National Board Member, Executive Director, Round Up River Ranch, Gypsum, CO
• Leigh Longino, CEO, Camp Corral, Raleigh, NC
• Colette Marquardt, Executive Director, ACA Illinois Affiliate, Chicago, IL
• Paul McEntire, COO, YMCA of the USA, Chicago, IL
• Jody Oates, Methodist Minister and Camp Consultant, Westerville, OH
• Frank Reigelman, Outdoor Programs and Properties Director, Boy Scouts of America, Irving, TX
• Tom Rosenberg, President/CEO, American Camp Association, Atlanta, GA
• Ann Sheets, President, CEO First Texas Campfire, Fort Worth, TX
• Tony Stein, Board Treasurer, American Camp Association and Operator of Six Camps in Northeastern United States, Warrensburg, NY
• Mike Stillson, Board President, Western Association of Independent Camps, Executive Director, Valley Mills Summer Camp, Castaic, CA
• Dave Thoensen, For Profit Day Camp & Private School Operator, Lincolnshire, IL
• Skip Vichness, Owner, Harbor Haven Day Camp, Board Chair, Hillel International, New York, NY