For the first time in its 16-year history, the KOA Care Camps Big Weekend from May 8-10 will be primarily an online “virtual” event.
The change was precipitated by the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to various state “stay-at-home” orders following a variety of timelines.
“Many of our participating campgrounds just weren’t sure they were going to be able to welcome leisure campers for the May 8-10 event,” said KOA VP of Communications Mike Gast. “We consulted with the Care Camps board of directors, and it was quickly decided that the best course of action was to make the event an online virtual event for this year.”
The 3-day virtual event will include art activities, a campfire singalong, family s’mores building, a movie night, a “bear hunt” scavenger hunt, designing a dream camper, virtual tent building, nature talks, camp cooking classes, campfire stories, live concerts, a pancake breakfast, a non-denominational service, and a NASA astronomy demonstration.
“There are an amazing amount of activities planned,” Gast said. “After weeks of longing to be outdoors and camping, this will at least give campers something camping-oriented that will be fun and unique. It’s a way for campers to be connected, even during COVID-19.”
The event is still intended to help raise funds to support KOA Care Camps for children with cancer. Care Camps is a network of 155 specialized summer camps for children facing cancer, and their siblings.
A $10 family pass registration fee will grant access to all three days of the event.
KOA campers who are still able to camp (for real) at a participating KOA park that weekend will be able to join the virtual fun for free.
To find out more about the Care Camps Virtual Big Weekend or to register for this first-of-its-kind event, visit https://koacarecamps.salsalabs.org/bigweekend/index.html
