We’re so excited to be able to offer Chenny Getaway for the 2020 summer! We know that every family is going to have varying needs and questions so we’ve prepared a list of FAQs for you to help out. If you can’t find an answer to your question(s), then please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time.
What is Chenny Getaway?
Chenny Getaway is an opportunity for families to literally get away! We are offering our facilities as a destination for families looking for a breath of fresh air in our beautiful setting while being able to maintain safe social distancing practices. A family can rent a bunk from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon to be able to access over 20 different camp activities for every member of the family to enjoy. We will be following all CDC and ACA (American Camp Association) guidelines so that this experience can be done safely while still providing a change to get outdoors, be active or simply relax in our picturesque setting.
What is the difference between Chenny Getaway and “traditional” camp at Chen-A-Wanda?
Chenny Getaway is completely different from a traditional summer at Chen-A-Wanda but will still be packed with fun for the whole family! Chenny Getaway is designed as a family experience in a safe and controlled environment and we’re placing the emphasis on FAMILY. Our staff will be trained and prepared to help make your experience incredible and seamless, but this is not camp where five counselors live in a bunk and work with campers 24 hours a day. To meet CDC and ACA guidelines our staff will need to be socially distanced from our guests and the interaction with campers simply won’t be what we’re used to in a typical summer. Avoiding large gatherings is at the core of these guidelines so we’ve designed an experience where families can choose to socially distance themselves while getting outdoors away from the cities. The magic of Chen-A-Wanda will still be here, just in a form that’s safe and within all of the required guidelines.
How can Chenny Getaway operate when Camp Chen-A-Wanda had to cancel for this summer?
As stated above, Chenny Getaway is a completely different experience than Camp Chen-A-Wanda. Camp is meant to prioritize bringing campers and counselors together and the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing people to be apart. Our traditional camp experience is hundreds of people dancing, singing, holding hands, hugging and interacting in every aspect of their day for seven consecutive weeks. Even if we felt with 100% of our hearts that we could safely operate camp, we knew that the experience would need to be so different that it wouldn’t come close to resembling what camp should be. Chenny Getaway can operate safely and within the CDC/ACA guidelines because we’ve taken great lengths to design an experience where families/groups are able to enjoy each space privately while adhering to all social distancing and disinfecting guidelines. Our capacity will be under 250 for any given weekend allowing for ample space for appropriate social distancing and safety. Make no mistake: We are buzzing with excitement to run Chenny Getaway this summer! It’s simply a different program.
What is a “UNIT” at Chenny Getaway and how many can be in one?
A “UNIT” at Chenny Getaway can be as small as one family and as large as 25 total people and can range from one bunk to several bunks. When registering for this experience you will be sharing who will be in your unit for the extent of your stay with us. With unit sizes being under 25, each unit will be within the required guidelines and each family’s comfort level will dictate if they would like to invite other families to join them for their weekend. For instance, if a family of 4 is simply looking to get away to be outdoors and enjoy camp for the weekend while maintaining complete social distancing from others, they can do so. If two or more families feel comfortable being together as a unit, they can coordinate and book with us accordingly. Establishing a unit means that all members in that party have assumed their own assumption of risk that they feel comfortable interacting with each other and they will be permitted to partake in all aspects of Chenny Getawaytogether without concern for social distancing. This is designed so that each unit experiences the weekend independent of each other and it is assumed that separate units will not participate in any activities together.
Are guests required to wear masks during our stay?
We are asking that all guests bring masks with them to be available during their stay, but they only need to be worn while in closer contact with our staff members or at your discretion. Living in units that you select based on your knowledge for safety purposes will allow you to be socially distanced from other units but you will be interacting with our staff and we ask at those times that your masks are available for use. All staff will be wearing masks during times where social distancing is not possible and we simply ask for you to prepare to do the same.
What does a typical day look like at Chenny Getaway?
- 8:00am- Reveille
- 8:30am- Breakfast in The Lodge
- 10:00am- Activity Period 1 (Assigned after questionnaire – but options on site)
- 11:00am- Activity Period 2 (Assigned after questionnaire – but options on site)
- 12:30pm- Lunch in The Lodge
- 1:30pm- Activity Period 3 (Assigned after questionnaire – but options on site)
- 2:30pm- Activity Period 4 (Assigned after questionnaire – but options on site)
- 3:30pm- Milk and Cookies Snack Call in Center of Camp
- 4:30pm- Activity Period 5 (Assigned after questionnaire- but options on site)
- 6:00pm- Dinner in The Lodge
- 7:30pm- Freeplay Activity Period (Selected in questionnaire – options on site)
- 8:30pm- Evening Activity (Later start time for outdoor movies based on daylight)
- 10:00pm+- Adult Evening Activities (Art classes, Majong, Poker, etc.)
***Bonfires can be provided for cohorts on a nightly basis. Simply communicate with your Coordinator during the day***
How many people are permitted per bunk?
Bunks will be capped at 8 people of one family regardless of their physical size. Booking a bunk for Chenny Getaway comes in at a base cost of $2,250 and the assumption of 4 people. Booking a bunk for fewer than 4 people still stays at the minimum cost, but booking for more people comes with additional costs on a per person basis. Our limits are set to facilitate staying within all required guidelines and maintaining safe practices for our group sizes.
Do you have adult-to-child ratio requirements?
All bunks must have at least a 1-to-4 adult-to-child ratio.
How many families are permitted per weekend?
Group size and social distancing guidelines are crucial for risk mitigation and we will be limiting our registration to under 200 guests per weekend. We will have 25 bunks available each weekend with up to 8 guests per bunk. Spots are extremely limited for each weekend and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Can counselors get assigned to us so that parents can get some down time to themselves?
Unfortunately, no. In order to follow guidelines and protect our staff, this experience is designed for families to experience it together and while we will be providing each unit with a designated Chenny GetawayCoordinator, that staff member will still be practicing social distancing from his/her assigned families for the duration of their stay. This is designed both for your protection and for the protection of our staff.
What is a “Chenny Getaway Coordinator”?
A Chenny Getaway Coordinator is your “go-to” staff member for your stay with us. They’ll be helping you with settling in and then you will have access to them via their cellphone number to text them or call them with requests during your experience. They’ll be making sure that all of your scheduled activities go off without a hitch and they’ll be accessible for support for tweaks to your schedule wherever necessary. Think of them as your guide and concierge for this experience! They will be eager to meet you and assist you throughout your weekend with us while respecting social distancing requirements.
Is Chenny Getaway only open to Chen-A-Wanda families?
We are only advertising this experience to Chen-A-Wanda families but bookings will take place on a first-come-first-serve basis and if families would like to bring extended family or friends then they are absolutely allowed to do so. Again, each bunk is limited to one family, so if you bring friends from home they will need to book their own bunk for their stay with us.
Can we bring pets to camp?
Unfortunately, no. We love pets but our bunks are not designed to house them appropriately.
How do I choose activities for my family for the weekend?
You will receive a questionnaire after registering for a weekend. It will list all of our available activities and you will be instructed to select your top choices to build a unique experience for your family/unit. Your schedule will be set up for you prior to your arrival and your Chenny Getaway Coordinator will be available throughout your stay to assist with any requests for adapting your schedule where necessary.
What is your refund policy in the event that we need to cancel?
Due to fixed costs in staffing, facility preparation, food ordering, equipment and more, all registrations will come with a 50% non-refundable deposit. If you opt to have this experience credited to your current Chen-A-Wanda account that deposit will be added to your balance at the time of your registration and it will remain on your balance in the event of a cancellation. All guests planning on paying for camp at the time of their registration will place their 50% deposit at that time.
Are there any additional costs for this experience?
Your tuition for a weekend package with us will take care of your lodging, meals, and activities but if you have specific requests they may be feasible and additional costs may apply. Some snack items will be available for purchase in our Canteen during your stay, but other requests should be made prior to your trip so that we can plan accordingly where applicable.
Are Covid-19 tests required for guests?
CDC/ACA guidelines do not require Covid-19 tests for this experience as cleaning, group size and social distancing requirements mitigate risks on site for us. However, families will be receiving a pre-screening self-assessment to be implemented for all guests. It will include a range of questions regarding any recent travel and interactions in the time leading up to your stay with us. In addition to this we will be performing touchless temperature checks on all guests upon arrival as well as upon entry to our dining hall for every meal during your stay with us. These practices will also be implemented for our staff.
Are bedding and linens provided?
To best mitigate risks, we will not be providing bedding or linens for this experience. Please bring your own bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows) and towels (for showering and for the waterfront) to Chenny Getaway. Families will receive a complete recommended packing list after registering for a weekend.
Can we bring our own food and beverages (including adult beverages)?
Absolutely! First and foremost, please keep in mind that we are a nut-free facility and that policy will be in effect. Also keep in mind that we’ll be providing 8 meals and daily snack calls during your stay with us (Dinner on Thursday, 3 meals Friday and Saturday, and then brunch on Sunday), but if you’d like to stock your bunk with snacks and drinks, be our guest. Adult beverages are permitted as well. One final request: If bringing snacks to camp please be mindful that we are in the woods and food attracts critters. No open containers should be left out at any time of the day so please plan accordingly.
Can you accommodate guests with food allergies?
Our menu and snack options will still fall into our normal policies for any summer in that all meals are free of peanuts and tree nuts. If a guest has another allergy please contact us to discuss details.