A Summer for the History Books
/If you’ve been following PBC on social media, you likely know that for the first time since 1945, PBC will not be running a summer program at our Blairstown Campus.
PBC’s Great Lawn, normally teeming with students and chaperones, has been quieter than at any time in our collective memory due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
This decision to not have a summer season for the first time in 75 years is disappointing for all of us. Earlier this year, the Board of Directors voted to suspend programming from early March through the end of May in an effort to flatten the curve of the virus. Now, it is clear that it would be impossible for us to responsibly provide a safe environment this summer for students, chaperones, and staff while still offering the kind of transformative experiences that Blairstown is known for.
Young people who spend a summer week at Blairstown participating in our educational and adventure-based, experiential programming leave with skills and memories that last a lifetime. We remain committed to welcoming students and chaperones back to our campus as soon as we can safely do so. In the meantime, our staff, who have dedicated their professional lives to serving young people in the outdoors, is now producing content that can be delivered remotely, including several weeks of virtual Summer Bridge programming. While it is not the same as working at our beautiful and historic Blairstown site with young people from under-resourced communities, it still allows us to provide them with the social-emotional support they may so desperately need.
The porches and chairs at Egner Lodge are quiet and empty, awaiting the day when students can safely return.
Although COVID-19 may have caused us to cancel our regular on-site programming for much of 2020, it cannot cancel the incredibly strong community of current and former participants, current and former staff, and PBC donors. We all share a deep love and respect for this remarkable place that has taught us so much about ourselves, the natural world, and the crucial 21st century skills that have helped us be better citizens, family members, workers, and students.
We look forward to when we can once again welcome students and chaperones back to our Blairstown Campus for our regular programming. In the meantime, we are offering the opportunity for small family groups to join us for a physically-distanced week on Campus in one of our well-equipped cabins or lodges. Family Camp is available on a limited first-come, first-served basis. You can find more information here.
The Princeton-Blairstown Center has been here for more than 110 years because we have remained true to our mission. And we expect to be around for another century providing mission-driven programs to some of the most underserved young people in our communities.
