A Letter from Red Robin Regarding Summer Camp 2020

Dear Red Robin Country Day Camp Families,

I wanted to thank you very much for responding so quickly to my letter and the linked form.  Having received the majority of responses, I am heartbroken to share that Red Robin Country Day Camp, for the first time since 1957, will be closed during summer 2020.  As I had shared in my previous letter, this would have been my 32nd consecutive year providing for the well-being and care of children in a summer camp setting, my 20th as owner/director of Red Robin Country Day School & Camp.  Therefore, like everything else that feels so surreal during this episode, the thought of a summer without morning rallies, high fives, children’s laughter, passed deep water swim tests, drying art projects, bouncing basketballs and excited campers gathering to board buses for incredible trips is beyond comprehension!!!

Our hope was that New York State health and medical officials, working in tandem with the CDC, would have granted permission to open day camps, while simultaneously providing guidelines and regulations aimed at creating the safest possible environment, enabling us to plan and provide a clear picture for all of you.  We join the sentiment expressed in your responses that the countless list of “What ifs…..” makes it nearly impossible to provide the type of summer our campers have come to expect, and so deserve, after the extended quarantine and distance from friends.  The lengthy list of unknowns and lack of guidance are understandably disconcerting, and we share your feelings.

With these difficult words expressed, we look forward to providing Red Robin’s campers with the most incredible summer 2021 EVER!!!!!!!  From our youngest campers, experiencing all that is amazing about Red Robin for the first time, to our Super Seniors and Super Senior Adventurers, enjoying the amenities of camp, enhanced further by four awesome day trips per week.  Camp 2021 will look like Red Robin Country Day Camp, without the many restrictions this summer would have presented, which would most likely have robbed our campers of what should be a safe experience of connection, socialization, interaction, freedom and fun!!!!!!

In their responses, most families have asked us to roll their tuition forward to summer 2021.  By doing this, a camper’s rate for the schedule selected for summer 2020 is locked in for summer 2021 at the significantly discounted 2020 rate, with no chance of increase.  Plus, as an added thank you to our families for continuing to be a part of the Red Robin family, we will extend a $300 credit for any additional siblings or friends you enroll or refer who were not enrolled for camp at the time the March 2020 quarantine began.  That credit will be applied to your account once the referred child’s tuition is paid in full for summer 2021, providing for additional savings on top of your already discounted 2020 rate for summer 2021!!!!  Any balances due for summer 2020 would need to be paid by November 15, 2020.  If you paid your balance previously, then you are all set for summer 2021.

For families interested in a full refund, please understand that said refunds will be paid out over a period of time between September 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021.  Camp tuition paid for summer 2020 was allotted prior to the summer for insurance, taxes, property maintenance, bus procurement, pre-ordered equipment/supplies, deposits for trips and events, as well as year-round camp staff salaries.  While camp may run for 8 weeks, the planning and costs that go into it take place year-round.  This, as you can imagine, makes a large amount of refunds impossible to execute at one time.

When you have had a chance to review and process this letter, please email us at redrobincountrydayschoolcamp@gmail.com by July 10, 2020 and express how you would like us to proceed.

On behalf of Sheryl and the rest of our extremely disappointed staff, I thank you all for your understanding, compassion, cooperation and friendship during this extraordinarily difficult time.  As always, if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us in the office at (516) 334-1144 or at the email address provided above.

We look forward to planning an organized, socially distanced, family movie night under the stars this summer.  We will be in touch with details once a date and logistics are established.  Please remain healthy and safe, and get ready for an outstanding Red Robin Country Day Camp summer 2021!!!!

Yours truly,

Michael Cohn, MSW, NYS E.M.T.

Owner/Director

Red Robin Country Day School & Camp