COVID-19 Update

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven…a time to weep; a time to laugh, a time to mourn; a time to dance…a time to keep silence and a time to speak.”

Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4, 7 

We have been taking a careful and measured approach in the past two months, praying and pondering the appropriate decisions for InterVarsity’s ministry in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions and realities. We will continue to pray and to ponder, and are grateful for your partnership in this.

We also want to keep you, our ministry partners and participants, up to date as we make decisions and shift our ministry to meet current needs.

This page provides updates about current ministry decisions, as well as wonderful stories of God’s presence and work in our world.

Camp Updates

Camp Closures 

We are deeply saddened by the continued need to close our overnight camps. Based on the direction from provincial governments and health authorities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all summer camp overnight programs at:

– Pioneer Camp Ontario (Muskoka, Ontario)

– Circle Square Ranch Grand River (Brantford, Ontario) We are still awaiting government direction regarding day camps at this site.

– Circle Square Ranch Big Clear Lake (Arden, Ontario)

– Pioneer Camp Manitoba (Lake of the Woods, Ontario)

– Pioneer Camp Alberta (Sundre and Rocky, Alberta)

– Circle Square Ranch Halkirk (Alberta)

Click on the camp websites for full details about these cancellations.

We await further guidance from government and health authorities to make decisions on Circle Square Ranch Spruce Woods (Austin, Manitoba), Circle Square Woods Wolf Creek (Saskatchewan), and Pioneer Camp Pacific (British Columbia).

Camp @ Home

We are creating CAMP @ HOME resources to encourage and bless our campers. Camp staff are also hosting virtual campfires, fun competitions and other activities online which is also helping us stay connected with campers and their families. Visit any of our camp websites to access these activities and resources.

Campus Update

We are regularly in touch with students, professors and others involved in our campus fellowships. On a weekly, and sometimes daily basis, our campus staff are praying with, listening to and encouraging students and faculty who are facing big changes and challenges as schools, colleges and universities decide whether to open their campuses or shift to online learning. Prayer meetings, Bible studies and fun events are continuing online and we are encouraged by students’ participation.

We are beginning to plan now for New Student Outreach in September even if campus presence is limited. 

Summer Global and Urbana Mission Partnerships

We have cancelled all these partnerships for this summer. Please pray for our partners around the world who, like us, are so disappointed not to be able work side by side for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

Our Financial Realities

Thus far, we have been able keep our staff employed, partially thanks to the  federal government wage subsidy. We are very grateful for this assistance. The loss of our spring retreat season and the cancellation of summer camp will result in losses of close to $2 million this year. As always, we deeply appreciate the generosity of our many ministry partners who continue to support individual staff, camps and the general needs of our ministry.

Stories of Hope

God is changing lives! We are excited to share these recent ministry stories with you:

– Adapting Ministry to the Digital World

– Pioneer Responds to COVID with Food Share Program

– Student Perspective on Community in Quarantine

How you can help

Pray with us

We are so grateful for the community of people who pray for us regularly. To see specific requests, read our online Intercessor Prayer calendar here. Or if you’d prefer to receive it by email, send us a note at [email protected].

Give a financial gift

We are heart-broken by the COVID-19 restrictions which severely limit our ability to meet students and campers face to face. Still, we believe God is helping us find new ways of helping young people discover Jesus. They need to know God’s love and presence now more than ever. Your financial gift will help us offset the tremendous losses we have incurred by the cancellation of spring and summer camp programs and it will enable our staff to continue reaching out to students, whether through digital conversations or in small groups as that becomes allowable.

Thank you so much for your support.