Sunday Health Update

The following email was sent to our Kamp families on Sunday afternoon.

Dear Kamp Family,

God is big and despite the fact that the seasonal influenza is all over the country, Kanakuk is doing well. This past two-week term we continued to experience Kampers in small numbers who come to some of our health centers with temperatures and, as per our new protocol, we are separating them and sending them home with their parents. Those departures are difficult moments for us, as it’s a chance slipping away to minister to your family.

To put it in perspective, we have had over 2250 kids and 800 staff at our Kamps this past two weeks and to date we have sent 48 kids home. Some of our Kamps have had no issues and less than 2% of Kampers overall have had to go home.”

Unfortunately, we are finding out that some of the Kampers that have been sent home do not have the flu. However, we are still being advised that the best way to handle the influenza this year is to be on the safe side and send anyone who has flu-like symptoms home. Again, we are blessed that this influenza is relatively mild and the kids are recovering well from its symptoms.

Most of our Kamps will change over tomorrow and we will continue to be vigilant with our pre-screening program. Our new pre-screening program Kamp-wide is working well and we will continue to do this all summer long. Please help us by keeping your child at home if they have fever or are sick. If they have been sick we need to know that as well. This will help our program run smoothly and allow us to do what we do best…minister to and encourage your kids.

Dr. Mike Johnson, Chief of Medicine, Infectious Disease Specialist at Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville in Charlotte, NC, who was a guest with his family at Family Kamp this week commented during his stay, “You have done more than most health systems. I’m here with my family and I am impressed with how you are handling things.”

Dr. Stacy Furlow, Chief of Pediatrics for Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, AR, and volunteer Kamp physician stated, “This is the summer influenza going around this year. Fortunately, it is a mild version, but it’s the flu this season. Kanakuk is handling this situation very well.”

Their sentiment and technical advice, and the continuing support of the state and local health officials have given us great confidence in our ongoing efforts to provide a safe environment for Kampers. There are six weeks of summer left! Those of you preparing to arrive may have received or will receive an email before your term that gives you more information about the pre-Kamp screening process. Thanks for your support in helping us keep Kamp healthy.

Please be encouraged that the health and safety of your children is and always will be a top priority at Kanakuk Kamps, and we hope we have proved this once more by the manner in which we have handled this situation. The positive response and feedback we have received from so many parents is a great blessing to us.

For ongoing information please visit: www.insidekanakuk.com.

Blessings,
Doug Goodwin
Chief Operating Officer
Kanakuk Ministries

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The Marketing Department Celebrates the Fourth of July

A typically loquacious group was eerily quite moments after our graphic designer Heidi brought in the desserts depicted above. The plate of cream cheese filled strawberries covered with almonds and the flag cake were quickly disturbed after these photos were taken. I will admit I had three of the strawberries and am thinking about a 4th and 5th. Thank you Heidi!

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An Overwhelming Response regarding H1N1 News

Off the subject: A sneak peak at some artwork for a new online game.

I'm having to pick through my inbox carefully to find the emails from parents with questions and concerns about the H1N1 situation we had during the second two weeks of the summer. There are so many of the responses to our emails that go like:

• THANK YOU!!! Amazing job!
• Thanks so much. And thank you for all you are all doing to ensure excellent communication on the flu challenges at hand. Extremely professional and communicative.
• I have a K-West staffer and K-2 kamper coming down next week. Although neither is totally packed, they're both ready to be at Kanakuk. You guys are terrific in every way. Thanks for everything you do. And remember that where Christ is strongest, the enemy hits hardest
• Thank you for your aggressive handling of this medical concern. I, as a
  Kanakuk parent of a currently attending child, appreciate the precautionary
  steps you are taking to keep this flu under control.
• Thank you as we were concerned. We appreciate the update. John is excited to arrive at K-1 for Term 4 on July 7. We will double check all the health documents. - Best regards
• Really appreciate the update. Know you are probably in "crisis mode" and busy - but just wanted to reaffirm our faith that Kanakuk will handle this right and in the children's best interest.
• Bless you for doing such a thorough and thoughtful job of taking care
  of our kids - they love Kanakuk so much!

That was just a sampling, seven emails/msgs in a row out of my inbox. One of those was an email copy of a comment on my blog at www.insidekanakuk.com. It has become a pleasure to hear an email arrive on my phone, knowing that it's a good word from you. Now, here's the problem and what makes this a little overwhelming.

I'm getting some of the messages on my voice mail, and so many of them are supportive but some of them are questions. Some of the question ones are hard to hear, between wind noise or bad cell phone coverage, I can't make out a phone number or a Kamper name and I'm unable to call them back. It drives me crazy to think that a Kamp family is out there thinking that I'll call back and don't! I want to! So, if you have called me or Kanakuk and we haven't called you back please call again. The best number during the week is 417-266-3000. Talk to one of the registrars or ask to be transfered to me. We want to help.

The summer is going so fast. I can't wait for you to see some of the great photos, and amazing video work that we are doing.

Hope you have a great evening. I'm going to take an evening off, see a movie with my wife and squeeze the kids!

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Keeping Kanakuk Kamps Clean Summer 2009

K-West is healthy! And they should be. Ward and his staff have done exemplary work in educating their Kampers and Staff on proper hygiene, and have set the bar for the whole world on cleaning. Below is the new water bottle policy, drafted at K-West after a doctor agreed that twice a week was plenty as long as there was no sharing.
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Cleaning Water Bottles at K-West:

Every Wednesday and Sunday: (* Each bottle and lid must be marked with a name to be washed!)

Breakfast: Cabins 1-4
Lunch: Cabins 5-8
Dinner: Cabins 9-12

Protocol:
There will be flats in the kitchen by the wash sink where the counselors from each cabin will bring the kamper and staff water bottles at the beginning of the meal. The kitchen staff will send them through Hobie and then place the flats back on the counter for the counselors to retrieve all the bottles and distribute before the end of the meal. Please only wash your bottles at the meal time scheduled for your cabin. - Thanks so much!!!

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K-West has also created the most detailed cleaning check list (creatively titled "Mr. Disinfection 2009).

Here is just a sampling (it's 10 pages long and covers every area of the entire Kamp):

DOCK

• All Ski Equipment (skis, boards, skates, etc.)
• Fishing poles, rods, supplies
• All equipment in boats (keys, steering wheel, buttons, throttles, handles, ladders, ski rope handles, the thing you hook the ski rope to, tie downs)
• Ladders (handles, steps, etc.)
• ....

KAMPOUT

• Mattresses (front/back, edges)
• Tents, floor, zippers, etc.)
• Benches, serving table, grill

MAIN OFFICE

• Porch: poles, clipboards, outside windowsills and windows, door, door handle, railings, rope for bell.
• Trash Cans
• Phones
• Fax Machine
• Clock, weather radio, lightening meter
• Mailboxes
• Papercutter
• All light switches

The list goes on and on. There are 10 items for the inside of vehicles! 34 for the pool area!

Way to go K-West for being so detailed and diligent. Now, the place I've always said is the most hospitable and home-like to visit is also the cleanest!

I was talking to Dr. Mike Johnson, Chief of Medicine at CMC Pineville in North Carolina, and Infectious Disease Specialist, over at the Family Kamp and he helped me feel comfortable that we were doing the right thing when he said, “I can’t see any reason in the world to close down a camp. You have done more in the way of precautions than any health system in the world.” Dr. Mike went on to say that, “parents need to understand that H1N1 is all around us and is generally very mild. They [parents] should be no more concerned about their child getting H1N1 than they are about them getting pinkeye. I’m here at Kanakuk Kamps with my family, including small children, and feel perfectly safe!”

Dr. Mike also explained that the virus only survives for "minutes to hours" on surfaces and that the hotter and drier it is, the shorter the survival time.

I'm learning lots of fun stuff about viruses. I used to be a paramedic and there's still a little bit of me that's interested in medicine. Honestly, I wish I was learning about muscle fatigue and heat exhaustion. I may get a chance to do just that if I spend another day chasing the, fast walking, fast talking, doesn't like "parking close", Health Services Director :-) Is that part of the fitness program?

Just realized this is a long post. More tomorrow.



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Term 6 Kampers prepare for Kamp

We just sent out the informational email to Term 6, 7-Day Kampers about the new Pre-screening process. It includes the new Health Check Questionnaire that Kampers must now bring with them to their bus loading or Kamp drop-off spot.

Those Kampers are packing their trunks and putting together their final party costumes, anxiously awaiting the fun and excitement of summer camp to begin.

The information from Friday and the weekend is still slowly trickling out to the media, but Kanakuk has no new positive H1N1 tests. We still have children who have fevers, but with nearly 2000 kids here at any one time we always do have some.

Things are going great here and in so many ways this is turning into one of the most amazing summers we've ever had. God is so good!

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My Favorite Response to the Flu News!

I've said it before and will probably be moved to say it again before I go to sleep tonight, but we have the best parents in our Kanakuk family! You send your kids to Kanakuk, you trust us to protect them, endorse the values of your family, and show them the love of Christ. We enjoy the opportunity and often pinch ourselves to make sure it's all real. And then sometimes we hear from you and just laugh. This is an email from a Kamp family and my favorite response to all this flu news:

Thank you for your rational, professional approach to this situation.

As a physician's family, we urge our children to keep their fingers out of their noses and mouths unless they are freshly washed or have a tissue. Although fingers are really handy tools ,it is medically prudent to strive to avoid "planting" things. Perhaps counselors can lend a voice to breaking nail-biting and nasal-mining habits as part of your "keep your body ready for action" health move. Things seem to "take" when a counselor introduced a concept parents have already "planted."

Thank you guys for all you do!

WEll written and great suggestion and it definitely got passed on to all our Directors. Next we can work on getting all our children to change their socks!

It sure is great being on the same team with all of you. Have a great rest of your Saturday!


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Pre-Kamp Screening process Information

Just wanted to let you know that the following email is getting ready to go out to the next session of Kampers:

Dear Kamp Family,

Your child’s Kamp term is right around the corner. We can’t wait for them to arrive!

We communicated with you in an email on June 26th about the influenza issues we have had in previous terms this summer. This email will give you further details on our new pre-Kamp influenza screening policy. While its not fool proof, we feel it will help us control some illnesses getting into Kamp. It seems to have worked well for this current term. Here’s a quick reminder of how this preventative screening will work.

Before Kampers board one of our Kanakuk Chaperoned charter buses, board a Kanakuk bus at an airport, or are dropped off by their parent’s at a Kamp they will:

1. Be required to submit a completed Health Check Questionnaire signed by a parent or legal guardian. Download the Questionnaire here.
2. Have their temperature taken. (If a Kamper has a temp of 100.5, they are not admitted to Kamp.

Any Kampers who do arrive at the airports and don’t pass the screening will be cared for by Kanakuk personnel and their parents contacted to provide their Kamper private transportation home.

It’s a simple and quick process! With your help this becomes one of the most important steps in our effort to assure a safe environment for everyone.

Our Kamp-wide influenza protocol going forward involves immediate separation of Kampers with flu-like symptoms, personal care and screening by on-site medical professionals, parental contact and testing for Influenza Type A. If the Type A quick test comes back positive, then Kampers are sent home with their parents. We are also pursuing an aggressive cleaning regimen and educating staff and Kampers on the proper use of water bottles and other personal items.

To speed up the screening process for your child’s arrival, please download the required Health Check Questionnaire from the link below or find it when you login to www.mykanakuk.com. We also pasted it at the bottom of this email for your convenience. It will need to come with your child!

Download Health Check Questionnaire

Thank you for your understanding and patience, we appreciate your support!

Blessings,
Doug Goodwin
Chief Operating Officer
Kanakuk Ministries


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9:49 - Thanks for the encouragement

At 9:49 I responded to a Kamp Dad who's in the "Biz", a PR guy at a university. He's my friend on FB and sent a message of encouragement and advice as someone who just recently dealt with this issue at his job. Here's my response:

Huge to get your message and know that you've been down this path and understand! I really appreciate it. Good advice. We have been using some things but can probably strengthen the nationwide/mild summer version thing up so it's more clear. [We really are hearing from many sources that this milder summer version of H1N1 is being experienced in much of the country] Good to know it helped you. We have such a great team here. The transportation team is on their light days between changeovers but volunteered to come in and manage the individual email responses and phone calls for our Health Service Director. My team is in prepping for the next communications and from Joe White down we are all monitoring the health and response of the Kamps as they are on the front lines of the cleaning, etc. I've been very impressed by the leadership's quick and aggressive decisions and the transparency of information to our parents was never in question. Thanks again for the encouragement.

Many others of you have written encouraging emails praising our response and telling us you are praying for a healthy summer, they are all read with respect and a great deal of humbleness and appreciation.

We had a brief time of prayer this morning before we began our work for the day, comforted that that God is with us. Things are going so well. Kampers are having a blast.

This morning the team took a moment to make sure that we had everyone in the absolute right spots to make it a great day of serving and being efficient. Being diligent and watchful as if all these Kampers were our own kids (and some of them have been!)

All photos from yesterday's Kamp activity should be posted sometime around noon (for those Kampers here right now), but I know some of them are up already. There will be literally thousands of visitors to the website today to view the photos.

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Keeping You Current

Good Morning! A team of us are assembling at Kanakuk this morning including Doug Goodwin, Chief Operating Officer for Kanakuk Ministries, to assure that you have the most current and correct information.

As I drove in, wild turkey and K-1 staff were out for their morning runs. I've opened my window so I can here the Leadership staff wake the Kampers in the fun way they do. And before I leave today the sound of kids chanting and the K-Kountry and K-1 ziplines will no doubt make it through the window as well.

If you are wondering about our pre-Kamp screening process we will be sending an email out to Kampers prior to the start of their term so that you can have the details and download a copy of the Health Check Questionnaire.

More soon.
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What's happening at Kanakuk Kamps

It's late and I'm headed to bed for a few hours. Just wanted to give you some insight into what's happening here at Kanakuk.

Some of the best friends in the world have been huddled around the table today in unity, working hard to communicate with parents, health department officials, the media, and most importantly doing everything we can to keep the Kamper's and staff safe and having fun. I think the fun part for me is getting feedback from parents like:

We truly appreciate the concern and care you have expressed and the diligence you have taken to handle this situation. Many thanks and prayers for good health at all Kamps.

We really appreciate the professional way you have handled this and that you have kept us informed.

And the many others. We really do have the greatest families in the world that support us!

Coming up tomorrow:

For Kampers arriving next week, an email that delivers the Health Check Questionnaire and the details of our pre-Kamp screening.
More communication with K-West families.

Goodnight!

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