2020 Nevada Wing Summer Encampment
**CANCELED**
It is with deep regret that I announce that the 2020 Nevada Wing Summer Encampment is canceled.
It goes without saying that the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic has been far-reaching in Civil Air Patrol and the rest of our lives. In any CAP activity, our first goal is always the safety of all involved. An encampment by nature is an activity where social distancing is impossible. Participants sleep in bunkbeds, share bathrooms, march in tight drill formations, fly airplanes, play team sports and eat buffet-style meals. When a virus is spreading through our society unchecked by a vaccine or any proven treatments, we simply cannot conduct an activity in these conditions and simply hope nobody becomes sick, especially when the coronavirus can be carried by those who do not show symptoms. In a word, having an encampment in the current environment is reckless, and I don’t expect that environment to improve enough in the next 10 weeks to justify the risk.
My senior staff and I chose the cadet leadership for this year very carefully. They have already proven themselves as a team, working very hard to this point to bring you the best experience possible. As such, each of the cadre will be given the opportunity to remain in encampment leadership positions for 2021. I’m excited to continue working with them over the next year to make sure that the 2021 Summer Encampment will be bigger and better than ever.
For those of you who have already registered, 100% of your tuition, fees and donations will be returned to you in the coming weeks. Also, there are several winter encampments being planned for December and January, although not in Nevada. Although the encampment requirement has been waived for the Mitchell award for any cadet in the grade of C/MSgt or higher as of 1 May 2020, you will be approved to attend one of these winter encampments if you would prefer not to wait until next year. Further information can be found at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/activities/encampment. In doing so, you should also reference the CAP Remobilization Plan, found at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/covid-19-remobilization.
On a personal note, I was very much looking forward to leading the Encampment this summer, as I consider it to be the hallmark of CAP cadet activities. I want to thank Lt Col Wilcox, 1st Lt Surwill, Col Pierce, Capt Tooker, C/1st Lt Shelton, C/Maj Surwill, C/Lt Col Altunin and all of the other cadet and senior member leaders who have already done so much. I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Best,
Lt Col Pete Goertzen, CAP
2020 Encampment Commander
It goes without saying that the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic has been far-reaching in Civil Air Patrol and the rest of our lives. In any CAP activity, our first goal is always the safety of all involved. An encampment by nature is an activity where social distancing is impossible. Participants sleep in bunkbeds, share bathrooms, march in tight drill formations, fly airplanes, play team sports and eat buffet-style meals. When a virus is spreading through our society unchecked by a vaccine or any proven treatments, we simply cannot conduct an activity in these conditions and simply hope nobody becomes sick, especially when the coronavirus can be carried by those who do not show symptoms. In a word, having an encampment in the current environment is reckless, and I don’t expect that environment to improve enough in the next 10 weeks to justify the risk.
My senior staff and I chose the cadet leadership for this year very carefully. They have already proven themselves as a team, working very hard to this point to bring you the best experience possible. As such, each of the cadre will be given the opportunity to remain in encampment leadership positions for 2021. I’m excited to continue working with them over the next year to make sure that the 2021 Summer Encampment will be bigger and better than ever.
For those of you who have already registered, 100% of your tuition, fees and donations will be returned to you in the coming weeks. Also, there are several winter encampments being planned for December and January, although not in Nevada. Although the encampment requirement has been waived for the Mitchell award for any cadet in the grade of C/MSgt or higher as of 1 May 2020, you will be approved to attend one of these winter encampments if you would prefer not to wait until next year. Further information can be found at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/activities/encampment. In doing so, you should also reference the CAP Remobilization Plan, found at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/covid-19-remobilization.
On a personal note, I was very much looking forward to leading the Encampment this summer, as I consider it to be the hallmark of CAP cadet activities. I want to thank Lt Col Wilcox, 1st Lt Surwill, Col Pierce, Capt Tooker, C/1st Lt Shelton, C/Maj Surwill, C/Lt Col Altunin and all of the other cadet and senior member leaders who have already done so much. I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Best,
Lt Col Pete Goertzen, CAP
2020 Encampment Commander