Escapees Member News- Escapees & COVID-19

Escapees & COVID-19

At a time when we are encouraged to maintain several feet between us and others, self-contained, a phrase we hear often as RVers, takes on a new meaning doesn't it?

The good news is that RVing has prepared us well for this! Bringing our homes with us on the road allows RVers a level of comfort that others are lacking right now. You have more control over your environment than most anyone else, and social-distancing is fairly easy, especially when you enjoy boondocking.

Keep reading to learn the latest from Escapees regarding upcoming events, as well as resources to help you weather this national emergency.

Escapees RV Club leadership and event directors have been closely monitoring the circumstances surrounding the spread of the coronavirus disease, otherwise known as COVID-19. As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to monitor guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) to inform our decisions regarding upcoming Escapees events and to do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

It is with a heavy heart that we made the difficult decision to cancel or postpone all events currently scheduled through June 17. This includes our Convergences, Hangouts, and Head-out Program (HOP) events as well as our RVers Boot Camps. We do not wish to risk the safety and well-being of our membership by continuing with these events. Event-specific changes will be communicated to those registered for these events and refunds will be issued.

At this time, we are still looking forward to Escapade. However, a final decision regarding its cancellation or postponement will be made no later than May 4, 2020.

We understand that this issue is cause for concern to many, and our deepest sympathies go out to all who have been affected already. We assure you that as the situation continues to develop, we will make our decisions with the health and well-being of our members and employees as our highest priority.

You will also see changes at our Rainbow Parks. For the safety of our park staff and guests, access to certain amenities will be restricted for the foreseeable future. Though access is restricted, please know our parks are still open for guests.

All park buildings are closed and locked to the general public, including campground staff and park residents, until further notice with exception to laundry rooms and exterior-accessible restrooms. This includes park offices, activity centers, clubhouses, etc.

Park offices are closed to outside guests. If you need to make a reservation, ask a question, make a payment, etc, you will have to call the park office. Staff will still be available during regular office hours, but face-to-face interaction is discouraged.

Lastly, social hours, meals, and formal community gatherings are cancelled until further notice.

Social events are important to our members, our Escapees family. We thrive on laughing together, sharing meals, and learning from each other. Unfortunately, the very thing that helps us feel more like family also puts many of our members' health at risk. COVID-19 is a dangerous disease for those who have compromised immune systems, heart health issues, respiratory health issues, and other health concerns. Those who do become infected often require medical attention, even hospitalization.

This is where the now-common phrase, flattening the curve, is important. When forecasting the rate of infection, data analysts see a steep curve form as number of infections increases exponentially over a short period of time. As illustrated in this article from the Washington Post, limiting person-to-person interaction slows the spread of COVID-19. As interconnected as our world is, it is virtually impossible to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Instead, the CDC recommends we do what we can to slow the spread, or "flatten the curve," of infection so that fewer people are sick and in need of medical treatment at once. Fewer people in need of medical treatment at the same time means that there are much better chances of recovery as they will have better access to necessary medical care.

This is why we have chosen to follow the CDC's guidelines regarding social gatherings and canceled or postponed most of our upcoming events. We are confident that our decision is the right one in order to do our part in protecting all of our members, especially those who are most at risk.

We look forward to the time when we are able to safely resume events and enjoy our favorite part of RVing- you!