CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Pine Cove Towers' Camp Ends Early

Pine Cove Towers' Camp Ends Early

By Lynne Sullivant

Receptionists at camp Pine Cove stayed busy answering phone calls from parents Thursday, as they made plans to pick-up their kids.

Camp staff say they decided to end the week-long camp two days early after a large number of campers became ill with fever, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms.  Only the camp for 2nd through 5th graders was effected.

The kids began showing signs of illness Wednesday, prompting the decision to suspend the camp early Thursday morning.  Parents were notified immediately through phone calls and emails.

Pine Cove staffers say kids started showing up at the camp's health center Wednesday afternoon with flu-like symptoms.  Those campers were isolated.

But by Wednesday evening, 80 of the nearly 275 kids at the towers camp had similar symptoms.

As a precautionary measure, the camp's director says they had no other option but to end the camp early, to ensure no other children got sick.

"We have a whole process in place when they show up. Their clothing and camp gear is together and when their parents show up, we greet them with their kids. Kids jump in the car, drive off and go home," said Pine Cove president and CEO, Mario Zandstra,

Zandstra, said this is the first time in 42 years they've had to end a camp early.  Influenza type A screenings were performed on all the campers brought to the health center.

All tests were negative, but the staff is cleaning and sanitizing the entire facility in time for the towers camp's next session on Sunday.

As for refunds, all the campers from this session have been invited back for weeks 6-10 where spots are available at no cost to them.  So they will be able to experience a full week of camp.