A summer of change at Pyramid Life Center

On any given day in the summer, Pyramid Life Center would be teeming with activity.

Just last week, middle schoolers and high schoolers across the Diocese and beyond would have been enjoying Camp Breakaway.

But even though Pyramid Life Center remains closed until Aug. 9 due to the coronavirus, there is much activity underway at the 800-acre diocesan retreat center in the Adirondacks.

“What we have been doing since May is a lot of cleaning and updating the facility,” said Brian Evers, director of Pyramid Life Center.

Evers and his staff of 12 have been tweaking, and doing a lot of painting, while reimagining the center so that it complies with state coronavirus guidelines, adding “the big thing for us is the way we operate has completely changed.”

The dining hall has been revamped, gone are the buffet and drink station, and the floors have been sanded to a high gloss, to name just a few changes.

“One of the reasons we did that is our dining hall is considered a restaurant, so we have to focus on restaurant guidelines,” said Evers, whose staff has also placed numerous picnic tables around the grounds for outdoor dining.

Some of the other changes include: there can only be 50 people in total on the beach, all guests must come from New York State and employees will be screened every day and wear masks and protective equipment when interacting with guests. This month, Evers said, they will test the changes with smaller retreats of 30 people (they are allowed up to 60) because “retreats are easier to social distance than a family outing.”

The first parish group, Our Lady of Lourdes in Syracuse, will arrive on Aug. 9 followed by St. Vincent in Albany.

Another big change is that the PLC has purchased a 161⁄2 acre property right next door. Evers said the property has been on the market for several years, was home to the former Chipmunk Camp and, for the last 30 years, was a private residence.

“The time was right for us (to buy),” Evers said. “It gives us the ability to possibly expand a little bit.”

Whatever the rest of the season holds, Evers remains confident.

“We hope to have a pretty good fall schedule and we take it day by day,” Evers said. “I am lucky that I have a really great staff.”