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Camp Bethel News, Fall 2020, Fincastle, VA
CAMP BETHEL IS OPEN FOR FAMILIES AND GROUPS
In accordance with Virginia’s Phase 3 guidelines, facilities, food services, and RV/Tent campsites are available to reserve. Cyclists, hikers, walkers, creek explorers, and day-visitors are always welcome; hiking/biking trail maps and Self-Guided Adventure packets are on our office porch. Disc Golf coming soon! Visit www.CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for information and prices.
CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS REPLACE ON-SITE HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL
Due to the continuing health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to hold an “in-person” Heritage Day Festival at Camp. Many congregations have already adapted and plan to hold individual fund-raisers, meals, or food/craft sales in honor of Camp Bethel’s Heritage Day. Please participate with an event in 2020 in support of Camp Bethel. Updated information is at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/Heritage-Day, or available by contacting CampBethelOffice@gmail.com or 540-992-2940.
"SCHOOL'S OUT, CAMP'S IN" FALL SEMESTER DAY CAMPS NOW THROUGH DECEMBER
We combine the best activities of an Outdoor Learning Center, a Forest School, and our own Small Group Camping model into an excellent new program now through December for students in 3rd-8th grades to attend on days they are not in school. Individualized attendance is available. $55 per day for immersive, active, safe, and engaging outdoor learning experiences on our 470-acre campus with dedicated and trained adult Counselors. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/soci
COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS CREATE FUNDING VOID
Nearly everything we do at Camp Bethel involves being TOGETHER with others: summer camps, retreats, festivals, meals, and family weekends. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all aspects of our mission and our day-to-day operations. Like all other overnight camps in Virginia, we cancelled summer camps for the first time in our 94-year history. All summer Guest Camps and Band Camps cancelled, and we lost all group rentals from March 14 through August 31. We re-opened on July 1 for rentals, food services, and campsites, but many groups are cancelling their fall and winter retreats. We face a significant financial challenge for the remainder of 2020, even as we pivot our programming, adapt our food services, and safely open for facility rentals. Now, more than ever, we need your gifts and your advocacy to help Camp Bethel remain viable through 2020. Please give and encourage others to give at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate. Thank you!
SIX WAYS TO HELP CAMP BETHEL:
1. FAMILY VACATION… AT CAMP! Visit CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for information and to check availability.
2. STAFF ALUMNI CHALLENGE! Tina Lowe Brockman initiated the “Staff Alumni Challenge” in which staff donate the amount of your last summer, (ex: 2003 would be $20.03, or $2,003.00). 42 staff gave $4,714.81 thus far! CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
3. PLEASE DONATE 2020 BUDGETED “GOOD-AS-GOLD” FUNDS OR ANNUAL CONFERENCE FUNDS. We ask and encourage your Congregation to consider giving your 2020 budgeted “Good-As-Gold” to Camp Bethel and/or your 2020 budgeted AC funds to the Virlina District to help us BOTH bridge this difficult year.
4. CAMP BETHEL 93RD BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE. Ever-supportive and uber-creative Linda and Buddy Crumpacker encourage others to match their $93.00 gift in honor of Camp Bethel’s July 4, 2020, 93rd “birthday.”
5. SPONSOR our Golf Tournament at CampBethelVirginia.org/golf or our upcoming Disc Golf Course holes.
6. DONATE! Every gift helps! Thank you! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT SEPTEMBER 23: SAFE and IN-PERSON
Golfers and sponsors needed on Wednesday, September 23 for our adapted 2020 Golf Tournament at Ashley Plantation Golf Course. Tee off is at 12:30pm. $75 per person includes green fees, cart, and a yummy boxed lunch. Updated plans and safety adaptations, plus registration and sponsor information is at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/golf.
COMING SOON: DISC GOLF AT CAMP BETHEL!
Thanks to a generous gift from Stottsberg Engineering and with help from the Roanoke Disc Golf Club, we will soon install the “front nine” of our new Camp Bethel Disc Golf Course along the fields and forests of the “Trailblazer 2” southern acreage of campus. Watch our website and eNews (CampBethelVirginia.org/subscribe) for updates and Hole Sponsorship opportunities. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/discgolf
FALL VOLUNTEER WORKDAY IS SAT., NOVEMBER 7: Grab-and-Go Boxed meals: 7:30am free breakfast; 1:00pm free lunch; We need your help with projects (rain or shine) for all ages. RSVP meals by October 31 at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/workday.
SELF-GUIDED ADVENTURES FOR YOUR FAMILY: Compass Trails (or Letterboxing) use clues and a compass and GPS Trails (or Geocaching) use a GPS device (Google Maps) and GPS Coordinates to find each destination. Each adventure has a theme, a color code, an estimated time to complete, and a brief description of activity level. Compass Trails include Camp Bethel Fun Facts; Exercise Circuit; and Photo Challenge. GPS Trails include Photo Challenge; Nature Facts; and Coyote Survival. Packets are on our office porch or at CampBethelVirginia.org/self-guided-adventures.
FREE “ONWARD WE GO!” BIBLE STUDY ON LINE VIDEOS: We bring Camp to you with interactive Bible Study videos produced by and featuring our 2020 Summer Staff. Day 1 = Blessed as We Go. Day 2 = Led as We Go. Day 3 = Walking Together as We Go. Day 4 = Challenged as We Go. Day 5 = Rejoicing as We Go. Day 6 = Sent: Onward We Go! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/CampAtHome
STORYTELLING FESTIVAL VIDEOS FOR YOU TO ENJOY Running out of shows to binge-watch? Annoyed by the lack of live sports television? Are you quaran-tired of quarantine? Cure your entertainment blues with our five Storytelling videos featuring storytellers Regi Carpenter, Tim Lowry, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Kim Weitkamp (plus several surprises) at www.SoundsoftheMountains.org/watch.
"Seed, Scattered and Sown: Reaching Beyond This Generation" is the mission resourcing campaign of our Virlina District and Camp Bethel now through November 2020. As of September 14, 2020, 284 donors have given $500,937 toward our Victory Goal of $750,000, and our Challenge Goal of $1,000,000. Camp’s half of the campaign is to be used for previously designated projects (not in our budget), so reaching our goal means: the RV Village will provide long-overdue “real” campsites AND provide extra off-season income; road improvement will solve ingress/egress issues AND protect the spring area of campus; two new cottages will increase summer camp capacity AND provide year-round rental income; Ark entrance enclosure will provide extra space AND improve our camper/guest experience; new trails benefit everyone! Learn more or DONATE at www.VirlinaFuture.org.
REQUESTING PROPOSALS FOR RV VILLAGE CONSTRUCTION! We have approval from Botetourt County, and we have initial funding provided by your gifts to the “Seed, Scattered and Sown” campaign, so now it is time to build! Updated site layout and images for Camp Bethel’s long-planned 15-site “RV Village” area are at VirlinaFuture.org. Plans include water, electric, sewer, picnic table, campfire ring, and parking for 2-3 cars. Contact us for info!
SUMMER STAFF ADOPTION 2021: PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Assuming we are able to have Summer Camp in 2021, we seek 11 groups or congregations to adopt one of our 2021 Summer Staff Small Groups (6 persons) with a commitment of prayer, letters, and $600. This program benefits everyone involved: it helps Camp Bethel recruit and secure the highest quality counselors for our campers, and it helps these excellent young adults to accept God’s call to summer ministry. Info at CampBethelVirginia.org/adopt.
CAMP BETHEL WISH LIST: Road-worthy mini-van or 15-passenger van (2010 or newer); clothes dryer; kitchen refrigerator; chest coolers w/ handles; digital cameras; GoPro video camera; portable LCD projector; gas grill; laptop computer (Windows 10); LED light bulbs; new (in-the-box) first-aid kits; new (in-the-box) bike helmets & horse helmets; working vacuum cleaners; brooms & dustpans; 3’x8’ plyboards for under bunk mattresses (any thickness or quality); “Tree Cookies;” picnic tables, disconnected smart phones (with their charging cables) for use as a cameras and video cameras. CampBethelOffice@gmail.com or www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate. Tax-deductible!
TREE COOKIES NEEDED: Please help supply THOUSANDS of Tree Cookies for our year-round programs. Ideal “cookie” is hard wood, cross-cut showing tree rings, 2.5”+ diameter and less-than 0.5” thick. 540-992-2940 or CampBethelOffice@gmail.com. THANK YOU!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY E-NEWS at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/subscribe.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube = CampBethelVirginia Tag/Pin #CampBethelVirginia “Camp Bethel Summer Camp and Event Center”
UPCOMING EVENTS AT CAMP BETHEL, www.CampBethelVirginia.org/events
Now through ??: “School’s Out, Camp’s In” Fall Day Camps.
September 23, 2020 (Wed): 26th Benefit Golf Tournament, in-person.
October 2020: Congregational events in honor of Heritage Day.
November 7, 2020 (Sat), 7:30am: Fall Volunteer Workday, RSVP boxed meals.
November 13-14, 2020: Virlina District Conference, ON LINE at Virlina.org.
December 3, 2020 (Thu): Christmas TOGETHER Banquet, TBD.
January 2-3, 2021: Winter Camp, TBD. Day program instead? TBD.
January 5, 2021: Summer Camp Registration OPENS.
February 6, 2021 (Sat), 12:00noon: Camp Supporter Lunch, RSVP, TBD.
March 11, 2021 (Thurs), 6:30pm: Sow the Seed Campership Banquet, RSVP, TBD.
March 27, 2021 (Sat), 7:30am: Spring Volunteer Workday, RSVP free meals.
April 16-17, 2021 (Fri-Sat): 20th Sounds of the Mountains Storytelling Festival, TBD.
May 27-31, 2021: Memorial Day Family Weekend, RSVP meals.
May 28, 2021 (Sat): Family Day/Summer Camp Open House, 1:00-4:00pm, TBD.
May 31-June 11, 2021: Summer Staff Training, TBD.
June 4-5, 2021 (Fri-Sat): Parent-Child Overnight Camp, TBD.
June 11, 2021 (Fri), 5:30: Summer Staff Commissioning Dinner, TBD.
June 13–July 30, 2021: Summer Camps & Family Adventures, TBD.
CAMP BETHEL IS OPEN FOR FAMILIES AND GROUPS
In accordance with Virginia’s Phase 3 guidelines, facilities, food services, and RV/Tent campsites are available to reserve. Cyclists, hikers, walkers, creek explorers, and day-visitors are always welcome; hiking/biking trail maps and Self-Guided Adventure packets are on our office porch. Disc Golf coming soon! Visit www.CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for information and prices.
CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS REPLACE ON-SITE HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL
Due to the continuing health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to hold an “in-person” Heritage Day Festival at Camp. Many congregations have already adapted and plan to hold individual fund-raisers, meals, or food/craft sales in honor of Camp Bethel’s Heritage Day. Please participate with an event in 2020 in support of Camp Bethel. Updated information is at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/Heritage-Day, or available by contacting CampBethelOffice@gmail.com or 540-992-2940.
"SCHOOL'S OUT, CAMP'S IN" FALL SEMESTER DAY CAMPS NOW THROUGH DECEMBER
We combine the best activities of an Outdoor Learning Center, a Forest School, and our own Small Group Camping model into an excellent new program now through December for students in 3rd-8th grades to attend on days they are not in school. Individualized attendance is available. $55 per day for immersive, active, safe, and engaging outdoor learning experiences on our 470-acre campus with dedicated and trained adult Counselors. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/soci
COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS CREATE FUNDING VOID
Nearly everything we do at Camp Bethel involves being TOGETHER with others: summer camps, retreats, festivals, meals, and family weekends. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all aspects of our mission and our day-to-day operations. Like all other overnight camps in Virginia, we cancelled summer camps for the first time in our 94-year history. All summer Guest Camps and Band Camps cancelled, and we lost all group rentals from March 14 through August 31. We re-opened on July 1 for rentals, food services, and campsites, but many groups are cancelling their fall and winter retreats. We face a significant financial challenge for the remainder of 2020, even as we pivot our programming, adapt our food services, and safely open for facility rentals. Now, more than ever, we need your gifts and your advocacy to help Camp Bethel remain viable through 2020. Please give and encourage others to give at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate. Thank you!
SIX WAYS TO HELP CAMP BETHEL:
1. FAMILY VACATION… AT CAMP! Visit CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for information and to check availability.
2. STAFF ALUMNI CHALLENGE! Tina Lowe Brockman initiated the “Staff Alumni Challenge” in which staff donate the amount of your last summer, (ex: 2003 would be $20.03, or $2,003.00). 42 staff gave $4,714.81 thus far! CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
3. PLEASE DONATE 2020 BUDGETED “GOOD-AS-GOLD” FUNDS OR ANNUAL CONFERENCE FUNDS. We ask and encourage your Congregation to consider giving your 2020 budgeted “Good-As-Gold” to Camp Bethel and/or your 2020 budgeted AC funds to the Virlina District to help us BOTH bridge this difficult year.
4. CAMP BETHEL 93RD BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE. Ever-supportive and uber-creative Linda and Buddy Crumpacker encourage others to match their $93.00 gift in honor of Camp Bethel’s July 4, 2020, 93rd “birthday.”
5. SPONSOR our Golf Tournament at CampBethelVirginia.org/golf or our upcoming Disc Golf Course holes.
6. DONATE! Every gift helps! Thank you! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT SEPTEMBER 23: SAFE and IN-PERSON
Golfers and sponsors needed on Wednesday, September 23 for our adapted 2020 Golf Tournament at Ashley Plantation Golf Course. Tee off is at 12:30pm. $75 per person includes green fees, cart, and a yummy boxed lunch. Updated plans and safety adaptations, plus registration and sponsor information is at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/golf.
COMING SOON: DISC GOLF AT CAMP BETHEL!
Thanks to a generous gift from Stottsberg Engineering and with help from the Roanoke Disc Golf Club, we will soon install the “front nine” of our new Camp Bethel Disc Golf Course along the fields and forests of the “Trailblazer 2” southern acreage of campus. Watch our website and eNews (CampBethelVirginia.org/subscribe) for updates and Hole Sponsorship opportunities. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/discgolf
FALL VOLUNTEER WORKDAY IS SAT., NOVEMBER 7: Grab-and-Go Boxed meals: 7:30am free breakfast; 1:00pm free lunch; We need your help with projects (rain or shine) for all ages. RSVP meals by October 31 at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/workday.
SELF-GUIDED ADVENTURES FOR YOUR FAMILY: Compass Trails (or Letterboxing) use clues and a compass and GPS Trails (or Geocaching) use a GPS device (Google Maps) and GPS Coordinates to find each destination. Each adventure has a theme, a color code, an estimated time to complete, and a brief description of activity level. Compass Trails include Camp Bethel Fun Facts; Exercise Circuit; and Photo Challenge. GPS Trails include Photo Challenge; Nature Facts; and Coyote Survival. Packets are on our office porch or at CampBethelVirginia.org/self-guided-adventures.
FREE “ONWARD WE GO!” BIBLE STUDY ON LINE VIDEOS: We bring Camp to you with interactive Bible Study videos produced by and featuring our 2020 Summer Staff. Day 1 = Blessed as We Go. Day 2 = Led as We Go. Day 3 = Walking Together as We Go. Day 4 = Challenged as We Go. Day 5 = Rejoicing as We Go. Day 6 = Sent: Onward We Go! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/CampAtHome
STORYTELLING FESTIVAL VIDEOS FOR YOU TO ENJOY Running out of shows to binge-watch? Annoyed by the lack of live sports television? Are you quaran-tired of quarantine? Cure your entertainment blues with our five Storytelling videos featuring storytellers Regi Carpenter, Tim Lowry, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Kim Weitkamp (plus several surprises) at www.SoundsoftheMountains.org/watch.
"Seed, Scattered and Sown: Reaching Beyond This Generation" is the mission resourcing campaign of our Virlina District and Camp Bethel now through November 2020. As of September 14, 2020, 284 donors have given $500,937 toward our Victory Goal of $750,000, and our Challenge Goal of $1,000,000. Camp’s half of the campaign is to be used for previously designated projects (not in our budget), so reaching our goal means: the RV Village will provide long-overdue “real” campsites AND provide extra off-season income; road improvement will solve ingress/egress issues AND protect the spring area of campus; two new cottages will increase summer camp capacity AND provide year-round rental income; Ark entrance enclosure will provide extra space AND improve our camper/guest experience; new trails benefit everyone! Learn more or DONATE at www.VirlinaFuture.org.
REQUESTING PROPOSALS FOR RV VILLAGE CONSTRUCTION! We have approval from Botetourt County, and we have initial funding provided by your gifts to the “Seed, Scattered and Sown” campaign, so now it is time to build! Updated site layout and images for Camp Bethel’s long-planned 15-site “RV Village” area are at VirlinaFuture.org. Plans include water, electric, sewer, picnic table, campfire ring, and parking for 2-3 cars. Contact us for info!
SUMMER STAFF ADOPTION 2021: PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Assuming we are able to have Summer Camp in 2021, we seek 11 groups or congregations to adopt one of our 2021 Summer Staff Small Groups (6 persons) with a commitment of prayer, letters, and $600. This program benefits everyone involved: it helps Camp Bethel recruit and secure the highest quality counselors for our campers, and it helps these excellent young adults to accept God’s call to summer ministry. Info at CampBethelVirginia.org/adopt.
CAMP BETHEL WISH LIST: Road-worthy mini-van or 15-passenger van (2010 or newer); clothes dryer; kitchen refrigerator; chest coolers w/ handles; digital cameras; GoPro video camera; portable LCD projector; gas grill; laptop computer (Windows 10); LED light bulbs; new (in-the-box) first-aid kits; new (in-the-box) bike helmets & horse helmets; working vacuum cleaners; brooms & dustpans; 3’x8’ plyboards for under bunk mattresses (any thickness or quality); “Tree Cookies;” picnic tables, disconnected smart phones (with their charging cables) for use as a cameras and video cameras. CampBethelOffice@gmail.com or www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate. Tax-deductible!
TREE COOKIES NEEDED: Please help supply THOUSANDS of Tree Cookies for our year-round programs. Ideal “cookie” is hard wood, cross-cut showing tree rings, 2.5”+ diameter and less-than 0.5” thick. 540-992-2940 or CampBethelOffice@gmail.com. THANK YOU!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY E-NEWS at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/subscribe.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube = CampBethelVirginia Tag/Pin #CampBethelVirginia “Camp Bethel Summer Camp and Event Center”
UPCOMING EVENTS AT CAMP BETHEL, www.CampBethelVirginia.org/events
Now through ??: “School’s Out, Camp’s In” Fall Day Camps.
September 23, 2020 (Wed): 26th Benefit Golf Tournament, in-person.
October 2020: Congregational events in honor of Heritage Day.
November 7, 2020 (Sat), 7:30am: Fall Volunteer Workday, RSVP boxed meals.
November 13-14, 2020: Virlina District Conference, ON LINE at Virlina.org.
December 3, 2020 (Thu): Christmas TOGETHER Banquet, TBD.
January 2-3, 2021: Winter Camp, TBD. Day program instead? TBD.
January 5, 2021: Summer Camp Registration OPENS.
February 6, 2021 (Sat), 12:00noon: Camp Supporter Lunch, RSVP, TBD.
March 11, 2021 (Thurs), 6:30pm: Sow the Seed Campership Banquet, RSVP, TBD.
March 27, 2021 (Sat), 7:30am: Spring Volunteer Workday, RSVP free meals.
April 16-17, 2021 (Fri-Sat): 20th Sounds of the Mountains Storytelling Festival, TBD.
May 27-31, 2021: Memorial Day Family Weekend, RSVP meals.
May 28, 2021 (Sat): Family Day/Summer Camp Open House, 1:00-4:00pm, TBD.
May 31-June 11, 2021: Summer Staff Training, TBD.
June 4-5, 2021 (Fri-Sat): Parent-Child Overnight Camp, TBD.
June 11, 2021 (Fri), 5:30: Summer Staff Commissioning Dinner, TBD.
June 13–July 30, 2021: Summer Camps & Family Adventures, TBD.
