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Camp Bethel News, December 2020-January 2021, Fincastle, VA
CAMP BETHEL IS OPEN FOR GROUPS AND FAMILIES
In accordance with Virginia’s Phase 3 guidelines, facilities, food services, and conference rooms are available to reserve. Cyclists, hikers, walkers, and day-visitors are always welcome; hiking and 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.
CAMP BETHEL 2020 APPLE BUTTER $12/QUART & $6/PINT! CHRISTMAS TOGETHER DESSERTS $15!
At least TWO very good things from the year 2020: Delicious Apple Butter and Christmas Desserts! Our 2020 Apple Butter was hand-crafted on October 9, 2020 by our friends at Cedar Bluff Church of the Brethren. $12/quart & $6/pint. And in lieu of our annual Christmas Together Banquet, Wes Shrader is custom-baking delicious desserts including Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Balls, Chocolate Fudge, Gingersnap Cookies, Oreo Truffles, Peanut Butter Fudge, Peppermint Bark, Snowball Cookies (with pecans), and Sugar Cookie Truffles; $15/dozen. Camp Bethel Blanket $30. Order yours TODAY at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/TradingPost, and pick up at the Camp Bethel Office.
HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL REPLACED BY CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS. Due to continuing COVID-19 concerns, we were not able to hold an “in-person” Heritage Day Festival at Camp on October 3. 16 congregations and several individuals adapted and held fund-raisers, offerings, or food/craft sales in honor of Heritage Day. Please participate with an offering before the end of 2020. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/Heritage-Day
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 it all. We cancelled 2020 summer camps for the first time in our 94-year history, and we lost all guest group rentals from March 14 through August 31. WE ARE INSPIRED AND BLESSED by generous donations and sponsorships from hundreds of individuals, families, and groups. Our April 2020 Sounds of the Mountains “At Home” Story Festival Videos were viewed 2,300 times and raised $28,396. Our 4th annual “Camp Bethel PEP!” 5K was held in person with health and safety protocols, and it was our most successful 5K to date with 124 participants (ages 1-80), 10 volunteers, and 5 sponsors raising $7,077. Our 26th annual Camp Bethel Benefit Golf Tournament was also held in person with health protocols, and it was also our most successful golf event ever with 116 golfers and 35 sponsors raising $21,650. 16 congregations and several individuals held fund-raisers, offerings, or food/craft sales in honor of Heritage Day, raising $28,285 thus far. We still need help to remain viable into 2021. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate.
SIX WAYS TO HELP CAMP BETHEL:
1. FALL/WINTER FAMILY VACATION… AT CAMP! Visit CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for info and availability.
2. STAFF ALUMNI CHALLENGE initiated by Tina Lowe Brockman in which staff donate the amount of your last summer, (ex: 2003 would be $20.03, or $2,003.00). 45 staff gave $5,334,81 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. SPONSOR our SOTM Festival or Disc Golf Course holes at CampBethelVirginia.org/DiscGolf.
5. ORDER Apple Butter, Blankets, & Christmas Together Desserts at CampBethelVirginia.org/TradingPost.
6. DONATE! Every gift helps! Thank you! CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
COMING SOON: DISC GOLF AT CAMP BETHEL! Thanks to a generous gift from Stottsberg Engineering (www.StottsbergEng.com) 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 our southern acreage. Hole Sponsorship opportunities coming soon! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/discgolf
IN-PERSON WINTER CAMP IS CANCELLED, BUT… GET OUR FREE "12 DAYS OF CAMP BETHEL" BOX!
At the time of planning, we were confident in our ability to safely offer our modified day program. However, with recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, and necessary Phase 3 restrictions in Virginia, we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled Winter Camp Day Retreat. Camper and staff safety remains our top priority. In place of our winter program, we will send you a FREE "12 Days of Camp Bethel" Camp At Home Box! A play on the 12 Days of Christmas, your “12 Days of Camp” box includes an activity booklet, supplies, stickers, and more! We will ship the box to you, but you must sign up at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/WinterCamp
BIG 20TH SOUNDS OF THE MOUNTAINS STORY FESTIVAL BEGINS APRIL 17, 2021! Donald Davis returns to our amazing “all-headliners” festival including Dolores Hydock, Kevin Kling, Bil Lepp, Barbara McBride-Smith, and Donna Washington. Plans are underway for a dynamic, creative, fun, and truly unique online storytelling event. 2020 videos are still available, and 2021 performer bios and Sponsorship information is at www.SoundsoftheMountains.org.
SUMMER CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT! We ARE planning for SAFE and FUN 2021 resident camps, adventures, trips, and day camps using our “Small Group Unit” model. Health and safety adaptations include: each Unit has their own cabin, bathhouse, and shower; equipment and facilities thoroughly sanitized between use; physical distancing during activities; use of facemasks within 6-feet and indoors; increased Unit autonomy with limited all-camp gatherings; daily health checks; and following Health and Safety Behaviors. Tentative schedule, safety info, and more at CampBethelVirginia.org/camps.
SUMMER STAFF ADOPTION 2021: PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: We ARE planning to have adapted Summer Camps in 2021, we seek groups, congregations, and individuals to adopt one of 40 Summer Staff Members with a commitment of prayer, letters, and $100. 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 in what will be an unusual (adapted-for-COVID-19) program. Info at CampBethelVirginia.org/adopt.
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
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.
"Seed, Scattered and Sown: Reaching Beyond This Generation" is the mission resourcing campaign of our Virlina District and Camp Bethel. As of November 2, 2020, 284 donors have given $506,060 toward our Victory Goal of $750,000. Camp’s half of the campaign is for previously designated projects (not in our budget), including: 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 Barry for info!
CAMP BETHEL WISH LIST: Clorox wipes, face masks, hand-sanitizer; infrared forehead thermometers; backpack disinfectant sprayers; road-worthy mini-van or 15-passenger van (2010 or newer); clothes dryer; kitchen refrigerator; chest coolers w/ handles; play parachute; 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;” 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
Order your Apple Butter, blankets, and Christmas Together desserts NOW.
Sign up for your “12 Days of Camp Bethel” Winter Camp At Home Box.
January 5, 2021: Summer Camp Registration OPENS.
February 6, 2021 (Sat), 12:00noon: Camp Supporter Lunch, RSVP, TBD.
March 11, 2021 (Thu), 6:30pm: Sow the Seed Campership Banquet, RSVP, TBD.
March 27, 2021 (Sat), 7:30am: Spring Vol. Workday, RSVP free meals.
April 17, 2021 (Sat): Big 20th Sounds of the Mountains Story Fest available online.
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
328 Bethel Road
Fincastle, VA 24090
540.992.2940
CampBethelOffice@gmail.com
www.CampBethelVirginia.org
CAMP BETHEL IS OPEN FOR GROUPS AND FAMILIES
In accordance with Virginia’s Phase 3 guidelines, facilities, food services, and conference rooms are available to reserve. Cyclists, hikers, walkers, and day-visitors are always welcome; hiking and 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.
CAMP BETHEL 2020 APPLE BUTTER $12/QUART & $6/PINT! CHRISTMAS TOGETHER DESSERTS $15!
At least TWO very good things from the year 2020: Delicious Apple Butter and Christmas Desserts! Our 2020 Apple Butter was hand-crafted on October 9, 2020 by our friends at Cedar Bluff Church of the Brethren. $12/quart & $6/pint. And in lieu of our annual Christmas Together Banquet, Wes Shrader is custom-baking delicious desserts including Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Balls, Chocolate Fudge, Gingersnap Cookies, Oreo Truffles, Peanut Butter Fudge, Peppermint Bark, Snowball Cookies (with pecans), and Sugar Cookie Truffles; $15/dozen. Camp Bethel Blanket $30. Order yours TODAY at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/TradingPost, and pick up at the Camp Bethel Office.
HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL REPLACED BY CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS. Due to continuing COVID-19 concerns, we were not able to hold an “in-person” Heritage Day Festival at Camp on October 3. 16 congregations and several individuals adapted and held fund-raisers, offerings, or food/craft sales in honor of Heritage Day. Please participate with an offering before the end of 2020. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/Heritage-Day
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 it all. We cancelled 2020 summer camps for the first time in our 94-year history, and we lost all guest group rentals from March 14 through August 31. WE ARE INSPIRED AND BLESSED by generous donations and sponsorships from hundreds of individuals, families, and groups. Our April 2020 Sounds of the Mountains “At Home” Story Festival Videos were viewed 2,300 times and raised $28,396. Our 4th annual “Camp Bethel PEP!” 5K was held in person with health and safety protocols, and it was our most successful 5K to date with 124 participants (ages 1-80), 10 volunteers, and 5 sponsors raising $7,077. Our 26th annual Camp Bethel Benefit Golf Tournament was also held in person with health protocols, and it was also our most successful golf event ever with 116 golfers and 35 sponsors raising $21,650. 16 congregations and several individuals held fund-raisers, offerings, or food/craft sales in honor of Heritage Day, raising $28,285 thus far. We still need help to remain viable into 2021. www.CampBethelVirginia.org/donate.
SIX WAYS TO HELP CAMP BETHEL:
1. FALL/WINTER FAMILY VACATION… AT CAMP! Visit CampBethelVirginia.org/groups for info and availability.
2. STAFF ALUMNI CHALLENGE initiated by Tina Lowe Brockman in which staff donate the amount of your last summer, (ex: 2003 would be $20.03, or $2,003.00). 45 staff gave $5,334,81 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. SPONSOR our SOTM Festival or Disc Golf Course holes at CampBethelVirginia.org/DiscGolf.
5. ORDER Apple Butter, Blankets, & Christmas Together Desserts at CampBethelVirginia.org/TradingPost.
6. DONATE! Every gift helps! Thank you! CampBethelVirginia.org/donate
COMING SOON: DISC GOLF AT CAMP BETHEL! Thanks to a generous gift from Stottsberg Engineering (www.StottsbergEng.com) 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 our southern acreage. Hole Sponsorship opportunities coming soon! www.CampBethelVirginia.org/discgolf
IN-PERSON WINTER CAMP IS CANCELLED, BUT… GET OUR FREE "12 DAYS OF CAMP BETHEL" BOX!
At the time of planning, we were confident in our ability to safely offer our modified day program. However, with recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, and necessary Phase 3 restrictions in Virginia, we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled Winter Camp Day Retreat. Camper and staff safety remains our top priority. In place of our winter program, we will send you a FREE "12 Days of Camp Bethel" Camp At Home Box! A play on the 12 Days of Christmas, your “12 Days of Camp” box includes an activity booklet, supplies, stickers, and more! We will ship the box to you, but you must sign up at www.CampBethelVirginia.org/WinterCamp
BIG 20TH SOUNDS OF THE MOUNTAINS STORY FESTIVAL BEGINS APRIL 17, 2021! Donald Davis returns to our amazing “all-headliners” festival including Dolores Hydock, Kevin Kling, Bil Lepp, Barbara McBride-Smith, and Donna Washington. Plans are underway for a dynamic, creative, fun, and truly unique online storytelling event. 2020 videos are still available, and 2021 performer bios and Sponsorship information is at www.SoundsoftheMountains.org.
SUMMER CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT! We ARE planning for SAFE and FUN 2021 resident camps, adventures, trips, and day camps using our “Small Group Unit” model. Health and safety adaptations include: each Unit has their own cabin, bathhouse, and shower; equipment and facilities thoroughly sanitized between use; physical distancing during activities; use of facemasks within 6-feet and indoors; increased Unit autonomy with limited all-camp gatherings; daily health checks; and following Health and Safety Behaviors. Tentative schedule, safety info, and more at CampBethelVirginia.org/camps.
SUMMER STAFF ADOPTION 2021: PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: We ARE planning to have adapted Summer Camps in 2021, we seek groups, congregations, and individuals to adopt one of 40 Summer Staff Members with a commitment of prayer, letters, and $100. 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 in what will be an unusual (adapted-for-COVID-19) program. Info at CampBethelVirginia.org/adopt.
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
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.
"Seed, Scattered and Sown: Reaching Beyond This Generation" is the mission resourcing campaign of our Virlina District and Camp Bethel. As of November 2, 2020, 284 donors have given $506,060 toward our Victory Goal of $750,000. Camp’s half of the campaign is for previously designated projects (not in our budget), including: 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 Barry for info!
CAMP BETHEL WISH LIST: Clorox wipes, face masks, hand-sanitizer; infrared forehead thermometers; backpack disinfectant sprayers; road-worthy mini-van or 15-passenger van (2010 or newer); clothes dryer; kitchen refrigerator; chest coolers w/ handles; play parachute; 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;” 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
Order your Apple Butter, blankets, and Christmas Together desserts NOW.
Sign up for your “12 Days of Camp Bethel” Winter Camp At Home Box.
January 5, 2021: Summer Camp Registration OPENS.
February 6, 2021 (Sat), 12:00noon: Camp Supporter Lunch, RSVP, TBD.
March 11, 2021 (Thu), 6:30pm: Sow the Seed Campership Banquet, RSVP, TBD.
March 27, 2021 (Sat), 7:30am: Spring Vol. Workday, RSVP free meals.
April 17, 2021 (Sat): Big 20th Sounds of the Mountains Story Fest available online.
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
328 Bethel Road
Fincastle, VA 24090
540.992.2940
CampBethelOffice@gmail.com
www.CampBethelVirginia.org
