"School's Out, Camp's In" Fall Day Camps at Camp Bethel for students in grades 3 - 8, weekly through December 18
Our "School's Out, Camp's In" Fall Day Camps combine the best elements and activities of an Outdoor Learning Center, a Forest School, and our own Small Group Camping into an excellent new program. Students in grades 3-8 from any public school, private school, or home-school are welcome. Our program begins August 24, but you can begin and end attendance on any date you choose. Individualized attendance is available. See our 2020 Fall Calendar HERE.
As this tumultuous year continues, your student will greatly benefit from our immersive outdoor learning experiences: active, fun, physically safe, and emotionally safe. The value of camp-style learning experiences has never been more apparent as it is since this pandemic. A solid and consistent outdoor learning experience paired with positive social and emotional stimulation will help your student develop the kind of resilience they need to face this unusual school semester.
We follow a "Small Group Unit" model, also referred to as "pods" or "cohorts". You are led by 2 adult Counselors for each Unit of 6-10 students (minimum 6 must enroll). Each Unit has their own "home base" facility for storing gear, refrigerating lunches and drinks, and working on remote learning homework. For example, the Middle School Unit has Forest Lodge as their home base. Their two Counselors are ONLY Counselors for this Middle School Unit. No other Units use Forest Lodge, and Units do not interact with other Units. Our occasional shared spaces or equipment are thoroughly sanitized between uses and are not used consecutively on any day.
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Most of each day is spent learning, exploring, and playing outdoors, immersed together in our wild, beautiful campus which borders the Jefferson National Forest. Campers should bring clothing to match the daily weather. "There is no bad weather, only improper clothing." Indoor spaces are available during dangerous weather and for end-of day homework help. Time spent outdoors together in a "wilderness" setting invites openness to risk and self-examination. This, in turn, creates a rich learning atmosphere which is scientifically proven to enhance mood, improve mental clarity, and reduce stress. We provide supervised outdoor experiences you CAN'T do in other settings. We have 470 acres of forests, fields, ponds, creeks, springs, trails, and hills... and we use them!
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Weekly Unit Activity Options include:
Archery, Arts & Crafts, Campfire Cooking, Canoeing on camp ponds, Climbing Wall, Creek Exploration, Explore Hike, Four-Square, GaGa Ball, Group Games, Gym Games, TRAIL HIKES (Big Oak, Cave Trail, Funny Farm Animals, Graybill Graveyard, Horseshoe Bend & Black Horse Gap, Kimball’s Walk, Outpost, Salamander Gander, Seven Summits, Quarry Trail), Home-in-the-Woods Fun, Unit Initiatives & Team Building Games, Letterboxing, Low Ropes Group Course, Music and Singing, Nature Fun, Nine-Square-in-the-Air, Orienteering, Parachute Games, Pond Exploration, Rhythm Rest Stop, GPS Trail Guided Adventures, and much more! Each Unit plans their daily and weekly activities together, and they experience all activities together as a Unit.
Archery, Arts & Crafts, Campfire Cooking, Canoeing on camp ponds, Climbing Wall, Creek Exploration, Explore Hike, Four-Square, GaGa Ball, Group Games, Gym Games, TRAIL HIKES (Big Oak, Cave Trail, Funny Farm Animals, Graybill Graveyard, Horseshoe Bend & Black Horse Gap, Kimball’s Walk, Outpost, Salamander Gander, Seven Summits, Quarry Trail), Home-in-the-Woods Fun, Unit Initiatives & Team Building Games, Letterboxing, Low Ropes Group Course, Music and Singing, Nature Fun, Nine-Square-in-the-Air, Orienteering, Parachute Games, Pond Exploration, Rhythm Rest Stop, GPS Trail Guided Adventures, and much more! Each Unit plans their daily and weekly activities together, and they experience all activities together as a Unit.
Semester-Long Projects: With your Counselors, each Unit will:
- Build their own Unit raised-bed garden in a hoop-house greenhouse, and plant late-summer/fall vegetables and flowers.
- Build their own Unit hoop-house chicken "tractor" with egg-laying boxes.
- Raise and care for 3-4 Unit hens from chick to egg-layer, (maybe a duck, too!)
- Build and maintain their own Unit "Home-in-the-Woods" site for exploration, campfire lunch cookouts, and just plain FUN.
- Build their own Unit raised-bed garden in a hoop-house greenhouse, and plant late-summer/fall vegetables and flowers.
- Build their own Unit hoop-house chicken "tractor" with egg-laying boxes.
- Raise and care for 3-4 Unit hens from chick to egg-layer, (maybe a duck, too!)
- Build and maintain their own Unit "Home-in-the-Woods" site for exploration, campfire lunch cookouts, and just plain FUN.
Specialty Weeks throughout the Fall 2020 Semester will include:
- The Salamander Gander: Study of native and endangered salamanders and their sensitive ecosystems.
- Geology & Earth Science: Study of rocks specific to Camp Bethel, their types, formations, and impact on the local ecosystem.
- Tree Identification and invasive species.
- Culinary Arts with Wes.
- Physics: The Four Observable States of Matter with "Dry Ice Week".
- Introduction to Astronomy.
- and MORE!
- The Salamander Gander: Study of native and endangered salamanders and their sensitive ecosystems.
- Geology & Earth Science: Study of rocks specific to Camp Bethel, their types, formations, and impact on the local ecosystem.
- Tree Identification and invasive species.
- Culinary Arts with Wes.
- Physics: The Four Observable States of Matter with "Dry Ice Week".
- Introduction to Astronomy.
- and MORE!
Health and Safety: We are committed to protecting your Student's Health.
We take the safety and care of your children (our campers) very seriously. Allowing us to care for your child is perhaps the greatest act of trust a parent can engage in. That makes Camp Bethel not just a fun place, but also a sacred one. We do everything we can to honor your trust, including our voluntary adherence to over 300 standards of health, safety and programming. We know we cannot do this without our excellent Counselors who are trained and committed to providing safe and fun days of learning and growth. If a camper is sad or if there is an issue, illness, injury, or emergency the Director WILL contact parents. Read our detailed HEALTH PLAN here.
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- Any Student, Counselor, or Parent with recent exposure to COVID-19 must stay home for 14 days.
- Parents will be given a daily health screening checklist to review each day before bringing their child to camp. Keep children home if they are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19. - Any Student or Counselor with a temperature of 100.4 (F) or higher will not be admitted. Parents must check temperature BEFORE leaving home so that as not to create a difficult situation upon arrival if we cannot admit your student. - Daily check-in is at your vehicle as you drive into camp. your Director will perform a simple, touch-free health screening for your student involving a temperature check using a forehead thermal scanner and a few questions. - After successful check-in, you will be directed to your student’s home base to connect them with their Unit. (Your student will be the only person exiting the vehicle.) |
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- Counselors will wear face masks when indoors and when within 6 feet of others while outdoors.
- Students must bring a face mask and wear it indoors when within 6 feet of others and outdoors when within 6 feet of others. We recommend that each student pack/bring at least 2 face masks daily.
- Anyone who displays COVID-19 symptoms while at camp will be isolated in our Health Clinic until they can be safely transported home or to a healthcare facility.
- Each student will remain with the same Unit and Counselors, operating out of the same home base facility all semester. Units will not come into contact with one another, and your Counselors only work with your Unit of students.
- Shared facilities and equipment will be limited and will be thoroughly sanitized between use, and most will be idle for 72 hours between uses.
- Every Counselor is trained in COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, strategies, and prevention education aligned with VDH & CDC guidance. This includes wearing face masks, hand-washing, surface-equipment-facility sanitation, and behavioral dos-and-don'ts. Counselors will teach Students these behaviors during the first several camp days, and this information will be in your Family Confirmation Packet for parents to help teach students also.
- Multiple hand sanitation stations have been added in multiple camp locations to allow Students and Counselors to easily use hand sanitizer.
- Detailed cleaning and disinfecting plan for "home bases" and shared spaces.
- Student storage areas in the home base are 6 feet apart, and we will eat snacks and lunches 6 feet apart or more whether indoors or outdoors.
- During their employment as Day Camp Counselors, your Counselors also agree to a "Social Behavioral Health Covenant" to minimize their individual exposure to COVID-19 and to keep your students safe.
- Most importantly, parents are reminded to keep their children home if they are sick or are showing symptoms related to COVID-19. Parents will be given a daily health screening checklist to review each day before bringing their child to camp.
Camp Rules to teach your camper: 1. Be kind and be helpful. 2. Stay with your Unit. 3. Obey your Counselors. 4. No rough play. 5. Wear shoes always. 6. Do not throw or kick anything. 7. Walk on paths, pavement or gravel. 8. Follow Health and Safety Behaviors.
Health and Safety Behaviors: 1. Stay 6 feet apart from others. 2. Masks on to get closer, ("Shared space? Mask your face!"). 3. Masks on indoors. 4. Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it into trash and wash your hands. 5. Wash hands before touching anything. 6. Don't touch your face. 7. Help clean surfaces and objects.
- Students must bring a face mask and wear it indoors when within 6 feet of others and outdoors when within 6 feet of others. We recommend that each student pack/bring at least 2 face masks daily.
- Anyone who displays COVID-19 symptoms while at camp will be isolated in our Health Clinic until they can be safely transported home or to a healthcare facility.
- Each student will remain with the same Unit and Counselors, operating out of the same home base facility all semester. Units will not come into contact with one another, and your Counselors only work with your Unit of students.
- Shared facilities and equipment will be limited and will be thoroughly sanitized between use, and most will be idle for 72 hours between uses.
- Every Counselor is trained in COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, strategies, and prevention education aligned with VDH & CDC guidance. This includes wearing face masks, hand-washing, surface-equipment-facility sanitation, and behavioral dos-and-don'ts. Counselors will teach Students these behaviors during the first several camp days, and this information will be in your Family Confirmation Packet for parents to help teach students also.
- Multiple hand sanitation stations have been added in multiple camp locations to allow Students and Counselors to easily use hand sanitizer.
- Detailed cleaning and disinfecting plan for "home bases" and shared spaces.
- Student storage areas in the home base are 6 feet apart, and we will eat snacks and lunches 6 feet apart or more whether indoors or outdoors.
- During their employment as Day Camp Counselors, your Counselors also agree to a "Social Behavioral Health Covenant" to minimize their individual exposure to COVID-19 and to keep your students safe.
- Most importantly, parents are reminded to keep their children home if they are sick or are showing symptoms related to COVID-19. Parents will be given a daily health screening checklist to review each day before bringing their child to camp.
Camp Rules to teach your camper: 1. Be kind and be helpful. 2. Stay with your Unit. 3. Obey your Counselors. 4. No rough play. 5. Wear shoes always. 6. Do not throw or kick anything. 7. Walk on paths, pavement or gravel. 8. Follow Health and Safety Behaviors.
Health and Safety Behaviors: 1. Stay 6 feet apart from others. 2. Masks on to get closer, ("Shared space? Mask your face!"). 3. Masks on indoors. 4. Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it into trash and wash your hands. 5. Wash hands before touching anything. 6. Don't touch your face. 7. Help clean surfaces and objects.
| campbethelsoci2020healthplan.pdf |
Leadership:
Our Day Camps are excellent because our Counselors are excellent. Your Student will be in a Unit with 5-9 other students and two adult Counselors. Your Counselors are fun, safe, and welcoming. Our Counselors are experienced youth development professionals who have served on our Camp Bethel summer camp staff. Directors Barry, Jenna, and Spencer interview, select and train your counselors during a 5-day training ensuring mastery in physical and emotional safety, COVID-19 risk management, CPR & First Aid, activity risk management, emergency preparation, educational concepts, and all activity skills.
We perform thorough background checks on ALL employees and volunteers. Our hiring is open to persons of all ethnicity and backgrounds. We only hire the best Counselors, and we pay them well for their dedication to your students. We know you will agree that your $55 per day tuition is worth it! Counselor bios and photos coming soon!
During their employment as Day Camp Counselors, your Counselors also agree to a "Social Behavioral Health Covenant" to minimize their individual exposure to COVID-19 and to keep your students safe.
Directors: Barry LeNoir has served as Camp Bethel Director since 2002. Barry taught 6th grade Science and English in Roanoke County Schools for 10 years prior to becoming Director at Camp Bethel. Jenna Stacy Mehalso has served as Camp Bethel's Program Coordinator since 2014, and she is a 2013 graduate of Bridgewater College. Spencer Knox has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2013, most recently as our Assistant Program Coordinator, and he is a 2019 graduate of James Madison University.
Counselors: Amanda Marcum has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2018, and she is a 2020 graduate of Radford University. Daniel Naff has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2016, and he is a 2020 graduate of Bridgewater College.
We perform thorough background checks on ALL employees and volunteers. Our hiring is open to persons of all ethnicity and backgrounds. We only hire the best Counselors, and we pay them well for their dedication to your students. We know you will agree that your $55 per day tuition is worth it! Counselor bios and photos coming soon!
During their employment as Day Camp Counselors, your Counselors also agree to a "Social Behavioral Health Covenant" to minimize their individual exposure to COVID-19 and to keep your students safe.
Directors: Barry LeNoir has served as Camp Bethel Director since 2002. Barry taught 6th grade Science and English in Roanoke County Schools for 10 years prior to becoming Director at Camp Bethel. Jenna Stacy Mehalso has served as Camp Bethel's Program Coordinator since 2014, and she is a 2013 graduate of Bridgewater College. Spencer Knox has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2013, most recently as our Assistant Program Coordinator, and he is a 2019 graduate of James Madison University.
Counselors: Amanda Marcum has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2018, and she is a 2020 graduate of Radford University. Daniel Naff has served on Camp Bethel's Summer Staff since 2016, and he is a 2020 graduate of Bridgewater College.
Fall 2020 Schedule
You can attend as many or as few days per week as you choose. You can begin attending on ANY date, and you can end on ANY date, BUT you must register and pay in advance for your planned attendance over a 2 week span. See our cancellation and refund information HERE.
Our Fall Day Camps are for students in grades 3-5 (Elementary Unit) and grades 6-8 (Middle School Unit) from ANY school system, public school, private school, or home-school.
Our Fall Day Camps are for students in grades 3-5 (Elementary Unit) and grades 6-8 (Middle School Unit) from ANY school system, public school, private school, or home-school.
Sample Daily Schedule
7:15 – Counselors arrive at home base to complete building cleaning procedure before campers arrive.
7:30-8:30 – Student Check-in. Screening process happens in your car. Campers meet their Counselors outside their home base. Unit activities and chores during check-in.
8:30 - 12:20 – Unit Activity Choices (see big list of activity options above). Includes tending your Unit garden/greenhouse and your Unit chickens. Frequent hand-washing and facility/equipment sanitation. Snack break at around 10:00am.
12:30 – Lunch! (Wash hands and sanitize surfaces thoroughly before AND after.)
1:00 - 2:30 – Unit Activity Choices. Frequent hand-washing and facility/equipment sanitation. Snack break at around 2:30pm.
2:30 - 3:30 – Homework Help / Remote Learning. Counselors will help Campers with assigned work and remote learning.
3:30 - 3:45 - Check Out. Pick up after 3:45 and as late as 4:30 is available for an additional $12 per day in order to pay your Counselors for their extra time.
7:15 – Counselors arrive at home base to complete building cleaning procedure before campers arrive.
7:30-8:30 – Student Check-in. Screening process happens in your car. Campers meet their Counselors outside their home base. Unit activities and chores during check-in.
8:30 - 12:20 – Unit Activity Choices (see big list of activity options above). Includes tending your Unit garden/greenhouse and your Unit chickens. Frequent hand-washing and facility/equipment sanitation. Snack break at around 10:00am.
12:30 – Lunch! (Wash hands and sanitize surfaces thoroughly before AND after.)
1:00 - 2:30 – Unit Activity Choices. Frequent hand-washing and facility/equipment sanitation. Snack break at around 2:30pm.
2:30 - 3:30 – Homework Help / Remote Learning. Counselors will help Campers with assigned work and remote learning.
3:30 - 3:45 - Check Out. Pick up after 3:45 and as late as 4:30 is available for an additional $12 per day in order to pay your Counselors for their extra time.
Parent Information:
Want to learn more? Attend a no-commitment Zoom information session on Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00pm EST by completing THIS GOOGLE FORM.
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Registration, Fees, Cancellations, Etc. information is at our REGISTRATION PAGE HERE.
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Good Behavior Requirement: Is a Camp Bethel program a good fit for your camper? She/he will be with other children/youth and their counselors all day each day. We stay together with our group during our entire time at Camp Bethel. Bad behavior does not fit and cannot be tolerated. By requesting enrollment into Camp Bethel programs, you and your camper agree to our Behavior Policy and understand that good behavior is required. Behavior deemed dangerous, inappropriate, intolerable, detrimental to the group, or unmanageable by the counselors or directors is grounds for dismissal from camp. Examples include: not following the camp rules; hurting others (verbally, physically, or emotionally); possession of prohibited or harmful item; constant misbehavior; unsafe behavior; straying from your group; etc. The Director will call parents/guardians as needed. Should it become necessary for your child to return home because of unmanageable behavior, homesickness or other reason, you have agreed to accept the Director’s decision and arrange for transportation.
Camp Rules to teach your camper: 1. Be kind and be helpful. 2. Stay with your Unit. 3. Obey your Counselors. 4. No rough play. 5. Wear shoes always. 6. Do not throw or kick anything. 7. Walk on paths, pavement or gravel. 8. Follow Health and Safety Behaviors.
Health and Safety Behaviors: 1. Stay 6 feet apart from others. 2. Masks on to get closer, ("Shared space? Mask your face!"). 3. Masks on indoors. 4. Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it into trash and wash your hands. 5. Wash hands before touching anything. 6. Don't touch your face. 7. Help clean surfaces and objects.
Camp Rules to teach your camper: 1. Be kind and be helpful. 2. Stay with your Unit. 3. Obey your Counselors. 4. No rough play. 5. Wear shoes always. 6. Do not throw or kick anything. 7. Walk on paths, pavement or gravel. 8. Follow Health and Safety Behaviors.
Health and Safety Behaviors: 1. Stay 6 feet apart from others. 2. Masks on to get closer, ("Shared space? Mask your face!"). 3. Masks on indoors. 4. Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it into trash and wash your hands. 5. Wash hands before touching anything. 6. Don't touch your face. 7. Help clean surfaces and objects.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is the "School's Out, Camp's In" Day Camp a faith-based program?
A: No. Even though Camp Bethel is a faith-based organization, the "School's Out, Camp's IN" Fall Semester Day Camps are secular, science-and-activity-based programs meant to complement and support area public school curriculum for grades 3 through 8. Camp Director, Barry LeNoir, taught 6th grade Science and English in Roanoke County Schools for 10 years prior to becoming Camp Bethel Director.
Q: Do you provide bus or van pick-up and/or drop-off?
A: Sorry, no.
Q: Any options for partial weeks or partial months? Or individualized attendance?
A: YES! Since school calendars are likely to fluctuate, you can individualize your attendance based upon your needs. You will only pay for the days you plan to attend, and you must pre-register your attendance so we can match our staff.
Q: What happens when our schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather?
A: Since Camp Bethel is located in Botetourt County, we will follow Botetourt County Schools' decisions for inclement weather cancellations. If Botetourt County Schools are closed, our entire program will also be closed that day, and you will be reimbursed for the day. If Botetourt County Schools are delayed, we will begin our program at our regular time, but families may call ahead to drop off as late as the announced Botetourt County delay. If Botetourt County schools dismiss schools early, we will end our program at the regular time, but families may call ahead to pick up as early as the Botetourt County early dismissal. No refunds for partial days. We WILL be open on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day, and this is an optional addition.
Q: What if Virginia schools (or a particular County/City) are forced to close again due to Virginia sliding back down to Phase 2 or Phase 1?
A: Schools would only close again if there's a public health crisis. Likewise, we would follow recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC. Since school calendars are likely to fluctuate, we are open to individualized tuition and attendance on a case-by-case basis. If we are also forced to close our program, families will be reimbursed for paid program days remaining.
Q: You're not a daycare and you're not a school. So what COVID-19 guidelines are you following?
A: According to the Virginia Department of Health (and our local Botetourt Health Dept.), we will adhere to the Department of Social Services (DSS) guidelines for Child Care and Camps. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/licensing/fds/intro_page/code_regulations/regulations/Phase_III_Guidelines_and_Information_for_Child_Care.pdf
More FAQs coming SOON!
A: No. Even though Camp Bethel is a faith-based organization, the "School's Out, Camp's IN" Fall Semester Day Camps are secular, science-and-activity-based programs meant to complement and support area public school curriculum for grades 3 through 8. Camp Director, Barry LeNoir, taught 6th grade Science and English in Roanoke County Schools for 10 years prior to becoming Camp Bethel Director.
Q: Do you provide bus or van pick-up and/or drop-off?
A: Sorry, no.
Q: Any options for partial weeks or partial months? Or individualized attendance?
A: YES! Since school calendars are likely to fluctuate, you can individualize your attendance based upon your needs. You will only pay for the days you plan to attend, and you must pre-register your attendance so we can match our staff.
Q: What happens when our schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather?
A: Since Camp Bethel is located in Botetourt County, we will follow Botetourt County Schools' decisions for inclement weather cancellations. If Botetourt County Schools are closed, our entire program will also be closed that day, and you will be reimbursed for the day. If Botetourt County Schools are delayed, we will begin our program at our regular time, but families may call ahead to drop off as late as the announced Botetourt County delay. If Botetourt County schools dismiss schools early, we will end our program at the regular time, but families may call ahead to pick up as early as the Botetourt County early dismissal. No refunds for partial days. We WILL be open on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day, and this is an optional addition.
Q: What if Virginia schools (or a particular County/City) are forced to close again due to Virginia sliding back down to Phase 2 or Phase 1?
A: Schools would only close again if there's a public health crisis. Likewise, we would follow recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC. Since school calendars are likely to fluctuate, we are open to individualized tuition and attendance on a case-by-case basis. If we are also forced to close our program, families will be reimbursed for paid program days remaining.
Q: You're not a daycare and you're not a school. So what COVID-19 guidelines are you following?
A: According to the Virginia Department of Health (and our local Botetourt Health Dept.), we will adhere to the Department of Social Services (DSS) guidelines for Child Care and Camps. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/licensing/fds/intro_page/code_regulations/regulations/Phase_III_Guidelines_and_Information_for_Child_Care.pdf
More FAQs coming SOON!
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