CampBethelVirginia.org
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    • April 15 Spring Workday
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission and Ministry >
      • Virlina District Church of the Brethren >
        • GAG
    • Connect >
      • Meet Our Team
      • Contact Us
      • donate
      • TradingPost
      • jobs >
        • Summer Program Jobs
        • Seasonal Grounds and Kitchen Jobs
        • Summer Kitchen Staff
      • Camp Reps
      • News >
        • Subscribe to E-News >
          • Subscribe
        • Print News
      • Summer Staff Adoption
    • Parent Info
    • payment
    • Summer Camp Scholarships
    • jobs at camp >
      • Summer Camp Counselors and Program Staff
      • Summer Grounds Crew
      • Summer Kitchen Crew
    • Our Newsletters >
      • eNewsletter
      • Printed Newsletters
    • Trading Post
    • Upcoming Events
    • videos
    • Disc Golf Course
  • Summer Staff
    • Counselors >
      • Adventure Counselors
      • Senior Counselors
      • Junior Counselors
      • Counselors in Training
    • Coordinators
    • Summer Staff Information >
      • Staff FAQs
      • StaffResources
      • Why Work At Camp
    • Kitchen & Grounds >
      • Kitchen Staff
      • Grounds Crew
    • Staff Adoption
  • Camps
    • Summer Camps by Date
    • Parent-Child Overnight & Day Camp
    • Young Elementary Camps >
      • Knee-High Day Camp
      • Mini Camp
      • Parent-Child Overnight Camp
    • Older Elementary Camps COPY >
      • Elementary Resident Camps
      • Elementary Resident + Equestrian
      • Elementary Resident + Tubing
      • Elementary Adventure Explorers
      • Elementary Adventure Explorers + Tubing
      • Elementary 3-Day Sampler Camp
      • Elementary Day Camp
    • Middle School Camps >
      • Middle School Adventure Camps >
        • MS Adv Explorers
        • MS Adv Canoe + Climb
        • MS Adv Canoe + Tube
        • MS Adv Canoe + Cave + Climb
        • MS Adv Cave + Climb + Tube
        • MS Adv + Tube
        • MS Adv WWRaft + Tube
        • MS Adv Bike + Canoe + Tube
        • MS Adv Bike + Canoe + Climb
        • MS Adv Biking + WWRafting
        • MS Moonrise Adventure
      • Middle School Resident Camps >
        • Middle School Resident Camps
        • Middle School Resident + Equestrian
        • Middle School Resident + Tubing
      • River Adventures for Middle Schoolers >
        • Paddlesports Adv for Middle School
        • James River Canoe Adventure
        • Kayaking Adventure for Middle School
      • Skills Camps for Middle Schoolers >
        • Digital Arts Camp
        • Kayak Camp for Middle School
        • Paddlesports Camp for Middle School
      • Trips for Middle Schoolers >
        • Backpacking MS
        • James River Canoe
        • New River Canoe Trip
        • MBB Trip
        • BUMAT Trip
    • Trips and Skills Camps >
      • Backpacking Trip
      • Brethren United Mountain Adventure Trip
      • Digital Arts Camp
      • James River Canoe Adventure
      • Kayaking Adventure
      • Mountains to Beach to Bay Trip
      • New River Canoe Trip
      • Paddlesports Adventure
    • High School Camps >
      • High School Resident Camp
      • High School Resident + Tubing
      • High School Adventures >
        • HS Adv Canoe + Climb
        • HS Adv WWRaft + Tube
        • HS Adv Bike + Canoe + Tube
        • HS Adv Bike + WWRaft
        • HS Adv Bike + Canoe + Rock Climbing
        • HS Moonrise Adventure
        • New River Trip 7 High School
        • RAP
      • River Adventures for High Schoolers >
        • Paddlesports Adventure for High School
        • New River Canoe Trip for High School
        • Kayaking Adventure for High School
      • Skills Camps for High Schoolers >
        • Digital Arts Camp HS
        • Kayaking Camp for High School
        • Paddlesports Camp for High School
      • Trips for High Schoolers >
        • Backpacking Trip HS
        • Brethren United Mountain Adventure Trip HS
        • Mountains to Beach to Bay HS
        • New River Canoe HS
    • ParentInfo >
      • Parent Information
      • Pay for Camp >
        • pay
        • Financial Assistance
        • Church Good-as-Gold Assistance
      • About Summer Camps
      • Health
      • request brochure
      • Scholarships For Camp
      • Camp Songs
    • Virlina Churches Good-As-Gold
  • Outdoor Ed
    • Feb 24 VA Adventure Education Conference
    • Feb 25-26 Wilderness First Aid Training
    • ACA Courses >
      • ACA Kayak Instructor Course
      • ACA Canoe Instructor Course
      • ACA Trip Leader Course
    • KinderCritters
    • Your Outdoor Classroom
    • River Otters Paddle Sports
    • Disc-Golf
  • Groups
    • Facility Rental
    • Facility Photos
    • Food Services
    • DiscGolf
    • Band Camps
    • Camp Bethel Events
    • inquiry
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Feb 11 Camp Supporter Lunch
    • Feb 24 Virginia Adventure Education Conference
    • Feb 25-26 Wilderness First Aid
    • March 9 Sow the Seed Banquet
    • Mar 31-Apr 1 Sounds of the Mountains Story Festival
    • April 15 Spring Workday
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A New Friend in the Spring Pond  - by Jenna Stacy
​
Nature is always active at Camp Bethel, and the fall months have brought us another friend.  As full time staff we often enjoy walks around camp to witness the beauty that comes with the changing of the seasons.  While walking by the Spring Pond one morning (October 17) Beth spotted a River Otter playing.  We assume that the otter was enjoying the many trout that were stocked into the Spring Pond for Heritage Day.  At a later point that day I was also walking around the Spring Pond and was able to catch sight of the River Otter playing.  As I stood in the grass and watched the otter swim around and play we would lock eyes every now and then, all the while I was using my handy dandy smart phone to capture the otter's photo.   It was as if the otter knew I was watching and was intentionally putting on a show: a very elegant show, as the otter was able to smoothly move around in the pond.  

Since spotting the otter I have been very intrigued by otters! Here are a few fun facts that I have found:

- River Otters are usually 3-4 feet long and weigh anywhere from 11 to 30 pounds.
- They eat a variety of aquatic wildlife such as fish, crayfish, crabs, and much more!
- River Otters like to live in dens that are along the water. Often abandoned burrows or empty hollows.
- When River Otters dive they close their nostrils to keep water out. They can stay underwater for up to eight minutes.
- River Otters have thick, protective fur that helps keep them warm while swimming in cold waters. This is probably very necessary for swimming in the Spring Pond. 

Come visit and see if you can spot the otter.  If so, then you can name the otter!  Just for fun!   :)
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Member of OMA
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WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING:
"Our son and daughter have been coming to Camp Bethel since they were 5 years old--they are now 13 and 14 years old. We have found that your camp is one of the few that our kids continue to enjoy even as they are older. Other camps (sometimes a lot more expensive) are nice but for some reason the magic of Camp Bethel remains. We also really respect the way that your camp incorporates God and Bible study but in such a way that it is still cool--a rarity these days to find a place where kids can be kids and learn to love God and care for one another in God's creation. Thanks so much for the awesome experience for our kids and the ongoing magic that is Camp Bethel. Thanks, Gina and Chris Engel" 

CONTACT US  540.992.2940
CampBethelOffice@gmail.com
328 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090

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