Who We Are


Bethany Camp is a year-round Christian camp and retreat center located in the foothills of Western NY that has been operating since 1952. In addition to 7 weeks of Summer Camp for kids, teens and families, we also run retreats year round for people of all ages to experience unique camping experiences.  Sitting on a beautiful plot of 213 acres of land outside of Sinclairville, NY, Bethany Camp exsists to "Create an Environment for Spiritual Growth and Change." Our Staff is committed to living out this goal by creating a purposeful and relevant camping experience for you and your family. Whether it's the fun and excitement of games and activities, the relaxation of spending time with friends and family, or worshipping our Great Lord and Savior through lively chapels, there is something for everyone to enjoy here at Bethany Camp!

Our Mission

Creating an environment for spiritual growth and change

Bethany Camp's mission, the drive behind everything that we do, is to create a safe environment that allows, encourages, and cultivates spiritual growth and change. When you attend Bethany Camp, it is our goal to provide you with enjoyment, laughter, and unique experiences with God, His Word, His people and His creation.


We believe that by taking care of our campers physical, emotional, and social needs, they will experience a freedom from the distractions of everyday life that will allow them to hear from God in a powerful and life changing way.


The staff at Bethany Camp is here to serve God by serving the wonderful people who come to our camp.  We are truly blessed to be able to witness people's lives being changed for eternity during their time with us at camp.

Our History

Bethany Camp was established in 1952, and was originally located on ten acres of land on the shore of Chautauqua Lake. Many lives were changed through the ministry that took place through the years there. In the 1970s, it became apparent that the property and facilities were not going to be sufficient for the long term.  


In 1974, the health department made the determination that the septic system would have to be replaced or the camp must be closed. This and several other factors caused the leadership to purchase 170 acres of land at the present site just east of Sinclairville, NY to begin building a new camp.


In 1976, the last year that Bethany operated at the old site, the music camp (attended by about 80 campers) did a floating concert, both choral and instrumental, on the Chautauqua Belle while getting off the boat to entertain people at various locations.


From 1975 through 1977, several buildings were constructed, including, Applewood Lodge, the director's home, and several cabins. These buildings were dedicated on July 23, 1977 and the camp began operation at the present location that summer. Throughout the process of moving to the new location, the camp incurred a debt of around $300,000. It was a significant event in the history of the camp when the mortgage was burned in 1997. 


Warren Lewis was the first full-time director of Bethany Camp. He began his service in 1972 before the move from Chautauqua Lake and continued until 1986. Mike Nelson served as the director from 1987 until 1990. He was followed by David Lewis from 1991 through 1999. Dick Warshuis served as the director from 1999 until 2003. The current director, Greg Frank, began his ministry in 2004. 


Since the original buildings in the late 1970s there have been many improvements made to the facilities. In the 1980s, Spruce Lane was built and the current swimming pond was created to replace the lakefront. In addition, the craft shop/snack shack was built and the "tabins" were retired. In the 1990s, Walnut Grove was built, and the old bathhouse was turned into the speakers cabin. 40 additional acres were purchased and donated to the camp.  


In recent years, many programming attractions have been added and major remodeling of bathrooms and cabins has taken place as well. We are excited to announce that by the Summer of 2022 (God-willing), we will have built replaced or completely remodeled all the cabins that house our campers! We have also built a brand new facility that is equipped with a large bunk room for about 25 campers, a meeting area that can seat up to 60, and a speakers suite that is home to our guest speakers throughout the year.  The current facilities will accommodate about 250 people at one time, and the camp now owns 213 acres.


Throughout the years, much has changed about the ministry of Bethany Camp. New properties, facilities and staff have come and gone. One thing does remain and that is the steadfastness to serving the Lord. Currently, we have three full time staff families here at camp, several full time volunteers, and our summer staff has over 40 paid staff positions each week. 


We strive to complete our mission “to create an environment for spiritual growth and change”, in everything we do. We trust that God will use us and this incredible place that belongs to Him for many years to come.