Camp Bethel

Camp Bethel is a 6-acre parcel of land on the shores of Represa Billings (Billings Reservoir/Dam) with about 1100' of beach frontage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billings_Reservoir.) Represa Billings is one of 2 water supplies for the city of Sao Paulo, providing water for approximately 1.8M people. The reservoir is about 36 miles long. Camp Bethel is on a long peninsula that is accessible via either a bridge and about 1.5 hours of slow commute over muddy, pot-hole filled roads or via a free ferry ride and about .5 hour of these unimproved roads.  The state provides the ferry 24/7 free of charge, but it does not provide road improvements. Vandalism, robbery, home invasion and abduction are severe problems in Brazil.  The camp is very rural, but still within the city limits, so not immune to the problems.  Most private properties have security fences around them. The camp abuts a palmetto plantation on one side, which has a broken-glass topped concrete fence around it. But it also has some neighbors with inadequate fencing and they let their cattle invade the camp property on a regular basis. The camp has a watch dog to alert them to intruders.

We were here in their early spring and the weather was cool and damp most of our visit. Our purpose was to help them prepare the camp to be more accessible for campers with disabilities for their summer season (Dec.-March). Here are some of my pictures of the camp.

Bougainvillae tree between the patio and lake.

Casa Rosa rear view

Monty & Ross checking out the newly constructed bathroom shell.

Barb Hetzel holding the new reflective tactile strip to be used to mark hazardous areas

Estacionamento (parking area)looking down hill to lake

Rubble used to fill in washed out road, ramp to Casa Rosa on right.

Casa Rosa (pink house) contains the kitchen, dining area, 3 bunk rooms, patio and pool deck on left.

Very steep ramp down towards shore of lake.

Ramp between hedge rows up to middle bunkhouse. It really is very steep.

 The mid-day meal is the largest in Brazil.  It usually consisted of beans & rice, a pasta dish, a potato dish, at least one meat dish, a vegetable salad, possibly a fruit salad or fresh fruits, soda (guaranga (like a cross between ginger ale & creme soda), coke, juice and a dessert.

Dinner in dining hall.

Dinner in dining hall.

Existing toilet room on right, new bathroom, shower room & changing room being constructed on left.

Monty Hanks, Jim Hetzel & Ken Riley retrofitting ceiling fan that the lights didn't work on & how to fix the electrical problem with circuits that kept tripping. Fernanda the housekeeper coming out of the women's dorm room. Dinalva Nabuco reading behind them.   

The infamous ramp up to the middle bunkhouse. It was lovely, but extremely steep and with no handrails, resting areas or passing spaces.

Middle bunkhouse with the new bathroom addition on the left, laborer applying stucco finish.

Casa Rosa and pool gazebo on left.

Some of the landscaping, Casa Rosa on left, middle bunkhouse on right rear.

Mike Maloney & Alejandro pushing a boy on the rope swing the team installed, Ivan watching.

Laborers applying stucco finish to the new bathroom addition on the middle bunkhouse.

Behind middle bunkhouse showing ramp that continues up to the upper bunkhouse, storage building on left.

More gradual slope behind the storage building, banana grove in background.  I think the spot in front of the grove would be a beautiful place to sit and meditate, read or pray.

In previous picture I was standing at this concrete tank behind the upper bunkhouse. The drop here is higher than me.

This concrete walkway is on the lower side of the upper bunkhouse with the top of the ramp in the background.

Standing at front of upper bunkhouse, looking down to middle bunkhouse.

Standing in front of upper bunkhouse, looking down past middle bunkhouse towards lake at the bottom of the hill.

I understand Nathan and crew built these bunks from lumber harvested on the property. They are very sturdy.

Rear bunkroom in upper bunkhouse. This door would be a good accessible entrance and is adjacent to the new bathroom under construction.

Upper bunkhouse with 2 wheelchairs wrapped in plastic in front.  Need ramp at door and smooth path across the drainage ditch in front of the pad. A cover over this patio would be nice, like the middle bunkhouse.

Well pump house at very top of hill, looking up from upper bunkhouse.

Interesting tree with parasitic plants covering it, looking down from in front of upper bunkhouse towards lake.

Director's house on left, housekeeper's cottage on right.

The camp office, consists of 2 rickety desks with 2 laptops in the director's living room and non-ergonomic seating. Internet & power connections were intermittent.

Morning devotions after breakfast in dining hall. from left to right:  Gaynor Smith, Dinalva Nabuco, Dick Tiff, Barb Hetzel, Linda Riley.

Pastor Don Needham doing devotions on the names of God, Elmer Hess and Rachel Blake attentively listening.

Rachel Blake, Mike Maloney and Cathy Kearnie listening to Pastor Don during devotions.

Pastor Don & Ross Ream lifting up the arms of Pastor Marvin & Diane Fray, like Aaron held up Moses arms, while team prays for them, the directors of the camp.

Pastor Marvin & Diane Fray talking about their goals for the camp.

Linda Riley and Gaynor Smith working on bamboo stakes for marking out the new ramp route.

Linda learning how to split the bamboo easily, Gaynor supervising.

Rear view of the upper bunkhouse. New more gradual ramp to start at the curve in the existing ramp, splitting off to the left and heading for the banana grove.

The door into the rear bunk room of the upper bunkhouse could easily be made accessible with a short ramped threshold.

A straight line from the curve in the ramp towards the level area behind this storage building would make a more gradual ramp across the side slope.  Then it should turn back towards the lower front side of the storage building, where the rope swing is located.

The area in front of the fire pit at the edge of the banana grove is quite level and would make a nice sitting area to do devotions or just enjoy the tranquility of the site.

Standing at the above level area and looking down towards the lower side of the storage building, near where the rope swing is located. A more gradual slope with another switchback has been marked out.

Marked up potential new ramp pattern behind storage building, Casa Rosa in background down the hill.

Looking across to middle bunkhouse on lower side of storage building.  Ramp could go across here as well and be more level. We marked out route to go to right of this grove of trees.

Fire pit where demolition lumber is burned.

Rope swing hanging down into the ramp ramp path between the grove below the storage building, looking towards the middle bunkhouse, where there will be another switchback and sitting area on the level at the right. 

This concrete laborer worked tirelessly every day we were there, from early morning to dark, always a smile on his face. We used the paths they took with the wheelbarrows full of concrete blocks to determine where the easier routes for the ramp should be.

A switchback just below this spigot will provide a choice to go up to the middle bunkhouse, out behind the storage building, or down the hill to Casa Rosa.

This level area behind the middle bunkhouse and just below the storage building would make a good landing area for a sitting area, picnic table, etc. to do devotions or watch people on the rope swing. Looking down at Casa Rosa and the lake beyond. You can see the wheelbarrow path worn on the side of the hill.

Removing 3' of shrubs will provide a passage way for the ramp to join the walkway behind the middle bunkhouse with the new bathroom addition.

Behind the middle bunkhouse where the steep ramp heads up to the upper bunkhouse.

The switchback ramp will follow the wheelbarrow path down across this side slope towards the rear of Casa Rosa on the downhill side, towards the rear of the storage building on the uphill side. The rope swing is just off the right corner. I can picture a picnic table and a few benches on this level area inviting people to sit and enjoy the view and peacefulness.

Standing below the previous landing, looking at the wheelbarrow path across the slope and the storage building in the background.

Looking down the above path towards the toilet rooms behind Casa Rosa, water collection tank on the roof, the laborers still on their mid-day break (only a few moments later than previous picture). Just before them, the ramp would take another switchback back to the lower left of this picture to the lowest point of this path.

Picture the ramp coming from the grassy area furthest behind Casa Rosa on the left over towards the lowest part of the retaining wall and joining up to the bottom of the existing ramp here at the rotary. This would be the bottom point of this switchback ramp, joining into the existing steep ramp at the apex of the curve. The 2 small shrubs that would be removed aren't in great condition anyway.

A path has been worn by the wheelbarrows where this new ramp would go.

Another peaceful sitting area could be placed just beyond the water collection tank on top of the toilet rooms.

Looking up the gradual slope towards the middle bunkhouse.

Laborers still taking a break. They know where the peaceful rest areas are located. The dog liked to lay in that small grove just beyond them.

This is just past that small grove of trees mentioned above, where another peacefull sitting area should be located.  There is also a lemon or orange tree about to bud on the left. The compost pile is in the background, so the new ramp would provide an easier route for kitchen staff to access that.

Standing on the above level area looking towards the rest rooms behind Casa Rosa and the ramp area in the background.

Standing in the same area, looking out towards the switchback ramp areas on the left and right, laborers still resting on right.

A new path from where I'm standing, straight towards the left-most part of the landing in front of the rest rooms, then switching back to the right into the jungle would provide a continued route down to the dining hall level of the ramp to the pool, thus making a 2nd connection between all the buildings.

The above-mentioned switchback ramp would head into the jungle between these 2 bushes. There is a small clearing about 15-20 feet into the jungle.

I've stepped in between the above bushes, looking in towards the clearing along the proposed path.

A few feet further along that path, the stumps on the clearing are coming into view.

Diane suggested a small picnic table and/or benches to be placed where these stumps are, for a quiet area just inside the jungle.  This is behind the dining hall.

You can feel the tranquility in this picture, just inviting someone to sit and meditate, but not on the termite infested stumps.

Standing by the stumps, looking back towards the restrooms on the left, dining hall on the right.

This is looking just right of the above picture, towards the dining hall, where there is already a picnic table & chairs placed on the short concrete path. There is a bird nest in the tree trunk with bromeliad? on the right.

Looking back towards the bird nest on left, stumps on right.

Closer to the dining hall, at the end of the existing path, looking back towards the same bird nest tree.

The table & chairs cannot fit on this 3' wide walkway. A wider level area will have to be made to accommodate it.

Standing in the same spot as the previous picture, turned 180 degrees, looking into the dining hall.

Same place, looking to left up the hill towards the rest rooms and water collection tank. This ramp is extremely steep.

Nathan and Rachel enjoying the beautiful day in front of the bougainvillae tree.

Enjoying dinner outside on the patio the one warm day.

Back inside the dining hall for the evening meal, jackets on because the temperature dropped and the rain returned.

The kitchen stove, where we filled our plates from the kettles, sink & freezer behind.  There is a pantry on the right.

Fernanda's version of garlic bread with our settings.

What's left of some of the cold dish choices.

Chatting after the evening meal. No one wants to retire yet.

You can see the newly installed ceiling fan in the dining hall, which we didn't need to use, but I'm sure the summer visitors will appreciate.

Upper bunkhouse rear entrance with new bathroom addition.

Gate into the property. This should be at the beginning. It won't keep any intruders out.

The bus route into the camp, or out, whichever is the case.

The security wall around the neighboring palmetto plantation, broken glass on top.

The bird nest, but one of the babies appears to be missing. Maybe Momma got nervous with us visiting & taking pictures so much. But they are too small for her to move.

Early evening view of the beach frontage. A new path parallel to the fence on the uphill side will provide a wheelchair accessible path for someone to experience going into the jungle. We were told Brazilians would not be likely to want to go there, but we know Americans would love to. 

Cathy Kearnie cleaning the pool, with the lake in the background.

Don Dale, Nathan Fray, Ross Ream (hidden) and John Wern working on construction plans.  Hey, guys, wasn't I supposed to be included?

Cathy Kearnie duking it out in a paintbrush fight with Pastor Don Needham. Who is the best stainer?

Ross Ream and Don Needham on the bus.

Cathy Kearnie, Gaynor Smith and Mike Maloney helping Dinalva Nabuco, probably in preparation to get on the zip line (see Saturday picnic event photos).

Diane thanking the kitchen crew (Fernanda, Grazie & Alejandro's Mom, Alejandro and Ivan) after dinner.

We watched these migrating birds/ducks silently flying across the lake for several minutes one morning. They just kept coming.

One of the neighboring shanties.

The road again. Walter, our bus driver/owner, was fearless in bringing his bus in here, not just once. We later learned that he's made 4 trips into Camp Bethel and he told us that he does it for the Glory of God because he has Jesus in his heart too.