Want to Be a Friend?

How to Start a "Friends of de Benneville Pines" Chapter at Your Church or Fellowship

How can you help?

The following information provides guidelines on starting and maintaining a Friends of de Benneville Pines chapter in your church or fellowship.. The model is based on the experience at First UU Church of San Diego and reflects their preferences. This model has kept that group vibrant and growing over 12 years, and has provided many mutual benefits to them and the camp.

The purpose of your chapter should be to support Camp de Benneville Pines by:

Working at semiannual work weekends
Raising money for the camp
Adopting a special project
Publicizing camp events

Here are some recommended steps:

Find Leaders

The first step is to find two leaders (one is a lonely game). They should love the camp, not just have interest. They probably will have gone to the camp several times and maybe sent their kids to camp. They should have a vision of what the camp could become and be pragmatic about what is possible. They should be energetic, persuasive and able to recruit others to join them. Finally, they should have the time to take on another project

Start a Group

This is to the leaders: Ask your friends who are interested in the camp to embark on an adventure. Tell them your vision and how you would like to help de Bennville. Some can help by building things, some by painting and maintenance, some by donating money for specific items, some by working on the grounds. Anyone over the age of 15 is a candidate. Inspired youth should not be overlooked, rather their energy and enthusiam should be welcomed and encouraged. Invite interested friends over for a meal and discussion about how they would like to contribute. Plan to meet regularly at a potluck rotating at your members' houses or at church. When you decide you have a group committed to continuing, announce it at church and your board.

Try it out

Each spring and fall, Camp de Benneville Pines has a work weekend. Your goal should be to get as many as possible to attend, those in your new group and the congregation as a whole. Announce it 6 weeks in advance in your church newsletter. Ask your minister to announce it from the pulpit and maybe even attend! Have a volunteer take signups and coordinate carpooling. Let the de Benneville registrar know who and how many will be coming.

How to choose a project

Discuss a project with the camp director. You may want to adopt a cabin, form a gardening club or a painter's union, be in charge of arts and crafts supplies, or build a darkroom. The director has lots of ideas and can let you know what's needed. Use your imagination and vision!

Fund Raising

In San Diego, we sell Entertainment Books to the congregation as our largest fundraiser. We also jointly sponsor Sunday luncheons with other committees. We prepare the food and keep the profit; they provide the program. We lobby our board for an annual $1 per member contribution to the camp. We publicize and support de Benneville fund drives.

Get your church or fellowship involved

Your committee can become the interface between the camp and your congregation. Publish success stories and announcements in your newsletter. Start or help organize and support a weekend camp for your church, maybe jointly with another congregation. Solicit a generous donor to provide one or more scholarships to Camp de Benneville activities. Maintain a bulletin board of Camp de Benneville photos, preferably showing some of your members having a good time.

Need help?

If you have any questions or would like a guest at a meeting to help you get started, we in San Diego would be happy to assist you. Call the church office at (619) 298-9978.

Camp deBenneville Pines