Brandywine Camp has faced challenges for years with the process of adopting new cottagers. The simultaneous goals of having Christian individuals and families join and refurbish empty cottages and the goal of them becoming a living part of our community are often difficult to achieve. Christians have busy lives with family, church and outreach ministries added to work requirements. Does everyone have the desire to add an additional “family” to their lives? It is true that BSCM offers a retreat to a more natural setting where we can feel closer to God, but that is not the central purpose of our camp. We are to function as a Christian community interacting, helping, supporting and praying with and for each other.

To insure that prospective members recognize the goals of BSCM and wish to participate, we have enlarged our application process to one full year. We expect that applicants should participate in various activities such as small group Bible studies, preaching services, musical events, dinners and work days. The sum of those activities represents the range and flavor of camp life.

In addition to the year’s activities, we require that each applicant have a “sponsor” – one who befriends and personally helps them understand camp life and its policies (written and unwritten). Applicants are invited to rent cottages in order to stay on grounds. Prospective members are also expected to be involved in their local “home” church. References are required and checked as well as their pastor’s reference. This longer process has seemed frustrating to some applicants who wished to buy a cottage “immediately.” We have experienced cases of folks who give valid testimony, but find that they choose not to be involved in camp life. We hope and pray this new process will allow families who really wish to and can be involved in camp life to apply. Continue to pray that God will bring new families to us.

Allan McCarrick,

Sales and Rentals, Board of Trustees