TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON — One of the township’s largest youth programs is forced to regroup after Bethany Church announced it will no longer host the Township of Washington Summer Camp inside the Bethany Community Center, leaving officials working to reorganize the popular program before registration opens next month.
Camp director Christopher Pinto informed families this week that the township and church were unable to reach an agreement to continue operating the program at the Pascack Road facility, which has served as the camp’s base for the past seven summers.
“With the dedication of our staff, the full support of Mayor Peter Calamari, and the collaboration of numerous township employees, we have proudly watched the Township of Washington Summer Camp Program grow from approximately 130 campers to nearly 600 over the past decade,” Pinto wrote in a message to families.
The camp previously operated at Memorial Field and Washington School before relocating to the Bethany Community Center, where the township developed a centralized program serving hundreds of children entering kindergarten through eighth grade.
Camp materials from last summer indicate how heavily the program depended on the Bethany building. While campers typically spend much of the day outdoors, the facility served as the program’s primary rain and heat backup.
“In case of rain, camp will be held completely indoors at the Bethany Community Center,” the handbook states. Campers are also moved inside during extreme heat for safety.
The program uses nearby Memorial Field for activities as well as before- and after-care services, which run from 7:30–8:30 a.m. and 2:30–6 p.m.
Negotiations fail despite proposed changes
Pinto said township officials attempted several compromises in hopes of remaining at Bethany.
“In an effort to remain at the facility, Mayor Calamari and I explored multiple accommodations, including reducing enrollment by up to half, limiting the use of entrances and exits, and adjusting drop-off and pick-up procedures,” he said.
Bethany did offer use of its gymnasium at what Pinto described as a fair rate and introduced township officials to a new pool management company. However, Pinto said those options did not meet the operational needs of the camp program.
Church leaders said the decision followed reflection about the community center’s evolving mission and programming.
“For the past seven years, Bethany Church and the Bethany Community Center have been grateful to host Washington Township’s Summer Camp program and to build meaningful relationships with many local families,” the church’s deacon board said in a statement.
However, officials said the center has expanded ministries, programs, and tenant partnerships in recent years.
“At this stage, dedicating the building to a large daily summer program is no longer aligned with the operational direction and vision of the Center,” the statement said.
The church said it remains open to discussions with township officials about other ways to support local families, including possible use of outdoor facilities.
Bethany site increasingly central to township operations
The Bethany campus has become an important location for several township functions in recent years.
Last fall, Mayor Calamari reached an agreement allowing the township to move its Nov. 4 general election polling location from town hall to Bethany, giving voters the ability to cast in-person ballots there.
The township has also secured other municipal uses for the property. In late 2025, officials approved an ordinance to lease a 1.25-acre section of the Bethany property for temporary Department of Public Works vehicle storage during construction of a new DPW facility. That proposal, at $104,000, drew significant resident opposition, particularly from neighbors concerned about traffic along Woodfield Road and environmental impacts near Musquapsink Brook.
Camp future still uncertain
For now, the immediate challenge facing township officials is maintaining the summer recreation program.
“At this time, the Mayor and I are working closely together to reschedule, relocate, and revise our camp plans to ensure that we continue to deliver a high-quality program for our families,” Pinto said.
Registration for the 2026 summer recreation program is scheduled to open April 3, and township officials said families will receive updated details before that date once a revised plan is finalized.
The camp typically includes daily recreation activities and optional trips to destinations such as Turtle Back Zoo, Tomahawk Lake Water Park, bowling, and entertainment venues, making it one of the township’s largest seasonal programs for local families. The Township Theater, which all ages of campers enjoyed as a day trip in recent years, has since closed.