Camp Bell is the first of three parts of the Bethany First-Year Experience which is the first step in the Bethany Plan and the official start of your time at Bethany College. During Camp Bell, you will join other incoming freshman in a “Cabin” to not only start forming life-long bonds but also get an introduction to college life at Bethany.

Camp Bell is a collaborative, immersive, and interactive experience to familiarize students with the culture and environment of Bethany College and the traditions of the liberal arts. It is designed to meet those objectives through focused peer-to-professor and peer-to-peer activities. Peer-to-professor activities have included poetry workshops, intercultural activities and demonstrations from World Languages faculty, 3D printing, nature walks, pottery throwing, and yoga and meditation. Peer-to-peer activities have included regional field trips, painting and decorating campus benches, and scavenger hunts. It is an extension of the college orientation experience and includes several orientation programs and activities organized by the Office of Student Life.

The First-Year Experience continues through the year with expert topic-driven experiences (BFYE 101) in the fall semester and the professional learning community experiences (BFYE 102) in the spring semester.