FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mantowagan mean?
Mantowagan means “Spirit man” or “one who has spiritual power”. It is a word from the Lenai Lenape Indians that used to live in the area of the camp.
Jim Boor (left) was the man who was responsible for finding the Indian name, Mantowagan. Jim served as a summer program director and on the camp board for many years. Rick Strappello (right) is also pictured. (1992)
What happens after summer camp during the off season?
After summer camp, retreat season kicks into gear and there are groups most weekends and a few during the week. More people use the camp fall, winter, and spring than come during the summer months!
Trailblazer Camp 2021
When did the camp start?
The West Penn district of the Charis Fellowship (Grace Brethren churches) has been camping since the 1930’s. The district built the buildings at Mantowagan and held summer camp for two weeks starting in 1977. (See our History page for more information.)
Who owns the camp?
The men’s organization in the West Penn District of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (now known as the Charis Fellowship). The district is made up of 18 churches in central and western Pennsylvania.
How many people come to camp in a year?
Over 2,500 campers and retreaters use the camp each year.
Who can rent the camp?
The primary purpose for the camp is to provide a setting for spiritual retreat, reflection, and growth. So the first requirement for renting the facility is that a spiritual focus is in mind.
An essential focus of the camp is to assist the evangelism and discipleship ministries of evangelical churches and other non-profit religious organizations. This leads to a second guideline that groups looking to rent the facility should be connected with an evangelical church or non-profit religious organization.
While it is not required that a rental group match up perfectly with the camp’s mission and beliefs, rental groups should be evangelical and Bible-believing. Many different church families and non-profits use the camp from outside our own Charis (Grace Brethren) Fellowship.
Do you allow weddings at the camp facility?
For several reasons we do not currently rent out the facility for weddings. The biggest reason is that most weekends see a group renting the camp for a retreat. This would make it impossible (or at least awkward) to host a wedding at the same time. Other reasons include our feeling that weddings do not fit our primary mission, the camp facility and grounds are geared toward youth and can be difficult logistically for others, and the fact that alcohol is often desired at weddings but is not allowed at camp.
Do you rent out cabins or RV/tenting sites?
We do not rent out cabins or camping sites to the general public. We do have several cabins and camping sites with electric/water/waste hookups but these are only available to groups who are renting the facility for a retreat. The most common use of these sites is for support staff of a summer camp or retreat to hook up their RV while at camp.