Tel Hai means "Hill of Life." Since 1950, this 150-acre property in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, has been a place set apart. It’s where churches, ministries, and families come to step out of the noise and meet with God.
From a summer outreach to a year-round ministry
Tel Hai was founded in 1950 as a summer outreach to inner-city kids from New York City. The vision was simple. Give kids a real camp experience and the opportunity to encounter God’s love in nature. The property was named Tel Hai, Hebrew for “Hill of Life,” and that founding vision still shapes everything we do.
Seventy-five years later, we’re still doing the same thing, on the same land, with the same mission, but on a larger scale. Tel Hai now operates year-round, hosting over 2,000 campers each summer and partnering with churches and ministries at weekend retreats across four states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (legal entity: Tel Hai Mennonite Camp) and a proud member of the Christian Camp & Conference Association.
Why we do what we do
Our Mission
Tel Hai Camp & Retreat’s mission is to encourage all to be followers of Jesus Christ and to provide a special place where people can meet with God and God can meet with people.
Our Vision
To Minister to children and families by introducing and nurturing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and by providing a caring staff, safe and welcoming accommodations, and family focused
programming.
Six values that shape how we serve
These values aren’t just things we say. They’re what we measure ourselves against, year after year. They show up in how we plan a retreat, how we treat a first-time camper, how we tend to the property, and how we welcome the next group through the gate.
Every part of our ministry, from the meals we serve to the activities we run, to the conversations around the fire, is shaped by our love for Christ, and our commitment to share Him with everyone who visits our retreat..
We come alongside group leaders, parents, and guests as servants, not as a venue with a transaction to complete. We measure success by whether the people we host left more refreshed, more equipped, and more loved than when they arrived.
The land, buildings, resources, and the trust placed in us by donors and partners are gifts we steward carefully. Our long-term view values the next 75 years as much as the next booking.
Hospitality at Tel Hai means clean rooms, warm meals, a welcoming team, and a setting that says “you belong here.” It is the most tangible way we love the people God brings to us.
We’re committed to doing the small things well because we believe excellence in the details (a made bed, an on-time meal, a clearly-marked trail) is part of how we honor the Lord and serve the people He sends us.
We are not the church. Instead, we partner with the church. We come alongside pastors, ministry leaders, and families with shared values, and we do our best work when we’re working with them, not for them.
What we believe
Tel Hai is grounded in historic Christian faith, including the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and the call of every believer to live a life shaped by the Gospel. Our full Statement of Faith covers nine articles of doctrine and our Statement of Conduct in detail.
The people who make it work
Tel Hai is a small year-round team supported by seasonal staff and a network of volunteers. The eight people below are the staff you’re most likely to interact with when you book a retreat, send your kid to camp, or walk the grounds on a tour.
Executive director
Bryan leads Tel Hai’s ministry direction, partner relationships, and long-term vision. He is the primary point of contact for major donors, church partnerships, and strategic decisions about the property and programs.
Program director
Bruce oversees the activity areas, recreation programming, and the experience your group has on the grounds. From the challenge course to the campfire, if it happens outside the dining hall, Bruce is making sure it runs.
Food Service Director
Paul runs the dining hall — three home-style meals a day for every group on-site, plus dietary accommodations and the warm hospitality that has guests asking for the recipes.
Facilities Director
Benjamin keeps the property running — buildings, grounds, vehicles, infrastructure, and the dozens of small repairs that go into stewarding 150 acres well. He is the reason your cabin works the way it should.
Housekeeping Director
Pam leads the team that prepares lodging for every arriving group — clean rooms, made beds (in Beechwood), ready bathrooms. The hospitality your group feels on arrival starts with her crew
Bookkeeper
Becky manages Tel Hai’s finances — billing, payments, donor records, and the day-to-day bookkeeping that keeps the ministry on solid footing.
Guest Services Director
Ben is the first call most retreat groups make when they are planning a weekend at Tel Hai. He walks coordinators through bookings, schedules, lodging assignments, and every detail in between.
Cleaning
Tim keeps the public spaces of Tel Hai clean and ready — meeting rooms, dining hall, common areas, and everywhere your group will gather. The property’s day-to-day rhythm runs through his work.
How you can come alongside the ministry
Tel Hai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supported by donors, volunteers, and partner churches who share our mission. Whether you have a Saturday to give or a financial gift to make, here are two ways to be a part of the next chapter.
Volunteer With Us
We welcome volunteers year-round , for property work days, grounds maintenance, summer camp support, and special projects. Whether you have a specific skill or just a willing heart, there is a place for you on the team.
Partner with Us Financially
Tel Hai’s ministry is sustained by donor support, including capital improvements, camper scholarships, the wish list for needed equipment, and gifts of any size that keep this place running for the next generation.
Some of our partner ministries have been retreating with us for over four decades. Here is a word from one of them.
“We have brought our church family to Tel Hai for years. Every time, the staff treats us like ministry partners — not customers. They love the Lord, they love what they do, and it shows in everything from the meals to the meeting rooms to the way they remember our group from year to year.”
“We’ve brought our youth group here five summers running. They won’t let us stop.”
“The staff treated every kid like they mattered. Because they do.”
Whether you are planning a retreat, registering for camp, or just want to walk the grounds and meet the team, we would love to host you. Reach out and tell us what is on your mind.
