2021 Fall Newsletter Archives - Bethany Birches Camp

Archive for the ‘2021 Fall Newsletter’ Category

Rhythm of Life: What’s Next?

The life of an organization can be similar to the life of a person. There are seasons of growth, stagnation, seasons of vision and hope, and times of challenge and fear. This is likely so because organizations, especially camps like Bethany Birches, centered on community and relationships, are filled with people! Just like many people, the camp did a little less at the beginning of and into the pandemic. Turns out that doing anything at all during the pandemic felt harder than doing a lot in a normal year. While we are a bit worn out, we are energized by the signs of campers on site (more than 400 total camper weeks summer 2021), meeting with supporters, and other normalized activities. We are energized enough that we even scheduled 8 winter weekends of programming this December – February, are invested in the counselor in training program (CIT), and working faster than normal to find summer 2022 staff and volunteers. Now we just have to pace ourselves.

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We have to pace ourselves so that as we work toward our current goal of winter camp growth, we can see that task to completion. The Bethany Birches mission, while stated in different terms over its lifespan, has long been to help young people connect with God and others in nature. Providing a Christ-centered camping experience is at the core of what we do. We feel that if a camper can be at camp more often their growth in faith, maturity, and strength can be accelerated. It’s a little like starting your plants in a greenhouse during the late winter and early spring.

As we come to terms with the reality that Covid-19 seems to be here to stay, and we create strategies to mitigate risk, similar to so many other illnesses and diseases, we begin to be free to think about what’s next. Will you join me in prayer, and seeking wisdom for how to take the next steps into the future of Bethany Birches? We are working to envision a winter camp experience that will enrich many young people for generations to come, and introduce them to the sustaining and peaceful love of Jesus. May it be so.

-Brandon “Tuna” Bergey, Executive Director

Family Affair: Father and Sons as Camp Counselors

Last summer I worked for a week at BBC as a counselor. As a parent of three sons who have loved camp for a decade, I was excited to stick around past drop-off and get an insider’s look. When I arrived on Sunday afternoon Meatball handed me a grey staff shirt. The shirt had the summer’s theme – TOGETHER – written in block letters on the front. It has since become my favorite t-shirt because of the great memories connected to it, and also because that word “together”, says so much about what makes BBC special.

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Even before the campers arrived that day, I saw the staff intentionally cultivate togetherness amongst themselves. The final thing they do to prepare for campers is what they call “Prayer Hike”, in which they walk silently as a group to all of the cabins. They stop at each one and say personalized prayers for the cabin’s counselors. This togetherness amongst the counselors continues throughout the week. They have regular, brief staff meetings that are light on agenda, and heavy on affirmation. Every staff member I worked with that week was a tremendously talented and loving individual, and the extra steps they took to work and love together helped them serve the campers even better.

I also watched campers spontaneously come together to help each other and have more fun. At every chance they got, they ran to the gaga pit where there were always campers encouraging others to jump in and play. One night at Fireside, while singing songs after dinner, a few campers swung their arms around each others’ shoulders and swayed back and forth while they sang. It wasn’t long before every camper had their arms around another’s shoulders.

All this togetherness at camp is only possible because camp does it all together with God. The Gospel tells us, “Without me you can do nothing.” The Gospel tells us we have to – and get to – do everything together with God. Whenever I put on my favorite shirt, I think of campers and counselors being together, and I thank God for working together with BBC to do great things for kids.

-Andy “Gumby” Smith, Camp Dad and Volunteer Counselor

Time and Talent. Making Camp Happen.

Bethany Birches was very fortunate to have two young, retired, volunteer couples join the team summer 2021. Rita and Lowell Peachey from Kansas, and Mark and Kathy Alt, of Maryland. Head cook Amber “Cheeks” Bergey who worked with them asked a little about their experience.

How’d you find Bethany Birches?

Kathy: We found them on the internet. The information was good and we felt God call us there.

Lowell: We are in a stage of life where we are volunteering at church camps and other organizations while living in our RV. We were introduced to BBC by Joe Friesen, our nephew, who was a college friend of Brandon.

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What were some challenges of living at camp for the summer?

Kathy: I didn’t really experience too many challenges living on the campus. It was so nice to be able to walk to work, serve in the kitchen, and share a meal with the staff and be able to use the washer and dryer when needed.

Could you talk about joys and highlights of living at camp for the summer?

Kathy: I absolutely loved working with Cheeks in the kitchen. It was both a challenge and a joy. The challenge came with learning the kitchen and cooking for large amounts of people, special diets and packing the crates sufficiently. The joy came when it all worked out and came together at the end of my shift. I would have to say that having prayer time together with Cheeks each morning before facing the day was a big highlight for me. Another highlight was the end of the week small group time with the counselors and staff. Listening to their challenges and highlights was so inspiring especially knowing the sacrifices of comfort and how they loved all the campers.

Lowell: We enjoyed learning to know counselors and interacting with them, sharing meals together, and some interaction with the campers. Lowell enjoyed the time spent with Brandon looking at plans and visions for the future of the camp along with discussing operational challenges. We really enjoyed being in Vermont and exploring the state.

What have you taken with you from the experience?

Kathy: Definitely inspiration from staff and counselors for the way they sacrificed and loved the campers. Tackling the challenge of learning the kitchen and coming away with new skills acquired and friendships made.

Lowell: We enjoyed not being in charge of anything and being able to serve as needed. We tried to offer the gift of flexibility to the camp to help the team create a meaningful experience for campers and counselors.

What would you say to someone else who may be considering a similar experience?

Kathy: The biggest draw to come back next summer is the challenge of working in the kitchen again. There is a certain type of excitement meeting those goals each day and figuring out new ways for better time management. There is also the added joy of working with the staff again and living in a beautiful Green Mountain state.

Lowell: Go for it! This was our third volunteer gig and the rewards clearly outweigh the challenges. Having said that, your experience is mostly what you make of it. If you have a concern or question about your assignment make sure to let your volunteer coordinator know at the time of the discomfort rather than waiting for the exit interview at the end of the assignment.

Let me add one more thing. It is clear that camp leadership and the board are in alignment as to values and strategic direction and there is a great support – financially and otherwise – from the constituency. BBC is a gem given its clear focus and role in the community. God lives there; He can be seen in the seeds planted among campers and counselors, in the seedbeds tended by counselors leadership and the church community, and in the majesty and beauty of the surrounding mountains and forest.

Full Circle: From Camper to Counselor

When it comes to long-time campers who love camp Maja is as loved and well known as they come. Maja has been coming to camp since 2014, when she was 7 years old, and has had the experience we hope all campers can have at camp. I asked Maja how she would describe her experience at BBC with someone who has never been here, and she said, “Camp is a place where, either if it’s your first year or fifth year coming, there’s always something new that you will experience and it’s always a good experience. I only have good memories.”

Maja is one of the many campers that remind me of why I love to work at camp. Not only has she come for 6 summers, but this past summer she participated in our two leadership programs.

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During the second week of camp Maja arrived as an LIT (Leader in Training); it quickly became evident, to her counselors, myself, and other staff, that she was someone who would grow to be a strong counselor at camp. Partway through her LIT week I pulled Maja aside and encouraged her to apply for the CIT (Counselor in Training) program happening later in the summer. Maja is a loud and energetic person, but I don’t think I’ve seen her as excited as she was at this moment. I watched a long time camper with dreams of becoming a counselor jump up and down, literally, as she realized that she was a step closer to her dream. When I asked her later what that moment felt like she said “All I thought was ‘I’m going to be able to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time a lot earlier than I thought.'”

When Maja walked up to the registration line on day one of CIT there was nothing but excitement in her eyes. She was ready, and I couldn’t wait to see how she would use her gifts of connecting with others easily, participating to the fullest, caring for those around her, and of course brining pure joy to whoever she came in contact with. To put it simply, Maja did not disappoint. It was rare in her weeks as a CIT that Maja was seen without a handful of campers by her side. When observing her it appeared as though she was already an assistant counselor, rather than a counselor in training. Her campers clearly loved her, and the counselors, leaders, and staff who worked alongside her were impressed by her ability to step up, without being asked, to serve anyone and everyone around her. When it came time at the end of the program to recommend next steps, I did not hesitate to encourage Maja to apply to be on staff.

While interviewing Maja it remained clear that helping campers grow to become counselors is meant to be a part of what we do here at BBC. There is something about a past camper becoming a staff member that helps them connect deeply with our campers during the summer. Campers get to look up to a counselor who was them; that’s special. Maja will get the opportunity to be that example this summer as a female assistant counselor. When I asked Maja what she was most excited for as a staff member she said, “Meal time. Me and the girls in my cabin during LIT week all got to connect in different ways than we would because we were all sitting together. It’s been like that since I was younger. Meal times was that time when we could connect, and were when the funniest moments happened.” I cannot wait to walk up to Maja’s cabin this summer and see her making her campers burst into laughter, watch as she teaches them how to safely cook over the fire, or simply know that she is investing in their lives the same way that so many counselors did when she was a camper.
Maja puts it simply, “Camp has been such a big influence on my life, and that is because of people who have supported camp. They’ve given me that opportunity and they are going to give that opportunity to so many other people. Camp really leaves an impact on your life that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.” Maja is just one example of the campers that have and will experience growth and a beautiful community at Bethany Birches. Here’s to the many campers who have come before Maja and the many who will come after. May BBC provide them with a safe space to experience personal growth, connect deeply with God, and be lifted up by a community of joy.

-Anna “Meatball” Martin

Program Director