2024 Fall Newsletter Archives - Bethany Birches Camp

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The Musser Family Returns to Bethany Birches

By: Aldine Musser

In July 1984 we (Jim & Aldine) moved to Vermont with our two young daughters. Crystal was not quite 3 and Sheri was 11 months old. Our third daughter, Melody, arrived 4 years later. Bethany Birches Camp was a special place for our family for 17 years. We eagerly looked forward to spending the summer at BBC with staff and campers, many who were our friends and neighbors.

For Jim’s 76th birthday we decided to return with our children, their spouses and children.

We walked around the grounds to every shelter and shared the memories of staff we knew who had been counselors in that shelter or memories of our daughters being a camper in one of the shelters. The paths from one shelter to another were much the same as 40 years ago.

We have memories of cooking over the fire and also singing at firesides with the words written on a posterboard. Reconnecting with folks from Taftsville Chapel, Bethany Mennonite and friends from the village over a picnic lunch was a great way to end our memory visit.

James and Aldine Musser were the executive and program directors. Learn more about their tenure, and other camp happenings with The First Fifty Years sold here: www.bethanybirches.org/50

A Summer for the Books

Laura “Roon” Church

This summer was special for our family. One for the books. My kids and I got to do a lot of traveling, spending time with people we love and doing things we love like going to the beach, visiting family, and exploring new places. But the highlight for us was our time at Bethany Birches. What made it so special? An opportunity to be in God’s beautiful creation, meeting new people to love, and being able to both enjoy all the highlights of camp while also giving back.

I have been to Bethany Birches as a Camp Shepherd several times over the past 16 years. After I got married and started having children I knew I wanted my family to experience the peace, beauty and loving community that camp has to offer. They came along with me as I spoke several times and they too could feel and see how special this place was. This year, when I was invited back to be a shepherd, I realized that all my kids were finally the ages that they could attend as campers, although not the same week. Since we live out of state, and had a busy summer, traveling up twice didn’t make sense. So, we decided to take turns volunteering and attending camp as campers and me as the Shepherd.

Jericho, my daughter, was up first for camp. I was so thrilled to see her and her fellow cabin mates seem to instantly be comfortable with each other and their friendships were definitely the highlight of the week for her. She also enjoyed Mission Impossible, the food, and being able to be silly with activities like Pig Trough and Iron Chef with Pepperoni Peggy.

My three boys and I spent the first week as volunteers mainly helping maintenance by stacking wood to be used in the winter. This was a physically demanding task but the boys put their whole heart and soul into their work. They spent several hours each day getting crates ready for wood, loading wood into the crates, and organizing and stacking wood in the woodshed. Our family has spent several Christmases with extended family at BBC and know how important the wood supply is to keeping all the buildings warm during winter. They could see tangibly how getting the wood ready for winter could directly help the camp’s needs later in the year.

The boys also helped in the kitchen with dishes after lunch. Again, they were happy to join in the work of washing, drying, and putting dishes away. I appreciated that they were getting the opportunity to see all the different tasks that need to happen in order to make camp run and have a chance to learn to serve.

After their week of hard work it was the boys turn to attend camp. Shades and Kevin, their counselors, were their favorite part of camp. They made the week so fun and made each camper feel special. I expected the boys to say that all the different activities were highlights as well, but what it really came down to for them was their cabin mates and the time they spent as a community within their cabin that they liked best.

Jericho spent her days as a volunteer in the kitchen. She helped do everything from prepping food for campers to cleaning and washing dishes. She poured herself into volunteering and said at the end of the first day “I love this as much as being a camper”! She made friendships with the kitchen crew, learned how much time and effort goes into keeping a large crowd fed, and learned the joy of serving others.

As a parent, seeing my kids make friends and have fun at camp is always wonderful, but being able to spend time watching my kids serve others and serve alongside them was a priceless gift. I will definitely look for more opportunities for us to serve together as a family and give back to communities that we are engaged with.

Come join us to volunteer!

Ready to Climb…Climb On!

Ben “Flapjack” Hershey

These words were heard consistently throughout cabin challenge and adventure times during the 2024 summer program season. In the past they could only be heard outside as 2-3 campers climbed the rock holds on the outside of the pavilion chimney. Thanks to generous donors, and climbing wall staff, these words were also heard inside on rainy days as more campers climbed more often thanks to the completion of the indoor climbing wall.

As one of the final remaining loose ends of Mission Possible: The Pavilion Project (2014) it was long past time to install the climbing wall. Designs, styles and colors were researched. Bids received from various companies and finally Eldorado arrived for a week of work back in April of 2024. (insert the time lapse videos?). The group of 3 guys worked diligently to erect the BBC indoor climbing wall complete with ? # of holds, 4 “panels” 2 auto belayers and mats for the bottom. Generous donors helped us purchase additional harnesses and climbing shoes. Bring on a summer of climbing!

Recruiting and training additional staff was a key to utilizing the indoor climbing wall. Ben “FlapJack” Hershey was coming back for a third summer of counseling and was asked to be one of the climbing wall managers for the summer. Managing includes teaching campers about the wall and the equipment we use to climb, keeping children (and staff!) safe, and helping campers to improve their climbing skills while encouraging their appreciation for the sport. He accepted the challenge and offers some reflections on his experience.

“Running the rock wall quickly became one of my favorite activities of each week, and something that I looked forward to doing. However, it was not just my mastery of a new activity that made the rock wall a highlight of the summer for me. Getting to witness the campers’ enjoyment of the new rock wall each week from my role was truly what made it stand out at camp for me.

In examining the core values of BBC, I find that the activity of climbing the indoor wall rests on each of these values in a unique manner. While the wall itself may be man-made, scaling it successfully and making the transition from easier to more difficult routes requires the boldness to step outside of your comfort zone. I believe that this boldness extends beyond the wall and is present in the challenge of living outdoors in nature at camp that campers take on for a week (or multiple weeks in some cases) and that staff take on for a summer. Those of us who have had that experience to any extent know how wonderful it can be, but it requires us to go beyond what we know to be comfortable and familiar to appreciate nature in that way. Similarly, climbing the wall is based on a principle of faith. When you begin climbing, you have to trust that your equipment, the ropes, and your belayer on the ground will keep you safe and will catch you if you fall. Though it may seem trivial, this exercise is analogous to trusting in God and His promise to carry us through every storm that enters our lives. The wall also embodies a certain sort of community. Climbers have to be able to work and communicate with their belayer (and vice versa) and to be able to accept the help of staff in making sure that their equipment is functional and safe, and it was not an uncommon occurrence this summer to watch campers who had already climbed the wall give advice and tips to their peers who had yet to reach the top. If you’ve ever climbed a rock wall, it is almost challenging for it not to be fun. There is nothing quite like the feeling of hearing cheers and encouragement from an audience of campers below, or the sense of accomplishment that you receive once you reach the final hold.

An added incentive of the rock wall for campers this summer was a reward of “cabin points” in the weekly Crazy Camp Cabin Competition for climbing to the top of the wall. One of my own campers this summer was determined to get to the top of the wall, despite never having done it before, to earn those points for our cabin. He didn’t make it all the way on his first attempt, and nearly resigned himself to the conclusion that it was too difficult of a challenge. But with some encouragement from myself and his cabin mates who were also participating, he gave it another shot. From the ground, the other campers and I tried to direct his attention to good handholds and footholds, all while encouraging him to take his time and trust in his abilities. After a few minutes, he found himself looking down at us from the top of the wall with a smile on his face, satisfied with the feat he had just accomplished. Throughout the rest of the week, he continued to talk about how his ascent of the wall would be one of his favorite moments from camp that year. The wall only adds to the wonderful camp experience at Bethany Birches that I have had the privilege to be a part of as a counselor for three summers and that campers come back year after year to enjoy. I am grateful that I was able to witness this new aspect of camp in the role that I did this summer, and I have no doubt that climbing will continue to bring camper smiles for many years to come.”

Thanks to the many people who helped make the rock wall a reality. Consider a visit to BBC to try out the indoor climbing wall for yourself!

Local High School “Unplugs” at BBC

Amber “Cheeks” Bergey & Hartford High Teachers and Students

In March of 2024, 27 Hartford High schoolers and 3 teachers arrived at the BBC Cabin and planned to stay for 3 nights. Dropping their phones in a basket was the first event of their stay. The devices would stay in the basket for the duration of the 3 days and the group was officially unplugged. Students, teachers and parents of students on the trip shared reflections that demonstrate the value of inviting young people to disconnect from technology and focus on making other connections. BBC is happy to provide that space for young people to connect with God, creation and each other.

Following the trip a lovely thank you note came to the BBC mailbox and included some of the following reflections.

“Our goal was to take a contingent of our students out into the wilderness to remove the demands of their digitally connected lives with the hope that they would connect deeper with themselves, each other, and nature… We could not be more excited for how this endeavor positively impacted our students on so many levels. We feel incredibly grateful for your willingness to allow us this opportunity to “Unplug.”

One of the teachers in the group shared “In my observations the students who participated in the HHS Unplugged retreat at BBC had a transformative experience. I feel that the trip opened the scholars’ eyes to how much fun and how impactful life can be when we can “figure it out” without the distraction of the internet/cell phones. Shortly after arriving in nature, it did not take long for the students’ creativity and sociability to kick in.”

A student from the senior class noted that “The most beneficial part was learning how to cook and taking a risk and being out of my comfort zone.” Another senior commented, “For me, this trip revealed the difference between real personal connection and the ways I try to connect through my phone.” The thank you note abounded with similar comments from students.

Parents even noticed the difference. A mom sent a note of thanks including, “When I picked him up after the retreat, he was more at ease, more communicative, and more himself than I’ve seen him in a long time. He almost immediately expressed relief from not having to tend his phone all the time and shared that he’d like to curb his use of it moving forward.”

Another senior felt the “experience gave us the chance to grow and learn how we can communicate and build bonds outside of the technological ways we normally would. On behalf of the students of Hartford High-School, I want to thank BBC for allowing us to build those bonds.”

Bethany Birches continues to be a place to connect with God, nature, and have fun while living in community.

Book space at BBC to host your own gathering

20 Years Investing in People

Brandon “Tuna” Bergey and others

When Brandon was asked for a reflection for this article, he wrote: Twenty years is a long time. It is also a short time, when looking in the rearview mirror. It also happens to be my 20th anniversary as Executive Director at Bethany Birches! There are far too many experiences, moments, and relationships to comb through as I reflect on my service over the last two decades.

One thing that stuck out to me immediately, was the transformation I have experienced and witnessed. A while ago I started, and developed, a backcountry ski program. I am no longer the only coach, but sometimes I still get to take campers skiing (so fun!). Often campers new to the experience start with uncertainty, and a lack of confidence or maybe worse, overconfidence. When I am patient, and engaged, and responsive to their specific needs and concerns, many start to focus and improve. That’s when their God-given spirit starts to appear. They become excited and willing to challenge themselves. They start realizing how to learn the skills they need to succeed.

I have witnessed the same transformation over a long period of time within campers who become staff members and in some cases board members and supporters. One of those persons who is walking along that pathway, currently in the lifestage between staff member and supporter, is doing a pilgrimage and will then spend some time with a group of nuns she admires. She shared that camp played an important role in shaping her faith journey and grew her hunger to know Jesus. In a slightly different vein, the director of Camp Agape (a BBC-operated program for children with incarcerated parents), said that she often sees graduates of Camp Agape around town in restaurants and other shops. She sees them behind the counter, or in whichever job they hold, and she hears a similar message. They are thankful for their time at Camp and it is one of the keys that helped them envision a productive future, and helped them to now reliably hold a job.

The BBC board and staff put together a two-part book to honor Brandon at this year’s annual benefit auction (mark your calendar for September 27, 2025 to attend). There were some wonderful remarks from past staff sharing their memories and experiences working alongside him. Some highlighted funny times, others shared their appreciation of his leadership. One tribute highlights Brandon’s other-centered leadership. She writes “he looked straight to the inside skills and gifts within me, and past my timidity. Having someone respond to my strengths in this way, rather than bending to my weakness, caused me to start to open up into those strengths, into my truest self.” Another shares “I was extremely grateful for you opening BBC, your home, and your lives up to me while on the 2017 summer staff, when I needed rest and healing for the next chapter of life (parenting). Our Rivers was in the works while you were expecting Simon. Being in VT with you all was an experience outside of space and time. Kind of like a dream, with challenges and deep healing. I feel confident the Lord coordinated this opportunity for me and I am appreciative of your openness to facilitate.” From a slightly different perspective, a multi-year counselor writes “I have so many memories of Tuna jumping his dirt bike for the MI skit every week, late friday nights watching movies in Tuna and Cheeks living room, and ridiculous ways of pronouncing mundane words just to make things more interesting. Beyond the fun, silly, and even wild memories, I think the thing that comes to the surface quickly is his uncanny way to incorporate deep faith thoughts into almost any conversation.”

Among many accomplishments, Brandon has led Bethany Birches through a program revitalization, the replacement of it’s key building “the pavilion,” multiple program leadership transitions, the 2020 pandemic in which BBC summer camp was full with zero Covid-19 transmission, and during his tenure has worked with supporters to raise more than 6 million dollars.