Any overnight Mid-Week Rental earns your choice of one of the following:
Mention this offer and where you found it to receive benefit. Your choice depends on availability.
Early Rise Camper Discount
Register within the first 7 days summer camp registration opens to receive a $50 discount on a summer 2013 session. Sign up to receive blog posts or “like” BBC on Facebook to keep up to date on the beginning of registration.
www.facebook.com/bethanybirches
www.bethanybirches.org/blog-subscription/
| Session | Grade | Price |
| Connect Oct: 20-21 | 9th – 12th | $30/$40 |
| Connect Jan: 5-6 | 9th – 12th | $30/$40 |
| Family Fun Day: Feb 3 | All Ages! | FREE |
| Bobcat Snow Camp: Feb 15-17 | 3rd – 6th | $70/$85/$100 |
| Polar Bear Snow Camp: Feb 22-24 | 6th – 8th | $70/$85/$100 |
| Lynx Snow Camp: Mar 1-3 | 5th – 8th | $70/$85/$100 |
| Connect Apr: 6-7 | 9th – 12th | $30/$40 |
Call for a registration form or sign up right here.
How has BBC touched your life?
It would be interesting to gather all the stories and memories made by different people at camp. We became involved when we took some young adults from our church to camp for a service weekend. Then we took our family and volunteered for a week, and then volunteered this summer for a week as camp shepherds.
The theme for this summer was “Inside Out” and one of the daily themes was “Big Things in Small Packages”. As we stood inside the pavilion with over fifty 12-14 year olds, we all shared how BBC is a BIG thing in a small package. It is BIG because it is a place where kids feel safe and loved. It is BIG because it is the first place campers learn of God’s kingdom and unconditional love. It is BIG because of the positive impact on everyone there, from the campers, to the staff, to the volunteers. It is BIG because it continues to offer opportunities for these kids to come back time and time again. Did you know that many of the staff are former campers? Do you know how many families send multiple kids there, for many years?
The pavilion needs help, and soon you will hear more about MISSION POSSIBLE: The Pavilion Project. There is a group of people who have volunteered to help on the funding side, and we are called the Resource Development Team (RDT). Our charge is to help keep camp going for another 50 years, by supporting a campaign to fund a new pavilion. The “pavi” (short for pavilion) is the heart of BBC facility, and it needs help. Each person on the RDT has already made specific time and monetary commitments to this campaign. We can’t call others to do the same until we’ve put our money where our mouth is!
Consider how BBC has influenced you… your family… your own journey with Jesus. Think and pray about how you can commit to support camp and its campaign for the Pavi. Talk about it with your family and friends. As Tuna says, nothing at camp has been accomplished alone… it takes a village to raise a Pavi.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Beth Goshow (alias: Flo)
Staff: Diverse, New, Stellar:
Summer 2012 brought a staff made up mostly of first timers. Each new staff member jumped in with both feet and offered their unique experiences and ideas. The 2012 summer staff came from really different backgrounds and conversations abounded regarding theology, politics, culture and various perspectives. Despite their diversity they formed a cohesive group to welcome each camper into the community of love that is BBC.
The More the Merrier:
Summer 2012 brought an increase in people to camp – both youth and adults. Camper registrations increased 14% over last summer. Many veteran campers brought friends for the first time, social service agencies directed more campers to BBC and a lot of campers came back to experience the fun and relationship they’ve come to depend on. There was also an increase in volunteers. Work groups from Franconia Mennonite Church (Franconia, PA), Swamp Mennonite Church (Quakertown, PA), Rockhill Mennonite Church (Telford, PA) and Souderton Mennonite Church (Souderton, PA) joined us in addition to local volunteers to work on various projects around camp.
Camper Created Video:
Summer 2012 also brought the opportunity for returning staff to create and implement their ideas based on their prior summer at BBC. For example Pepper (Alyssa Coffin) returned to the videographer position with a unique vision. After shooting 60 second clips in 2011 she was inspired to include campers in the film-making process. She pursued her vision to make DVDs from each week through the eyes of campers. Many campers participated in the video making process. They learned the basics of filming. Campers were extremely creative in capturing different aspects of camp. This addition to program was a huge success. To see some of this year’s footage go here. And to read more about Pepper’s idea, here.
The schedule and goals of summer camp remain consistent from one summer to the next. Despite this, summer program remains dynamic due to new staff joining, returning staff growing, new campers coming and returning campers learning new things. Summer camp is dynamic. Always changing. This summer was no different.
Amber Bergey (alias: Cheeks)
(counselor Nye delivered this message at the Annual Sunday Service in 2012)
Camp is like an ocean.
If you really think about it, there are only really two types of oceans out there.
First, the Pacific. When Balboa first laid eyes on this body, the only name he could give to it was one redolent of smooth, un-agitated seas, an environment of warmth, gentle sailing, calm and serenity. It appeared this way of course, out of contrast with the second ocean.
Second, the Atlantic.Typically cold, bitter, unforgiving. A sailor can never be at east, at peace in these waters. Not when there could be super-waves, perfect storms. The Bermuda Triangle is in this ocean. These waters claimed the lives of many able-bodied men; even the most famous ship of all sunk in the Atlantic. This body of water earned its name because according to legend it claimed an entire continent, the lost land of Atlantis, in its violent rage and tempest. Waters such as these are not traveled lightly, with a peaceful mind.
It seems to me that life is similarly dichotomized. You’re traveling along in the South Pacific, and before you know it, you’re in the North Atlantic, frantically fighting in a maelstrom of icebergs and mountainous waves, only to just as suddenly end up in the tropics once more.
And this is how camp has been for me. Sometimes I find myself weathering literal storms, but most are of a more figurative nature. Each week of campers is a new voyage. Perhaps this is why we give them names like Pilgrim, Explorer, Discoverer… Voyager. Each week begins, I get a new boatload of children, and I test the air, looking for that red sky in the morning.
But most times, there will be no warning, and lightning will strike. Two polar personalities between campers, injuries in Mission Impossible, a rainy week that gets spirits low. Not all of the weeks, not even half, usually only one, or two. But in those weeks the only sensation I can ascribe my counseling state to is that of a frantic captain, desperately seeking to keep his boat afloat, to ensure that his campers are safe, happy and seeing God.
However, it is on those wild waves, not the placid Pacific, that I see the face of God. One particular bible verse comes to mind: 1st Kings, chapter 19, verse 11. Elijah, the prophet, is paid a visit by God.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
The strangest thing happens on those weeks. In the climax of the storm, there’ll be a moment in which everything just seems to stop momentarily. One week it was when during a time of singing, a stubborn camper broke down and after not having partaken all week determinedly stared at me, desperately trying to catch the song by reading my lips and listening to my voice and following along. I sang the song to him, looking at him instead of the card, and we sang that way until the song ended, I singing to him, he singing back. I saw God in his face, in that whisper among the tempest.
In another week a camper felt excluded from his friends, and sat outside of the pavilion. I sat with him for a while, and we just looked out at the mountains, admiring their beauty together. We sat talking until he felt calm enough to rejoin the group. When asked what he had learned at the end of the week, he said that the mountains were made by God.
I enjoy the placid weeks for what they offer me: rest and peace. But I have found that it is after the turbulent weeks that I am the most satisfied and spiritually “full”. Last year I was much more exhausted after I had finished a week of difficult campers, but this year I see it more clearly, so I almost relish a difficult group. For it is in the tempest when I hear the quiet whisper, when I see the face of God.
Max “Nye” Halik
As we were making decisions about the pavilion replacement project with our chosen consultant, Design Group International, the Fire Marshal paid the cabin a visit. Not surprisingly he had concerns! We can’t use it this summer unless we complete certain work by then and obtain a temporary occupancy permit. For more on the cabin, see “Cabin Update”.
On top of all this facility update, we’re planning to finish the basement of the Director’s Residence this summer thanks to Austin Landes of IT Landes and Souderton Mennonite Church among others. And so here we are, in the middle of one major project (Cabin) planning for an even bigger project (Pavilion) and planning for a minor project (finishing basement at Directors Residence). All we really have is a prayer, a lot of excited, willing and generous people and the cash that’s in the bank (less than $100,000). We’re thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to walk with a God who calls us beyond the completion of a project, beyond nice buildings or buildings at all, beyond program and all the great, fun things that happen at summer camp. A God that invites us to be part of the greatest community of love there ever was. Thankful for some people who responded to the vision God placed in their heart many years ago. Thankful for those that are responding to the needs of Bethany Birches now. And thankful that we can begin this crazy time with at least some cash!
Surely this is The Church in action. All working together so that young people will come to know the One That is Good. For stories about how the vision of Bethany Birches is working out, check out this video: Stories of Camp from Blooming Glen – Brandon Bergey
“Hi, could I talk with the owner?” It’s early on a Tuesday morning in March. I respond, “Uhh, our ownership is comprised of about 60 households… I’m not sure how you could easily reach them all.” So the voice on the other line responds: “Well, this is Jay with the state department of public safety – I’m a fire marshal. I found your building online and would like to come take a look at it. You rent it out to guests, right?” Me: “Yes, we do. Sure, I guess you can come look at it.” Him: “OK, how about Monday morning next week. 9:30 OK?” Me, looking at my calendar, noticing I’m in the office Monday morning, but not sure I should say yes… thinking that maybe I should just hang up the phone for fear of what would happen Monday morning when Jay comes to visit: “Uhh, sure. Yea, 9:30 on Monday is fine.” Him: “OK, thanks. See you then.” Click goes the phone. Gulp goes me. I think, is this OK? What’s going to happen?
Next week comes. The fire marshal comes to do an inspection on the BBC Cabin (Bruce and Jay). We talk for about a half hour about the various fire hazards in the building. They leave with concern about the safety of the building. I leave with a report showing 8 violations of the life safety code and a temporary occupancy permit. Gulp!
I first get frustrated. Then scared; nervous; concerned. After a little reflection, I feel calm. I begin to sense God’s spirit near. I remember what good has come in my life during times of challenge, struggle, correction, outside direction. I wrote a note on the camp’s Facebook page. I wrote a blog post. I wrote an email. Within two days, people were asking about the situation, offering help and supplies and all sorts of things. I was surprised and amazed at the immediacy and generosity! And it continues – AM Goshow and Son have donated windows. Goodro Lumber is offering discounted materials. Robert Buchan (Architect) and Paul Derksen (Turning Leaf Housewrights) are doing lots of work on the project for deeply discounted rates. A camper gave $10. First Congregational Church of Woodstock gave $23,500. Dave Beidler, Andrew Moyer, Matt Harootunian, Mike Horst and others are giving generously of their time. Bergey’s Electric is coming to install the smoke detection system (free of charge) under the supervision of Mike Bryan (electrician). It’s like the early church in Acts… so that no part of camp had need (Acts 4:32-37).
If you’d like to help, there are various ways to do so – we still have the second phase of this work to pay for. If you’re a carpenter or have experience with building trades, come work! We’re working the last two weeks of May (21 – June 1), each day. We need 2-4 people each of those days. We expect to begin work on an addition in August that will gain us permanent occupancy (you could call or email for specific dates in June or July). The fire marshal is working with us and has set limits we must meet before we are able to use the building for summer program and then some additional things we need to do to make it even safer. We’re so thankful for the understanding and kindness Bruce and Jay and their office have shown us and their understanding of both our need to make the building safer as well as our need to do it in a manner that saves money by including volunteers.
Dave Beidler upgrades stairwell side 1
If you’d like to read more about the ongoing work and issues, click here for the relevant posts.
Above: Winter Family Fun Day was great, well.. FUN!
My vision for BBC includes this sacred space being a place for all children to become their potential through building healthy relationships with other children that are culturally different from themselves, developing a deeper relationship with their Creator, and recognizing possibilities in themselves that remain untapped. Bethany Birches Camp has been a place where children are safe to observe and explore nature, develop their spirituality, and become their potential. It has also been a place for young adults to develop their leadership skills, healthy relationship with others, and deepen their relationship with God. These are principals that I hope we will continue to uphold going forward.
As a board we recognize that the facility needs to provide space for this to occur. We want camp to be a place for children to relate to nature and develop healthy relationships with others and their Divine Creator. The last several years the board has been looking at what a reasonable amount of dry space is for indoor activities in the summer and winter. We are grappling with how to insure children spend as much time outdoors as possible while recognizing the need for larger group space in inclement weather. We continue to use Robert Buchan’s architectural expertise to assist us in the practical aspects of these ideas. As a board we continue to ask what impact will changing facility have on the financial future of the camp? Historically, as an organization, we remained solvent by having minimal overhead. We continue to look at facility and the direction of the camp in regard to financial sustainability with continued focus on children growing toward wholeness.
Lynx snow-campers displaying one of their tracks - part of an excercise in considering what or who we follow
We are also looking at policies that will drive how program and camp should function now and in the future. In the near future we will have access to cell service on “the hill”. This will impact the ability of children to use technology and, how staff will monitor its use. Like other institutions we need to remain thoughtful about the use of technology.
I continue to volunteer as a board member because of my strong belief that when children and youth are provided an environment that supports their potential they will develop into healthy adults.
If you make a gift of $400 a camper who literally could not come to camp through any other means will get to come. Even if you can only give $10, give it! 40 people giving $10 each will send a camper. You’ll receive a letter from a camper who got to come to camp as a result of you sharing your resources.
If you’d like to give on a monthly basis automatically, you can do that by logging into your donor account through our website. If you have given before but don’t know your login, simply fill out the form on the page to receive your login.
