Firelight

July 1st, 2015

By Greg Howes, Director

For many years at Birchmont one of the richest camp traditions that helps our camp community come to closure each August is called “Candlelight”. Even during my first summer – 1990 – I can Firelight 2015 recall missing the last two days of camp and having my co counselor Sean McQuade tell me how much I would be missing by not being there for Candlelight night. In a subsequent summer, I came to find out he was quite right. It’s a wonderful night around a huge beautiful campfire where all campers and staff gather in a circle around the fire to help cap the season with thanks and reflections from the summer. Supervisors, group leaders and Birchmont “B” winners from each group each take a brief turn standing in front of the fire and one by one speak from the heart sending their own positive message of thanks, experiences and reflection. It’s a powerful and moving experience – if not downright emotional. Each camper adds their candle to an ever growing circle of flames until the fire is extinguished with a closing ceremony. Im sure it’s a memory etched deep into the mind of most alumni that have been present for it. Tonight , we mark a new opening night tradition at Birchmont.

Similar to Candlelight in some ways , FIRELIGHT will embody the idea of Welcome, and that we are all part of this unique and special adventure on which we are to embark together. We inspire each and every person who is a part of camp, new and old, to think about a personal goal for the summer around a big campfire, one in boys camp and another in girls. Camp supervisors and counselors will say some brief remarks, and we will gather under the stars and set off on a course for the best possible summer, as members of what Greg Pierce is fond of calling ” the biggest family or smallest community most of us will ever be proud to be a part of”. Here’s to the start of another rich and rewarding Birchmont Tradition. The only downside? FIRELIGHT will NOT include S’mores! But we will have plenty of those campfires too! 🙂

Firelight 2015

So on the second night of camp this happened… Our Firelight, with a beautiful moon and Jupiter and Venus in view …

We Are All Here!

June 30th, 2015

We have begun, and we have begun well! Our buses left at 10:00 on the dot bringing excited Summer 2015 campers to their new summer home. In some ways the bus ride to Camp Birchmont is the beginning of the camp experience. Campers are grouped by age, so there is an opportunity to make friends while sharing snacks, singing songs, and listening to the bus counselors answering questions in rapid succession like “How will I find my bunk”, ” My brother is on another bus, when will I see him?”,” When do we have try-outs for the talent show?”,” Does anyone know I’m allergic to eggplant?”

Summer 2015 Many families dropped off their children on the grounds and many more came in from flights from Logan airport and soon Birchmont came alive for another summer adventure.

Counselors greeted the buses with excited anticipation. This was the moment they had been waiting for after a week long of meetings, role playing, and safety orientations. The kids were finally here! After unpacking and settling in, the dinner bell rang bringing all campers and counselors to the opening night traditional meal, Pizza Party, with a full range of pizzas offered with every different topping imaginable including gluten free pizzas with thin crust; it seemed everybody had their fill, but managed room for dessert. Summer 2015

The rainy travel weather had disappeared and our fields were full of campers getting out their energy with all manner of games and ice-breakers designed to introduce campers and cabins to their counselors and friends. Where is everybody from? Who has dogs? What’s the part of camp are you most excited about? Finding things we have in common, and things which make us different , putting everyone at ease is the goal of games which encourage playing and learning all rolled into one.

Summer 2015 Name games, balloon relays, fun in the Old Time Arcade with pop-a-shots, and Hockey Dome, tomorrow we will start our full camp day, and its going to be great!

Camp is Around the Corner!

June 12th, 2015

Dear Parents,

We recently came across this article which was written by our friend Jill Tipograph. It’s a quick read and loaded with tried and true advice. By taking a minute to have a brief and focused conversation with your child/ren about summertime goals it just might make all the difference. We have always found that when goals are discussed and understood, they are much more likely to be realized!

Camp is just around the corner and we are can’t wait to begin our 64th Summer of friendships and fun atop beautiful Mt. Delight!

All the best,
Greg & Laura Pierce
Directors

Preparing for the Summer

By: Jill Tipograph, Youth Development Expert & Educational Consultant; Owner & Founder of Everything Summer & Beyond, LLC

You’ve done your research. You picked the right program. Your child is enrolled. On paper, your child is ready to go. Sure their bags may be almost packed, but are they (and you) ready – emotionally and mentally?

Everything Summer

Regardless of your child’s age, we suggest engaging in a healthy conversation before summer activities and plans commence. Select a setting that is most natural for you and your child or teen, whether it be formal or informal, in the car or at the dinner table.

For First Time Campers:
Enrolled in either a day or overnight program? Begin your conversation by revisiting camp materials, website and photos. These materials will remind your child of what the facilities and campgrounds look like, which will give them a sense of familiarity when they arrive.

Discuss the transportation. For day campers, make sure your child is aware of what bus number he or she is on. If there are any special days at camp, where your camper either will return home early or extend their day, make sure your child is aware of when those special days will occur. For sleepaway campers, find out from the camp if there are any special activities planned for the bus ride or flight.

With your child, set one primary goal for him or her to accomplish over the summer. Design the goal to be attainable and age appropriate, to set your child up for success. Goals could be making a new friend, trying a new activity at camp, advancing their skills in their favorite activities, or trying a new food. The independence and growth you want your child to experience is built into the camp.

And parents of campers, remember to save all letters; in today’s world of technology, this lost art of communication means even more!

For Teens:
Begin by discussing the overall theme of the program. You already know where your child is going and when their departure is, but what are they set out to accomplish? What are the program’s goal(s) as well?

Next, review their program’s packing, technology and no tolerance policies. Unlike the camp duffels that are picked up a week in advance, your teen will be taking their baggage with them the very same day of their departure. Follow the suggested packing list (if there’s extra room in their luggage, add more socks and underwear!) and respect their technology policies. If a program does not allow cell phones, computers, and/or tablets, make sure your teen is compliant with the program’s technology policy. These programs are very strategic, and certain distractions will take away from the experience. If a teen disrespects their technology policy, then the program Director and your child will get off to the wrong start. And depending on their rules, there may be consequences.

Lastly, we recommend your teen take a moleskin journal with them to write down notes, thoughts. Teen summers and experiences can make for incredible college essays and those fine details, moments of clarity, epiphanies, will be quintessential for building a great essay. Additionally, other back to school assignments may require details of their past summer. By keeping a daily journal to reflect excursions and experiences, their memories will be preserved and described clearly when they need to return to their experience at a later date. Whether it be an academic program, community service program, or experiential travel, their summers will be memorable and unforgettable!

In addition to summer trips and programs, teens also need time to balance their summer reading and school assignments. With so many summer plans, it’s easy for teens to neglect their work and wait till the last minute. Sit down with your teen and look over a calendar. Highlight the specific dates when they’ll be unavailable. Together, decide the dates when they should focus on summer reading and school work. Planning ahead and allocating specific dates for their studies will prevent them from waiting till the last minute, and it’ll keep you in the know when they’re supposed to do their work.

Though you may be a little stressed out now preparing your family for their experiences, remember that the summer is meant to be a time for joy, self-discovery, and freedom. Be calm and collected when you say your goodbyes, and give yourself a pat on the back for letting your child or teen explore the world on their own.