https://test-backlink-1.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-2.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-3.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-4.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-5.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-6.blogspot.com/
May 2012 - Bethany Birches Camp

Archive for May, 2012

Fire Marshal and Cabin Update

We’ve been hard at work!  So many volunteers have lent a hand as well as paid help.  Paul Derksen of Turning Leaf Houserights

Paul working on exit stair from loft

has been running the construction side of the project and putting paid and volunteer labor to work.  Mike Bryan (electrician) has been working with Harold Bergey and Herb Frederick of Bergey’s Electric to get the necessary electrical work done and Jim at Royal Alarms has been making things happen on the fire alarm side!  We’ve had so many helpers to date and it’s so encouraging.  When this project is finished, we’ll list all those involved.

Something amazing – the giving toward this project.  We’ve had two gifts of $20,000!  Thanks so much to Doug and Becky Clemens and also the First Congregational Church of Woodstock.   It’s just amazing how God moves through people to accomplish things.  Many have given besides these two very large gifts.  We’re so thankful we can keep moving, buying materials and getting everything in place because of this financial support.  And on top of that, Goodro Lumber is giving through a 15% discount on materials and A.M. Goshow and Son supplied the windows for the project.  Robert Buchan Architect has given quite a discounted rate on services.

Pray with us that we’ll be ready for a final inspection by the week of June 11 and that we’ll have necessary lodging for staff and volunteers this summer.  Pray also for wisdom! We want to make good choices about the Bethany Birches facility – choices that will be cost effective but durable and long-lasting.  Choices that will serve the program of the camp extremely well and allow us to continue to create a facility that accomplishes the unique mission God has given to Bethany Birches.

Thanks be to God for all the wonderful people who are coming together to help make this building safer!

And no matter what happens in the cabin, summer 2012 is on and only three weeks away!

Tuna

Leon working on the exit from the loft

Houses, Pavilions, Cabins, Oh My!

Above: Lynx snow-campers enjoying the cabin before we got the bad news. What great fun a weekend of camp in the winter can be!
————————–
When I (Brandon) started at Bethany Birches in 2004 there was a Director’s Residence in the works.  By the spring of 2005 I was living in that residence.  Shortly after that we as an organization began to think about the challenges the pavilion presented for emerging programs as well as the support of our key program: summer camp!  We’ve been moving very cautiously on that project, simply because we weren’t exactly sure how to proceed.  And now we are putting together the Resource Development Team in order to begin the fundraising.

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

Cabin Update

“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.

Board Report: Naomi Mast Moyer

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.

Will You Help A Kid Get To Camp This Summer?

 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.

GIVE TO KIDS TO CAMP NOW

Exploring Jesus Through the Theme: Inside Out


The sky is the limit. The possibilities are endless. With 100 acres of wilderness and a week’s time the options for activities, discussion, events and experiences at camp are endless. The limitless options can sometimes make planning a summer camp program overwhelming! How does one choose what to do, what to talk about and what to focus on? Over the last 8 years our answer to this question has been THEMES!
Wet N Wild Wednesday; Messy Monday; Tidy UP Tuesday; Theater Thursday and Fun Filled, Fire Free, Favorites, Farewell Friday. Each day has a theme and this helps us stay focused in this ADHD day-in-age and gives campers something to look forward to.

Themes also help us in our mission to help young people develop their relationship with God. Each summer has an overarching theme that gives counselors and shepherds a platform for sharing about God’s love and the life of Jesus with campers. The hope is that campers will relate to and remember their experience with God more readily.

Inside Out is the theme for 2012. After using highly specific nature themes for the past few years (Out on  a Limb (Trees); Rock Solid (Rocks); Aglow (Fire); H2O (Water); etc) the theme Inside Out will focus on how God’s Kingdom AND the natural world around us often seem inside out from what might be expected. With the beatitudes as our guide (Matthew 5) campers will examine the life and teachings of Jesus.  How did Jesus live differently from the world around him? Why would people live differently than the status quo? How does a tall tree grow from a small seed? How can life come from death?  What does a life following Jesus look like? These are some of the questions campers and counselors will ask together this summer. Can’t wait!

Cheeks (Amber Bergey)

Special Invitation

Keep up more regularly with camp and also get discounts (rentals and program)! You can do it by reading our blog from time to time.  To make it easier for you, now you can get updates via email. Just click here to sign up.

Inside Out: Beauty from Rain

I love the sun! For a few days in April I got to experience plenty of sun. The weather at camp was warm, sunny and felt like summer! I was ready to invite campers to the hill and get camp rolling. When the sun is out I want the hill to be full of youth and staff running around outside enjoying the wilderness. When the sun is shining and temperatures are above 65 I can think of nothing I’d rather do than roam around 100 acres exploring the wilderness with others.

Then came the rains. The past few weeks have been damp, rainy and cool. My shoes get wet each time I go outside. My body gets chilled when I have to get something from the pavilion or the craft hut. I have nightmares of campers who run out of socks. The more it rains the more I frantically search for indoor pavilion activities. A counselor who worked here in 2004, 2005, and 2006 told me she just recently stopped having nightmares about camp in the rain!

Camp in the rain can be fun, but I prefer the sunny skies. Dampness at camp is easily cured by a warm fire, but I prefer warmth from the sun. One of our former staff/campers recalls her favorite memories of BBC during rainy days in the pavilion. Campers don’t always notice the rain. I do.

Last week as I sulked about the rainy days and lack of sun I noticed the grass turning a darker, luscious shade of green. I noticed the flowers by the steps of camp shooting higher out of the ground. The rhubarb in the garden is much closer to picking! I remembered a counselor who took her campers puddle jumping. I appreciated the warmth of the woodstove. I enjoyed the sound of the rain dripping off the trees.

The rain brings the beauty. I like the sun much more than the rain. I like the beauty surrounding me most. I wouldn’t really like a world without rain. So much beauty would be missing. It’s inside out. What we don’t like brings the beauty we do!

Rain coming off the Pavilion

Fire Marshal Update: Call for help

It’s been about two months since the fire marshal’s visit. We continue to be thankful for the way their office is working with us and helping to make the building safer.

Here’s what’s happening this month (May):

  • Electricians are working on the smoke detection system
  • Egress windows being installed
  • Cutting trees for a neighbor to earn cash for the project ($5000!)
  • Stairways being upgraded (smoke proofed)
  • Exit from loft constructed
  • LOTS OF CLEANING afterward!
Will you join us?  Here are some ways to help:
  • Carpentry, building trades – May 21-June1.  We need at least 2 volunteers each day.
  • Cleaning – we’ll need help with this from June 4-8
  • Cooking – particularly things that can be frozen.  Baked goods too. We need some lunches for people working the last two weeks of May.
You can let us know when you’re available and what you can give by filling this form out.  Again, here are the dates:
May 12:                    Spring Workday – come one, come all!
May 21 – June 1: Carpentry and building help
June 4 – June 8: Cleanup and prep for summer
[gravityform id=”4″ name=”Cabin Help”]

 

Once we hit June, we hope to have occupancy.  We expect to begin a small addition project that will finish the requirements for the building.  But, because of time, we need to postpone that till August and the fire marshal has been gracious in helping us get a timeline that works.

Join me in praying and hoping for a fun-filled, safe, eternally impacting summer!

Tuna

Counselor Quinzy is Returning!

Hey Guys!

Quinzy playing Messy Twister

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be coming back for this summer!  Between all the fun activities and just spending time getting to know the campers, camp is without a doubt, the best place to spend a summer.  Year after year I return to camp and it just gets better and better!  Meeting new campers and seeing the familiar faces of old campers is one of the most exciting things for me because I remember how much fun BBC was when I was your age.  Camp has something for everyone and people of all ages.  We play games, do arts and crafts, theater, and archery.  We also have an entire day dedicated to getting messy and an entire one dedicated to the water!  And that is just the beginning!

With all of the games and other things aside, the best experience at camp, hands down, is building a relationship with God.  Camp has always been a place where I could feel God and I’m hoping you guys will be able to feel him too here.   I hope those of you who have been here before continue to learn new things about God and Jesus and grow with them (as I do when I am there).   I also hope that people who have never heard about God or don’t know about the story of Jesus get to see how great our God truly is, and that everyone can see God’s love through others around them.

If you like eating delicious food over a campfire, singing and dancing, playing games, swimming in the pond, meeting awesome people, and just plain old being ridiculous, camp is for you.  The relationships you build here, with others and with God, will continue with you for the rest of your lives.

I hope to see you there!

-Quinzy

depo 25 bonus 25
https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/pkv/index.htm https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/bq/index.htm https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/dq/index.htm https://siapdok.id/wp-content/uploads/pkv/ https://siapdok.id/wp-content/uploads/bq/