Event | Age | Date |
Staff Orientation | 17+ | Jun 15-22 |
Pilgrim | 9-11 | Jun 23-28 |
Voyager | 10-12 | Jun 30-Jul 5 |
Voyager Extended | 10-11 | Jun 23-Jul 5 |
Church at Camp and Chicken BBQ(Camp staff lead in worship and sharing) | All | Jul 7 10 am BBQ following Service |
Friendship/ Pioneer | 6-9 | Jul 7-9/7-11 |
Discoverer | 11-13 | Jul 14-19 |
Internship | 15-17 | Jul 14-26 |
Explorer | 12-14 | Jul 21-26 |
Discoverer Extended | 12-13 | Jul 14-26 |
Sojourner | 14-18 | Jul 28-Aug 2 |
Mission Possible/Crew | 11-14/15-18 | Aug 4-8 |
Staff De-Orientation | 17+ | Aug 9-11 |
Facility Available for Rent & Events | Aug 12-Oct | |
BBC Annual Benefit Auction | Sept 28 10am | |
Fall Work Day | Oct 26 9am |
Archive for the ‘Newsletters’ Category
Newsletter 2013: 5 Reasons to Attend the Annual Benefit Auction
Many people have been to the annual benefit auction here at Bethany Birches. If you aren’t one of those persons, I wanted to give you 5 good reasons why you might enjoy the auction:
- A Mercedes Benz will be auctioned with NO reserve price, courtesy of Signal Aviation
- There will be free doughnuts and coffee during the preview (9 – 10 am)
- A snowmobile will be raffled from June 23-September 28 and the winner drawn that morning
- Be AT camp. From the view to the campers to a tasty, no-charge lunch, the auction is a good taste of classic BBC
- And of course, Sandy Alderfer (auctioneer) will entertain you with his wit and wisdom
For more information, visit the benefit auction page.
Tuna
PS – we’re looking for auction donations!
Spring Newsletter 2013: Mission Possible, The Pavilion Project
Intel is on a need to know basis. Here’s what you need to know. The effort to replace the old pavilion with a new one is under way.
We’ve been hard at work raising money since October 2012. Some of camp’s faithful supporters have given generously to achieve nearly $700,000 in commitments already. The project total is $1,800,000. This will pay for the new pavilion and subsidize program for 4 years (we wanted to consolidate all our fundraising needs for the length of the campaign into one effort).
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to make a gift (or at least a commitment) by August 15, 2013. If you complete your mission you will receive a couple free gifts.
You may gain intel about the free gifts and give here.
In order to proceed, you must watch the video about the project here.
Newsletter 2012: Encouragement in the Face of Challenge
We knew it was going to be a challenge – I remember being in a beautiful place after my frustration subsided upon the fire marshal’s departure. The kind of place in which it’s clear that though this is going to be a hard road to walk, it’s going to be good. It’s a road that God has paved. And it was. Not only did we receive grace from the fire marshal and volunteers but many gave money. And by the end of December, we should be completed with the cabin fire safety project.
And now we find ourselves facing another challenge: the construction of a new pavilion. Lots could be said about this project but that will be the topic of future newsletters. Right now the thing to know is that we’ve begun the fundraising effort. We’re calling the effort Mission Possible: The Pavilion Project. If you have a contribution you’re compelled to make and you’d like to talk about your gift, please contact me at the office (802-672-5220) or by email (brandon@bethanybirches.org).
The third challenge on my mind as I write is the mission the camp has been given – to help young people develop their relationship with God by providing them with a Christ-centered camping experience in a natural and nurturing environment. Inherent is a challenge for staff and campers alike. While we (donors, volunteers, staff) are the helpers, it is the young person and God that must do the relationship building. To become Christ-centered while creating a natural and nurturing setting is a life-long work for each of us. If we can accomplish it, the world will be changed. As Mission Possible states in its theme verse, this sort of change is only possible with God (Matt. 19:26).
And that’s the encouraging part: that seemingly impossible things are possible. Then the challenge of life becomes not how to build that building or how to repair a broken relationship but how to join up with the God who instead makes things possible. If we are willing, God will help in that endeavor too.
Brandon Bergey (Alias: Tuna)
Newsletter 2012: Community of Love: 10th Annual Benefit Auction
Voices chattered against the drone of the cider press as we walked through the fog towards the pavilion. This was the 10th year for the annual event; but my first in attending. The heavy air was not enough to dampen the number of early birds who, by 9:00 am had already gathered to survey the inventory. Huddled bodies milled about the pavilion clasping respective cups of coffee and hot cider. A fire burned in the hearth. I received a free donut and a cup of coffee from Anna Hepler. As the crowd grew, the scene turned warmer. Conversations erupted amidst the silent auction tables. Old friends re-united at the home-made donut dispensary. Ted Shattuck and I both remarked on how long it had been since we had last seen each other. Just before 10 AM, as the sun began to filter through the mist, the auction was underway.
I took a seat next to Brian Goshow, who graciously allowed me to look over his shoulder at the auction manifest every five minutes. The morning slowly built into a raucous occasion full of laughter, bid and counter-bid, and banter all of which were led with the hearty energies of auctioneer Sandy Alderfer. I would be hard pressed to find anyone who would be able to pinpoint a climax during the auction. For some, it was the high cadence of the bidding for Matt Maxham’s side table, eventually won by Jed Dickinson, (or was that Norm Koop’s hand that went up at the last minute?). For some, it might have been the strong supporting bids towards camper sponsorship. And for others, it might have been the donuts hand made by the Hershey-Lapp family.
The highlight for me however was witnessing the broad spectrum of participants who had gathered to share in the event. As I sat with friends from Lancaster PA and from Woodstock Vermont, from Burlington and from Philly, I was aware that it indeed takes all of us to make this event and this camp the great thing that it is.
Seth Shaw
Newsletter 2012: Winter Rental Coupon
Any overnight Mid-Week Rental earns your choice of one of the following:
- A Killington Ticket
- One Hour Private Ski Lesson with Tuna (our Director)
- Breakfast for your entire group
Mention this offer and where you found it to receive benefit. Your choice depends on availability.
Newsletter 2012: Summer Camp Coupon
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/
2012-13 WINTER PROGRAM SCHEDULE
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.
Newsletter 2012: Mission Possible: The Pavilion Project
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)
Newsletter 2012: Summer Standouts
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.
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.
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)