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SPECTACLE South Shore YMCA Camp Burgess & Hayward 75 Stowe Rd., Sandwich, MA 02563 Campburgessandhayward.com
THE CAMP BURGESS & HAYWARD FRIENDS & ALUMNI NEWSLETTER | FALL/WINTER, 2015
HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM CAMP!
IN THIS ISSUE
The holidays are upon us, and with that I would like to extend my very best wishes for a happy and healthy season, to each and every member of the Camp Burgess & Hayward Community.
Holiday Greetings from Camp!
I’d also like to express my gratitude to our kind and caring donors, who have helped us change the course of so many lives this year.
Alumni Making An Impact
As the director of development at Camp, I have the great privilege to be closely connected to our cause – to make our programs, which provide life-changing experiences in the natural world, accessible to all. Through your gifts to our Campership Fund, you have given a 13-year-old girl from Wyoming the chance to discover wind-surfing. You have sparked an interest in farming in an 8-year-old boy from New York City. You have made it possible for us to teach youth from around the globe why it's important to care for the earth, so the next generation can enjoy it. You have provided a sense of belonging. You have given fun and laughter. You have given the greatest things, which aren’t things at all…you have given The Gift of Camp! View our impact video:
THE GIFT OF CAMP
The stories of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility found within the pages of The Spectacle, are reflective of our traditions, and are an expression of the appreciation everyone here at Camp Burgess & Hayward shares for your continued support. Thanks to you, we have been able to successfully carry out our mission and deliver not only quality programming, but also exceptional experiences to thousands of individuals.
#GivingTuesday
My BH Story Featured Programs Staff Spotlight Upcoming Events
ENJOY THIS ISSUE? Feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who you think may enjoy its contents.
SUBMISSIONS, COMMENTS, IDEAS? Email camp@ssymca.org
As a charitable organization, we will be participating in Giving Tuesday on December 1st as a means to kick-off our year-end fundraising appeal. We still have $10,000 to raise before the close of 2015, and ask that you join us by making Camp Burgess & Hayward your charity of choice on Giving Tuesday. No gift is too small to make an impact. As an alternative to making a gift, please consider creating a personal giving page, or encouraging your children to set up their own personal giving pages to help us in this effort; contributing as a campaigner for our cause, will serve to foster a charitable spirit, while forging a more meaningful connection to the Camp community. For more information on #GivingTuesday and setting up a personal giving page, please see page 2. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Spectacle newsletter! With my very best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,
Meghan K. Hill
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Save the Date! December 1st is #GIVINGTUESDAY
LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT
WHAT IS #GIVINGTUESDAY?
We are pleased to announce that registration for 2016 Summer Camp and Teen Adventure Trips is now open and available here!*Register before January 1st to receive our limited edition 2016 Camp Burgess & Hayward t-shirt.
We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, students – and CAMPERS – around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for you, your family, your community, or your school to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving.
JOIN US ON #GIVINGTUESDAY AS WE KICKOFF FUNDRAISING FOR OUR YEAR-END CAMPERSHIP FUND APPEAL! Did you know that this year over 175 kids attended Camp on “camperships” scholarships that were provided by donations to our Campership Fund? That’s right, and the need is even greater for Summer, 2016!
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDRAISING!
NEW HOLIDAY ITEM! Parents are always contacting us towards the end of the year wanting to purchase a special Burgess & Hayward gift for the holidays. So we have these special hats that you can purchase to have sent to you. Price: $22 including US shipping ($30 including international shipping)
#GIVEBACK! Click here to create your personal giving page
Select “start fundraising”
Enter your information and click on “start your fundraiser”
Customize the template to tell YOUR Camp B&H story
Click on “publish now” to make your page live
Share the link and start fundraising!
One size fits all and you can select: Navy with green & white (Left) OR Cabled blue, gray, & white (Right) To order: Email Camp@ssymca.org with hat choices and address. You can pay by check or by credit card by giving us a call at 508-428-2571.
RAISE $100 OR MORE, AND YOU’LL RECEIVE A LIMITED EDITION BH DUFFEL BAG! For more information or for help setting up your personal giving page, please email or call us at 508-428-2571, ext. 101.
Click here to make your tax deductible gift now! 2
ALUMNI MAKING AN IMPACT
ALUMNI HERO
MY CAMP STORY: JOSHUA BOWER “What am I doing? I will see how this goes and just leave.” These were the only thoughts going through my head on an average January day in London. The Camps had been in the venue for hours, I had been there hours and the queue for the Camps lasted hours. I decided to stop at one last stall on the way out. That was the beginning of my Camp story. My name is Joshua Bower and I have had the privilege of working at Camp Burgess & Hayward for 6 years consecutively and recently visited after my first year of not working the summer months. My first year was 2009 and when people say you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, you really have no idea what you are getting yourself into. The build up to the summer was fairly tame for myself, as I was shy in reaching out to members of the Camp community before I had actually met them. This changed when all of a sudden I was getting messages online from returning members of staff, they were checking in on me and asking if I had any questions that they could help with. I was the International Sports Counselor and my first unit was the Voyagers. My first Co-Counselor was John Baimas with Kody Crawford as our Junior Counselor!
Read more from Josh, here.
Chuck Brown was a Camper, Staff Member and Waterfront Director in the early/mid-70s. Weymouth Father and Son Save Two Men Who Nearly Drowned As reported by Julie Loncich, CBS Boston’s WBZ -TV News
A father and son are credited with saving two men in distress in Quincy Bay. It was 10pm on Tuesday, November 6th when Sam Brown, 17, heard the cries from his bedroom. “I thought it was the TV downstairs, but then I heard the words ‘help’ in the bonechilling yell that no one wants to hear and that’s when it got real,” Sam said. Sam ran to get the life jackets and told his mother to call 911. His father, Chuck Brown, sprang into action. “We realized right away there was trouble, I said, ‘we have to go,’” Chuck Brown said. See the interview and article here
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Email your Alumni updates to campalumni@ssymca 3
MY BH STORY Vida Moghadam-Nia Reflects on her Camp Experience To have worked at this magical place for 10 weeks has been one of the most eye-opening and rewarding jobs I have ever had. This experience was out of the ordinary and unique and something I have never done before. I live in England and had not been to America before Camp, so I did not have any idea what was around the corner. Being a Camp Counselor allowed me to understand that it's the little things that matter in life. Not only have I learned how exciting it is to be out in the wilderness and to explore the endless opportunities that can take place here, from creating fun games out of thin air, to singing Taylor Swift at the top of our lungs in the Ellis Dining Hall, I learned that working with children is one the most rewarding and amazing jobs you will ever find. Only once you’ve had the opportunity to work with children will you understand the impact you have on them. You realize how important your job is when you find out you put a smile even on one of their faces or made their day.
“Being a Camp Counselor allowed me to understand that it's the little things that matter in life.” As a Camp Counselor, you don't realize how much you mean to these Campers until they leave and send you letters and packages thanking and missing you. I will take away so much from this experience as it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and really taught me to think on my feet, and the memories I have built from this will be treasured closely to my heart. Although everything we did was for the kids, I was also able to take away some great achievements. I was really pushed. I met some amazing people from all around the world, from America to Australia. Those people have also taught me so much from how to become a better Counselor to realizing that sometimes you have to put others before yourself. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work at such a wonderful Camp with the most amazing people and Campers ever, and I will never forget all of the memories and life skills I have made here. Thank you. 02563.
Tim Fry’s Top 5 Camp Memories 1. In August of 1985, the movie Friday the 13th, Part 3 in 3D was released on Friday 13th. I was not on duty, and along with several other Counselors, spent the late evening scraping on sides of cabins, tapping on windows, scaring working Counselors and kids alike! 2. Disassembling a sailboat and reassembling it in the dining hall. 3. Overhearing a couple of senior Campers planning a late night breakout to go up the north path to get a pizza in Sandwich, and scaring them big time just behind where new Sunset Lodge now is! 4. Lightning striking a girls cabin in 2000 blowing the door off the cabin, but the girls were totally unharmed. 5. Trying to remove a skunk from under a cabin...you can imagine the rest!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Email your Alumni news, updates and favorite Camp stories to campalumni@ssymca.org
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MY BH STORY Sophie Hauck Shares her Favorite Camp Memories
Craig Weisenfeld talks about Camp a lot. Too much, some would say….
Camp Hayward gives you this special feeling, like you don’t know where you’re going, yet you know you’ll find your way. Camp is that split second after you’ve jumped off the dock, but before you’ve hit the water. An anticipation so vibrant that we’re already counting down the days until Summer, 2016.
It's hard to describe Camp to Non-Camp people. After 10 years of basking in the sun next to Spectacle Pond, 10 years of Beach Parties, and 10 years of crazy, funny, sporty, creative Interest Groups, I'm pretty sure my mom still doesn't know what Spectacle Pond, Beach Party or Interest Groups are.
Just writing this brings back Hayward memories stronger than an army. I can still taste the Overnight s'mores, still feel the squishy bottom of the lake beneath my feet, still smell the sunscreen that I wore as a second skin. I think that is what is so amazing about Camp. Hayward left a permanent tattoo on my brain and even more so in my heart.
But, for those of us who have been lucky enough to spend parts of our summers at Camp Burgess & Hayward, we know that it is a place unlike any other. Camp is where you can be your best self, where you can break out of your shell, where you can show the world (and, more importantly, yourself) that you are amazing. I'm someone who likes to look forward, to plan for the future. Each week, each month, each school year is simply time spent waiting until I can get back to Camp. As someone who is always trying to prepare for what's ahead, it's tough knowing that the best times of my life are mostly behind me. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
“After all, once a Hayward Girl, always a Hayward Girl.” No matter how many weeks, months, years pass, I will still hear the chant of the Pathfinders song as clearly as if another Hayward Girl was screaming it in my ear. So, although the lake’s refreshing water has dried from our hair, and our summer tans have faded, Camp memories will sing in our minds as loud as our middinner cheers and chants. After all, once a Hayward Girl, always a Hayward Girl.
WHAT’S YOUR BH STORY? Send us your submissions for the next issue of the Spectacle!
Camp has made me the person I am, and made me proud to be that person. It will always be my favorite place in the world. 5
THANKS TO A NEIGHBOR by Asa Gallagher Living and working in the same place for long stretches of time, as many camp directors do, can slowly develop a sense of how a space connects with the area outside its boundaries. Having spent the last five years here, I have expanded my own mental map that links Camp Burgess with hundreds of locations around the globe – staff from Hungary, campers from Spain, airports in the UK, the Atlantic, the canal we all cross to get here, homes of alumni, beaches, theaters, hiking trails. A vast web of places that all have the imprint of this camp as part of their own story.
“We often don’t see that some of the best connections are right at our doorstep.” And then there are our neighbors, the few families who live on beautiful Stowe Road. We often don’t see that some of the best connections are right at our doorstep. The very first home off our property belongs to a sweet lady named Priscilla. She’s been connected with camp her whole life. She grew up on these grounds in the mid 1900’s as various members of her family worked to turn this land into a camp. She worked at Hayward in its founding summer and has helped camp in many ways since. She belongs to a small group of past camp staff/family who still reside in Sandwich. I see them around town and listen to their stories of old. Priscilla is a grand story teller. I brought the summer staff to her house one night to meet her. She recalled the history of camp in her own special way for almost two hours. Her tales were epic and scary and lovely and intimate. She held nothing back and our staff was transfixed. In the end of the summer she wrote our staff a letter about the character and will it takes to succeed in working with kids. Mostly, she thanked them for acting as great stewards to this camp. She is quite a lady. She helped set the tone for another great summer and for that I give her many thanks. And there she still resides for another year on the corner of Triangle Pond, informally representing camp as she travels the area, building connections each day between here and the world outside.
FRESH FROM THE FARM by Tara Laidlaw The garden beds may be slowing down, but there’s something big sprouting at Burgess Farm this winter! Thanks to a generous grant from Y-USA, we are building a beautiful, traditional post-and -beam barn to complement the existing farm facilities. The barn will give us much-needed space for livestock and feed storage, allowing us to offer a broader range of farm-based learning opportunities to our campers and students. As we develop these new programs, we will use traditional agricultural technologies as a focal point for STEM (and STEAM) activities and projects. We have already connected with the Cape Cod Regional STEM Network and plan to attend the Massachusetts STEM Summit for further inspiration, guidance, and networking as the farm’s STEM programs begin to take shape. The barn is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2016, just in time for the beginning of the spring outdoor education season.
SHOUT OUT TO THE 2015 HAYWARD STAFF By Jessie Williams Thank you to the ninety-five incredible women, who came together to create the 2015 Camp Hayward staff. They were from all over the globe: Australia, Czech Republic, England, Hungary, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, and the US, including six states: Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Kansas. Their passion for their work is obvious in all that they do. As a director, summer can be a very busy time, but working with these ladies makes it fun. I can walk out of my office and have a dance party with the maintenance girls as they clean up the bathrooms, be read my fortune by an entire cabin, splash around at beach party with the resource staff, laugh with the nurses, and get called by the kitchen staff telling me it’s my favorite meal for dinner. Thank you all so much, you make it great!
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT OE Guru Turned Trip Leader: Jim DiCenzo Where are you from…and what was your childhood like? I grew up in a typical New England town in the Connecticut suburbs and spent most of my childhood playing sports and riding my bike around my neighborhood. What life experiences prepared you to become a Guru and to work at Camp? Growing up, I worked at a day camp every summer. I started as a CIT and then worked 3 summers as a Counselor and another 3 as an Instructor on the low ropes course and climbing wall some. After college, I studied and lived abroad in Italy for almost 18 months, which was an amazing life experience to immerse myself in another country and explore my Sicilian roots. What has being an Outdoor Education Guru at Camp taught you? I have learned a lot about how different personalities can come together to accomplish great things. I enjoy seeing the growth in individuals and I always aim to inspire visitors to observe and appreciate nature and think about life on a deeper level. I have learned to appreciate the diverse backgrounds which shape our life experiences. What are your favorite outdoor activities? I love riding my bike, hiking and exploring in the woods, playing soccer, golf, bonfires, and of course, grillin’ & chillin’. Can you recommend a book that you’ve recently read? I recently read a childhood classic called Where the Red Fern Grows which is moving novel about the bond between a young boy and his hounds. This summer I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I am now onto the third book in the series which is a very exciting and layered story. Who would win in a showdown between Batman and Spiderman? Why? Definitely Batman. He has more resources and gadgets like the Batmobile and of course, Alfred. What did you have for breakfast? Bacon, egg and cheese on a toasted bagel. I am also a big fan of peanut butter on toasted multi-grain bread. Are you excited about being a Trip Leader on the Ski & Snowboard Adventure? I am super excited about being a Trip Leader for the chance to meet and work with the teens on the trip. I am certain we are going to have some exciting adventures and learn some important life skills along the way! I love the opportunity to share and spread knowledge and learn from others too. Who was your favorite Spice Girl? I was a fan of Beckham when he was at Man United and Real Madrid so I would say Posh because nothing goes together quite like Posh and Becks.
OE STAFF UPDATE by Kerri Sadoff The end of October marks a major milestone in the 2015 Outdoor Education (OE) season: the large majority of our seasonal staff depart our Cape Cod oasis. Some will cross the country seeking winter adventure in the mountains, others embark on international exploration. A handful will continue the quest for finding meaningful work with youth in the outdoors. We are so grateful for eight months with all twenty of the bright, hardworking, enthusiastic people who have contributed their energy into keeping our OE programs, property, and community thriving this year. We could not do what we do without them and we feel very lucky to have shared a successful season with people we enjoy and respect. We have not even two weeks to grieve their absence before our 2016 Spring OE applications will be hitting the presses. Keep a look out for the job posting and consider spreading the word to friends or family you think would do well working as an instructor with our residential experiential education program. No education or science background required; just a great attitude, solid work ethic, and desire to work closely with youth facilitating outdoor science classes and teambuilding initiatives. Our comprehensive training prepares our staff for a dynamic season that aims to strengthen the relationship our incoming groups have with nature, each other and themselves.
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WINTER SKI & SNOWBOARD February 14-19, 2016 — $750 Each year, Camp Burgess & Hayward hosts a February Vacation Ski & Snowboard Trip, offering teens aged 12-17 the opportunity to head to the mountains of New Hampshire for a week of cold weather fun. Participants enjoy an array of winter activities, including skiing or snowboarding, ice skating, snow tubing, and enjoying Cranmore’s outdoor Mountain Adventure Park. For 2016, we have amped up the adventure by adding an educational dog sledding tour to our itinerary. Our friends at Valley Snow Dogz will introduce teens to the fascinating sport of dog sledding and allow them some time to get to know the canine team prior to heading out for an exhilarating ride! Check out this video Space for the February Vacation Ski & Snowboard Trip is limited. To learn more and to register, please click here
TEEN SERVICE WEEKEND MAY 6-8, 2016 $100 This weekend is an excellent blend of amusement and community-building. Service opportunities throughout the weekend are varied and may include planting, raking, weeding, clearing and restoring forest trails, mulching, sign-making, painting, and tidying the cabins for the summer. Along with the sprucing up of camp, we have a space that always needs some tender loving care–our farm, where there are many ways to contribute to the development of this gorgeous plot of land.
Photo Credit: http://www.valleysnowdogz.com/
APRIL VACATION CAMP April 17-22, 2016 — $495 Missing camp? Bored during vacation? Join us at Camp Burgess & Hayward during your school break for a week of fun, laughter and friendship. Participate in traditional camp activities, such as the climbing tower, waterfront fun, sports, arts and crafts, media, evening all-camps, and a whole lot of camp spirit. We will also embark on off-site trips to some fantastic Cape Cod locations! Learn more here!
When we’re not occupied with beautifying camp, we’ll be able to swim, boat, toast a marshmallow or two, and just have a blast! We have a fun-filled schedule of activities led by our experienced and dynamic staff.
Learn more here!
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Save the date for our 4th Annual “First Dip” Sunday, April 17, 2016 - Cookout to follow! All proceeds go directly toward sending kids to Camp!
UPCOMING EVENTS Open Houses: March 20, April 10, May 15, 1 – 4 pm Annual “First Dip”: April 17 Co-ed April Vacation Camp: April 17 – 22 Teen Service Weekend: May 6–8
Visit campburgessandhayward.com for event
BURGESS & HAYWARD ROAD CREW We’re off and running with another year of the Burgess and Hayward Road Crew. The Road Crew is a year-round community service group that brings our summer campers and staff together for meaningful volunteer opportunities around Eastern Massachusetts. We had our first event on October 24th at the Hoxie Center in Sagamore, MA. A local grassroots effort has begun to help restore this old abandoned school and transform it into a center for arts, science, culture and education. It is a site that is very special to the surrounding residents, with a long and unique history on Cape Cod. Nine campers and one parent joined us to help support this worthy cause by running games and craft projects at their annual harvest festival. The event raised much needed funds and support for the project. We had a lot of fun playing with over two hundred children and their parents. Great job Road Crew members!
Ultimate Summer Camp Experience for Adults/Alumni Reunion: May 7 Family Camp: May 28 – 30, September 3-5 Summer Camp & Teen Adventure Trips: June 26 – August 26
Ssssssay hello to our newest animal ambassador: a beautiful corn snake! Zea Mays (named for the vegetable corn) is a veteran of many reptile education programs and she is settling in beautifully to her new home in the farm director’s office. She will serve as a live teaching resource during our outdoor education programs, illustrating the amazing adaptations common to all snakes and (hopefully) teaching visitors that snakes aren’t always super-scary! 9
Dear Camp Burgess and Hayward, My son, Brett Murphy has attended the past 2 summers at Camp Burgess, he is hoping to attend as a CIT this coming summer (he already has his application in) and is ANXIOUSLY waiting to hear. Words cannot begin to describe what Camp Burgess has done for Brett, he is right in his element when he is there. Camp has given him so much confidence, self assurance, built up his self esteem and given him so much happiness. He has built great friendships with counselors, staff and fellow Campers. He literally talks about Camp everyday and how he can't wait for Camp to start up again. Brett has been taking guitar and keyboard lessons for many years now. At Camp, he does music as well and he is part of the band while there.
CAMP’S WISH LIST Believe it or not, there are various household and recreational items we can use around Camp to support our programming…
For anyone who is thinking of sending a child to Camp, Burgess and Hayward has been a wonderful experience, and it has been life changing for Brett…. Sincerely, Kellie Murphy
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LOST ALUMNI! We are working hard to locate and reconnect with our “lost” alumni! If you are in contact with alumni from your generation, please direct them here, to register with the BH Alumni Association!
CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ALL OF THE SOUTH SHORE YMCA LOCATIONS, HERE!
GET IN ON THE CAMP CONVERSATION …
As a charitable and sustainable organization, we do everything we can to reuse, re-purpose and recycle supplies, as we strive to leave a lighter footprint on our Camp, in our community, and in the world. Perhaps we can put some of your unwanted, lightlyused items to good use! Before you throw anything out during your Spring cleaning this year, please view our wish list, and consider donating your items to Camp…
Check out Camp’s wish list, here!
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