Birocapedia - User contributions [en]

Canoeing

2011-05-05T01:47:24Z

Rolaydz:

[[File:2009-07-30 IMG 6228.JPG|thumb|Canoeing on the [[Crooked River]]]]

Canoeing is one of the most traditional activities at Birch Rock. Aside from being an important part of the daily activity offerings, the skills learned in canoeing are essential to successful and fun canoeing [[trips]].

Through the early 1990's, the canoes at Birch Rock were of traditional wood and canvas construction. One of these is still at camp, hung below the porch of the lodge. Through the 1990's the fleet of canoes was replaced with more modern canoes for use at camp.

The canoeing badges are: the Penobscot, Abanaki, and Passamaquadi.

From the 1992 Canoeing Report in the Biroca Blast written by Justin Ingold

Picture this, if you can... a calm morning. No, strike calm, we are talking serene. Peaceful. Beautiful. Now wait a second. Let that sink in... Got that? Alright, now add four young, eager to learn, men to the picture. They are paddling quietly across this lake (McWain). Can you see the mist? Can you hear the loons? This is how my mornings started. This is what kept my clock ticking.
YOU HAVE GOT TO DIG CANOEING!

What can I say? What can I do to get the image across? Poetry? Maybe a song? We had fun. Ask the boys. Ask Cyrus Gorman or Thomas Joyce, both of whom showed up EVERY DAY to eventually get their second canoeing badge (Abnaki). Ask Tristan Grew, Shawn Edwards, Jamie Grantham, Bret Ingold, Jo Takase, or Lenza Latendress, all of whom battled the elements with only their first canoeing badge in their sights.
THESE BOYS WERE DEDICATED!

Rain, wind, hail (but not lightning, right boys?). They saw it all.
What draws someone to canoeing? Propelling a canvas boat through the water, close enough to see it, but not to feel its magestic grasp envelope your sun haggled body. I think it has something to do with instinct. People have been doing it for years. I accept it. Ask questions later. For the time being, follow your bliss (or do whatever "floats your boat").
Canoeing has a lot to do with the natural flow of energy that circulates throughout the universe... I'm sorry. I've go to stop. Activity reports are not supposed to mention energy flows in any application to the universe. I'm in too deep.
I love canoeing.
It is a part of me.

This year, the boys previously mentioned did a wonderful job. They proved their knowledge of the sport to a tee. (Not tea, the drink, but tee, like tee-shirt or golf tee.) (Golf tee's are spelled T...E...E, aren't they?) (Give me a break. I teach canoeing, not golf) (Not to bag on golf. I'm sure it can be fun too. But not on a lake.)

Everyone should try canoeing sometime. I can't promise that you'll love it, but you have to respect it. You'll probably respect it more than you respect me after you have plowed through much of this report.

I would like to end with a quote. I don't know who said it, but it is appropriate.
"Life is what you make of it."

PADDLE HARD
GET PLENTY OF REST
and
HOLD YOUR HEADS UP HIGH

Love,
Justin

Talk:Main Page

2010-04-10T03:55:11Z

Rolaydz: /* Windsurfing */ new section

I (Harry) made the main page protected from edits because the syntax of the table is so complex it even confuses me whenever I try to edit it. If you want to suggest a featured article, featured picture, or featured fact section then you can click the + tab at the top of this page and leave a comment.

== Windsurfing ==

Ron says: main page indicates that windsurfing started in1984. Scott Timothy was the first windsurfing counselor in 1984.

== Windsurfing ==

Ron says: main page indicates that windsurfing started in1986. Scott Timothy was the first windsurfing counselor in 1984.

Talk:Main Page

2010-04-10T03:54:39Z

Rolaydz: /* Windsurfing */ new section

Albert Bryan

2009-03-12T16:26:14Z

Rolaydz:

[[image:Albert1980.jpg|thumb|Albert Bryan still at the stove 1980]]
In 1929, "Chief" Brewster recruited the remarkable Albert Bryan from the Country Day School. Albert was to be the camp's cook for the next 54 summers. Albert was Jamaican by birth, with a stutter that was never an impediment to him; his wide grin and greeting "M-M-M-Monsieur!" were unforgettable, as were his legendary brownies, popovers and other treats. Campers and neighbors alike remember him as the owner of a succession of spotless Chevrolet convertibles in which he squired female acquaintances on his days off. Evenings in camp he frequented the tennis court, playing an excellent game and remarking "S-S-S-Sorry!" (but not very) after making and expecially adept point.

Albert's legendary brownies were so good that many were asking for his brownie recipe long after his departure in 1982.

Some of Albert's other unforgettable recipes that are no longer part of the camp menu - Eggs a la Goldenrod, Welsh Rarebit, and Salmon Loaf. These will not be missed.

==This Legend Was Around For Many Decades==
<gallery>
image:Albert20.jpg|Albert carving outside during his first summer 1929
image:Albert30.jpg|Albert cooking in the 1930s
image:Albert40.jpg|Albert after serving lunch 1940s
image:Albert50.jpg|Albert serving lunch 1950s
image:Albert60.jpg|A little cake for Chief & Onie 1960s
image:Albert70.jpg|Albert in his whites 1979
image:Albert80.jpg|Albert's still working in the kitchen 1981
image:Albert80s.jpg|Albert in his last summer 1982
</gallery>

[[Category:People]]

Catwalks

2009-02-11T11:57:49Z

Rolaydz:

[[image:Catwalks.jpg|thumb|Swim Area 2008]]
The catwalks are the floating docks in the swim area that span off the main dock. The catwalks have been formed in a few different ways over the years. In the early years they formed a large "L" to create one cradle but at some point camp changed them to a "T" to define two cradles and the deep water sections of the swim area. Over the early years, when it was in the "L" form, the boys had worked away all of the branches, sticks, muck, etc, but when it was changed into a "T" suddenly camp had one cradle that was nice and sandy and another side that was full of leaves and sticks. This cradle, to the left of the main dock, was called the "muck" cradle by many campers for years but is slowly transforming into a nice cradle like the one on the right of the main dock. During [[General Swim]], the staff stand on the catwalks to supervise the campers.

For many years, the catwalks were carried into place by the staff at the beginning of the summer and then hauled out at the end. Now a backhoe is used. During the winter, the catwalks are stored near the pump house and [[Injun Joe's]] and are installed in the early summer using a backhoe to lift them into the water. The staff float them into place and attach them to each other and to the main dock using bars and eye bolts.

The current catwalks were built before the summer of 1991. Prior to '91, the catwalks were a few feet shorter than those currently in use. As a result, the cradles are now larger than they were. In addition, the raft is further from the catwalks now compared to the 20th century. Campers used to attempt to swim underwater from the raft to the catwalks. Waterfront Director, Jerry Curry, could swim underwater from the raft all the way to shore - an unthinkable feat today. One of the tougher contests of the Water Carnival was to dive from the raft to the bottom in an attempt to collect mussels. The raft is in deeper water now so this would be much more difficult.

Birch Rock will be seeing new catwalks and docks soon.

[[Image:WaterfrontSwim.jpg|A different type of catwalk set-up]]

Cabin 8

2009-01-09T16:52:53Z

Rolaydz:

Cabin 8 is the last cabin in lower camp. It is usually occupied by the oldest campers in [[lower camp]] but it sometimes holds senior campers where there are too many for just [[Pete's Palace]] to hold. In fact, it was built as the original [[senior camper]] cabin before [[Pete's Palace]] was turned into the senior camper cabin. It is the closest cabin to the waterfront so the counselor in cabin 8 is usually the [[waterfront director]]. Something that distinguishes the cabin from the rest of the cabins in lower camp is that it has a porch on the side of it facing the water. The porch was added by two senior campers as part of a season-long project in the early 1990s.

One of the enduring features of Cabin 8 used to be the large white pine tree that was located approximately 10 feet outside the front of the cabin. Because of the long walk to the lower wash house, the tree was affectionately dubbed "pee tree" and was used accordingly. Pee tree, perhaps because of its years of use as an ad hoc latrine, developed an alarming lean that threatened to fell it directly on Cabin 8. "Pee Tree's Revenge" was a growing concern until the tree was taken down in the 1990's.

In the 1980's campers in Cabin 8 teamed up with fellow campers from Cabin 7 to create a miniature golf course that ran parallel to and then across the small brook that flows down the hill past the two cabins and into Lake McWain.

Omar's

2008-12-28T19:45:51Z

Rolaydz:

[[Image:Map.jpg|thumb|Omar's is labeled as the recycling shop on the Birch Rock map]]
Omar's cabin is located on the path that runs past the office and into [[upper camp]]. The building is currently used as a [[staff cabin]], although this is just the most recent use of the building.

In the 1980s and the early half of the 1990s, the building was known as the "Upper Shop." The upper shop held the power tools for the [[woodshop]] program and was used primarily by [[Donn Munn]] and the maintenance staff. By the late 1990s the woodshop program was not being offered as a regular [[activity]]. The building was used for tool and equipment storage and other assorted small projects such as working on the [[plaques]].

When the museum was converted to its current incarnation as the woodshop, the upper shop became the recycling building. The summer after [[Owl's Perch]] was constructed as a camper [[cabin]], the upper shop was converted to a staff cabin for the [[Head Counselor]]. During the conversion, the floor and walls were painted, many old shelves were removed, the building was wired with phone lines, and the power was updated. Since 2001, the cabin has been known as "Omar's" in acknowledgment of the contributions of [[Omar Moxcey]] to Birch Rock.

Baseball

2008-10-05T12:19:35Z

Rolaydz: New page: Baseball The Baseball activity strives to instruct Birch Rockers on the finer points of America’s pastime. Whether the camper is a rookie to the game or a veteran of his local little l...

Baseball

The Baseball activity strives to instruct Birch Rockers on the finer points of America’s pastime. Whether the camper is a rookie to the game or a veteran of his local little league team, he can always learn something from the Baseball Gods of BRC. The field, located at the entrance to the camp, slopes noticeably from third to first prompting many to say that “If you can handle a ground ball on this field, you can play anywhere.”

Most activity periods begin with some stretching and warm ups. Next, we focus on working towards the parts of the baseball badges – proper fielding, throwing, hitting, etc. When there is a sufficient number of campers signed up for the activity (a rarity when camp was smaller), an intra-squad game is played. Eager participation is more important than skill in these games. Those boys who are inattentive may be forced to run a lap around the apple tree in right field. Should a camper be hit by a pitch or sharply hit ground ball, he is instructed to take his base and wear the bruise as a badge of honor throughout the rest of the camp day.

Famous Moments in Birch Rock Baseball History

• In the 1970s, counselor Hub Burton, a future minor league baseball announcer, would keep a running commentary throughout each period of baseball. On hot days, he would claim that the hill was, “Hotter than Busch Stadium in July.”
• In 1981, counselor Dick Snyder, a Towson State University pitcher, threw a baseball through one of the boards on the backstop.
• In 1981, the Birch Rock team beat Camp Skylemar on the road at Camp Skylemar.
• In 1984, the Birch Rock team played the local Harrison boys team, who had recently won the local Little League championship. Birch Rock lost 2-0 with pitcher David J. giving up only one hit, a two-run home run.
• In 1985, the basepaths were dug out by hand in an attempt to create a more recognizable diamond. This development backfired when many campers twisted ankles on the uneven surface.
• In 1986, Seth B. broke the Spalding Mushroom, the biggest bat ever used at Birch Rock, with one mighty swing.
• From 1984-1994, the camper with the most enthusiasm for the game was awarded a blue mitt called the Joe B. Mitt, named after the camper who had left the mitt at camp in 1983.

Talk:Director

2008-09-27T14:28:09Z

Rolaydz: Early 90s

== Early 90s ==

I think we've got this wrong, Seve. Matt Bagger was director in 1990. I think Bob van Dyk was director in both '91 and '92. Not sure how to prove that.

User talk:Harry

2008-09-11T10:56:09Z

Rolaydz:

mine is b1howard1@yahoo.com

harry my dad has his ranger but i dont think it is the same i think it might have just been the trip ranger but he has it and he should it to me

Harry, not really sure how to use "User Talk" - This thing is awesome. Great work. I'll try to add history where I can - Ron Mattson.
P.S. - The Biroca Blast probably does say "Bequeaths." It said "Bequests" in the '90s. "Bequeath" is a verb, "bequest" is a noun. So you're right, but the Blast is wrong!

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2008-09-09T01:54:08Z

Rolaydz:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

Summer of...

'''1984 Facilitators of Fun'''
''This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer''

'''1985-1988 NO QUOTES'''
''With Ben gone, the idea was lost.''

'''1989 Making a Difference'''
''One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.''

'''1990 We're Just Not Kidding'''
''The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.''

'''1991 Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club'''
''This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.''

'''1992 A Sideshow'''
''The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.''

'''1993 Stay On Target'''
''This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.''

'''1994 Walking Your Own Mile'''
''This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.''

'''1995 Rising To A Higher Level'''
''This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.''

'''1996 Another Day, Another Badge'''
''During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.''

'''1997 United We Stand'''
''Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.''

'''1998 Shake A Hand, Make A Friend'''
''This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.''

'''1999 Greatest Camp In The World'''
''During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.''

'''2000 Chief Ain't Running No Country Club'''
''We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.''

'''2001 Building New Legends'''
''When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."''

'''2002 Run With The Pack'''
''As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.''

'''2003 Make It Happen'''
''During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.''

'''2004 Running Like a Well Oiled Machine'''
''There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.''

'''2005 Another Day Not Touched Yet'''
''In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.''

'''2006 Green is the Tertiary Color'''
''The staff wanted to green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.''

'''2007 Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba'''
''Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.''

'''2008 This Phoenix Will Soar'''
''Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.''

Biroca Blast

2008-09-09T01:37:04Z

Rolaydz:

Biroca Blast is a year book for Birch Rock. It is put together by the [[senior campers]]. In it there are cabin reports from the first and second session, trip reports from the first and second session, activity reports, and bequeaths. Cabin reports are summaries of each cabin including the names of the campers, the counselors, the campers' favorite activities, and so forth. Trip reports are reports on all of the [[trips]] done by all of the cabins that year. There are also special trip reports like a report for the [[Arcadia Garden Party]] and [[beach day]]. Cabin reports and trip reports are written by the cabins themselves. Activity reports are written by the counselor or counselors of each activity. At the end of the Biroca there are bequests which are little fake gifts given to each person at camp. Birocas are given out at the end of the year, and they are mailed to first session campers.
==Biroca Blast covers==
<gallery>
Image:1999 biroca blast.jpg|1999
Image:2000 biroca blast.jpg|2000
Image:2001 biroca blast.jpg|2001
Image:2002 biroca blast.jpg|2002
Image:2003 biroca blast.jpg|2003
Image:2004 biroca blast.jpg|2004
Image:2005 biroca blast.jpg|2005
Image:2006 biroca blast.jpg|2006
Image:2007 biroca blast.jpg|2007
</gallery>

Arcadia Garden Party

2008-09-09T01:18:27Z

Rolaydz: New page: The girls from Camp Arcadia invite several camps to their campus in Casco, ME, for their annual dance usually during the first session. Birch Rock sends a group of handsome brutes from up...

The girls from Camp Arcadia invite several camps to their campus in Casco, ME, for their annual dance usually during the first session. Birch Rock sends a group of handsome brutes from upper camp. Each Birch Rocker displays his camp colors proudly tucked and usually douses himself in fancy cologne beforehand. Once the team gets the lay of the land, boys will quickly scout out the finest babes with whom to rock the dance floor. Everyone usually gets a chance to glide with at least one partner.

Some Birch Rockers have been known to form close bonds with their Arcadia counterparts. Some have even become pen pals.

Biroca Blast

2008-09-09T01:02:56Z

Rolaydz:

Biroca Blast is a year book for Birch Rock. It is put together by the [[senior campers]]. In it there are cabin reports from the first and second session, trip reports from the first and second session, activity reports, and bequeaths. Cabin reports are summaries of each cabin including the names of the campers, the counselors, the campers' favorite activities, and so forth. Trip reports are reports on all of the [[trips]] done by all of the cabins that year. There are also special trip reports like a report for the [[Arcadia Garden Party]] and [[beach day]]. Cabin reports and trip reports are written by the cabins them selfs. Activity reports are written by the counselor or counselors of each activity. At the end of the Biroca there are bequeaths which are little fake gifts given to each person at camp. Birocas are given out at the end of the year and they are mailed to first session campers.
==Biroca Blast covers==
<gallery>
Image:1999 biroca blast.jpg|1999
Image:2000 biroca blast.jpg|2000
Image:2001 biroca blast.jpg|2001
Image:2002 biroca blast.jpg|2002
Image:2003 biroca blast.jpg|2003
Image:2004 biroca blast.jpg|2004
Image:2005 biroca blast.jpg|2005
Image:2006 biroca blast.jpg|2006
Image:2007 biroca blast.jpg|2007
</gallery>

Seal

2008-09-09T00:53:50Z

Rolaydz:

<div style="float: right;">
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="color:#D3D3D3;" width="205"
|-
|
{|
|-
|
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="44.188359" lon="-70.679169" type="satellite" zoom="13" width="200" height="300" selector="no" controls="small">
(B) 44.174571, -70.668697, Waziyatah
(C) 44.191703, -70.675501, Birch Rock Camp
6#B2758BC5
(A) 44.199928, -70.681057
Seal Rock
44.195067, -70.681143
44.190759, -70.679941
44.184543, -70.675735
44.179619, -70.67153
44.17414, -70.668697
44.174448, -70.668526
</googlemap>
|-
|
The blue line shows the path of a Seal.
|}
|}
</div>
The seal is a long distance swim that consists of swimming the length of the lake. It is more than two times as long as the loon, being more or less two miles long. It is also almost never done in [[lower camp]], and sometimes even senior campers do not get to do it. A camper needs to show real swimming skill to be allowed to swim the seal. Seals are often swum by a camper the year before his [[senior camper]] year, this usually means that he will swim his whale next summer.
==Swimming a Seal==
A camper is sometimes woken up before the morning bell to swim his seal. At flag pole the whole camp may be able to see the row boat out in the middle of the lake with a tiny head bobbing behind it. Most of the time he starts his seal on the aptly named Seal Rock, a submerged rock at one end of the lake. The camper and two counselors row out to the rock to start. Seal Rock is about ten feet tall and goes up to less than a foot below the surface. The camper then gets out of the boat and stands on the rock from which he will dive. The counselors in the boat count down and the camper dives into the water. Seals take anywhere from one to two hours. The actual distance of the seal may vary depending on how straight the boat goes for the camper to follow. After the camper gets to Wazyatah the counselors row him back to camp. At the next meal the camper will get a standing [[Birch Rock cheer]] and at the end of the summer, a Seal badge. The camper's name will also be put up on the [[plaques]] for the year under 'seals' along with his time.

There is a lot of variation when it comes to how a camper swims his seal. He may swim from Seal Rock to Wazyatah (the camp at the other end of the lake) or in the opposite direction. He may swim early in the morning or in the afternoon. It could be just him swimming or a whole group.
==Facts==
Jean Hard was the first person from Birch Rock to do a Seal.
==See also==
*[[Duck]]
*[[Loon]]
*[[Whale]]
*[[Long distance swims]]
[[Category:Swimming]]

Birch Rock Cheer

2008-09-09T00:49:35Z

Rolaydz:

The Birch Rock cheer is a way the camp honors people for accomplishing a hard task. It is often done by the entire camp shouting it at the top of their voices starting on cue. [[Long distance swims]] from the [[Loon]] to the [[Whale]] are recognized with Birch Rock cheers. The Staff and Kitchen's accomplishments are also recognized with a cheer, as well as places we visit.
==How to do a Birch Rock cheer==
:''B-I-R-C-H-R-O-C-K
:''Ra ra ra
:''Yeah [whomever you are cheering for]
==See also==
*[[Camp songs]]

Pete's Palace

2008-09-08T11:06:42Z

Rolaydz:

Pete's Palace is a [[cabin]] in [[upper camp]] for the oldest campers at camp, the [[senior camper|senior campers]]. It was built in 1982 in honor of [[Pete Haas]], a counselor who died in a helicopter crash. Originally it was a cabin for [[CIT|CITs]] and is still where the CIT plaques are put up. The cabin has a screened in porch where the counselor sleeps and a main room for the campers. It is the second newest cabin at camp, Owl's Perch was built after it.

Rangeley Lakes

2008-09-08T11:02:51Z

Rolaydz:

<div style="float: right;">
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="color:#D3D3D3;" width="355"
|-
|
{|
|-
|
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="44.897714" lon="-70.699768" type="terrain" zoom="10" width="350" height="325" selector="no" controls="small">
(C) 44.814967, -70.899582
Spaulding Cove
2#FFFF9000
(A) 45.014574, -70.851517
Put-in
45.00709, -70.848301
44.997137, -70.845898
44.985968, -70.829418
44.978197, -70.821865
44.978197, -70.809162
44.968725, -70.805386
44.949533, -70.802982
44.918423, -70.807102
44.902375, -70.816029
44.891431, -70.821522
44.882188, -70.834225
44.880485, -70.851734
44.875133, -70.857571
44.87343, -70.863407
44.871727, -70.879543
44.84447, -70.864437
44.824262, -70.870274
44.814764, -70.8895
44.809649, -70.900486
44.806239, -70.902546
44.798931, -70.901173
44.772615, -70.896709
44.766278, -70.877827
44.76189, -70.859287
44.755551, -70.849331
(B) 44.751854, -70.84362
Take-out
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The approximate path of the trip to Rangeley Lakes
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Rangeley Lakes is a canoeing trip that [[senior campers]] go on. The [[trip]] goes across multiple lakes but does not include the actual Rangeley Lake. It is called Rangeley Lakes because it is in the Rangeley Lakes Region. The first lake the trip goes on is Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Mooselookmeguntic is the Abenaki word for moose feeding place. At the other end of this lake from the starting point there is a dam called the Upper Dam which separates Mooselookmeguntic lake from Upper Richardson Lake. The waters of Mooselookmeguntic Lake flow into Upper Richardson Lake at this dam so when it was build it raised Mooselookmeguntic Lake's water level by 14 feet to a maximum depth of 139 feet. The area of Mooselookmeguntic Lake is about 25 square miles. The trip goes to the dam on the second day and portages across it into Upper Richardson Lake. Once on the other side of the dam the [[trip leader]] may decide to visit Cranberry Cove, a cove across the lake from the dam that is know for its wild cranberries and common moose sightings. The rest of the trip consists of canoeing all the way down to the end of Lower Richardson lake. The entire trip is four days and three nights long and goes across more than 30 miles.

Rangeley Lakes is infamous for something always going wrong on it. It is also well know for the Spaulding Cove incident in which a disoriented person said to the trip "This is Spaulding Cove... What are you looking for?"

Camp songs

2008-09-08T10:59:12Z

Rolaydz:

There are many traditional songs that are sung at Birch Rock. "Hit the Hay" is sung almost every evening, "Sunset Song" is sung after most [[Tree Talk|Tree Talks]], "Birch Rock Marching Song," "Chant of the Chesty Child," and "Semper Fidelis" are sung by lower camp in the 4th of July parade, and various songs are often sung when people need something to do. Some of them were written for Birch Rock and others that were adopted by the camp. There are a few songs that were completely forgotten up until recently. In 2006 2 forgotten songs were discovered and a booklet of all of the camp songs was published. The booklet contains 14 songs which are below.
==Alma Mater==
Alma Mater is sung to the tune of America the Beautiful

:''By waters blue there stood a rock
:''In ages long ago.
:''It bore the summer's rain and
:''The winter's frost and snow.
:''upon its top a seed took root ,
:''And flourished there and grew
:''To be the graceful tree we know,
:''The birch of silver hue.

:''The rock is our foundation stone
:''For building character strong;
:''Endurance, firmness, strength it gives,
:''With which to combat wrong.
:''No selfish thought, no tempting
:''Can make us say or do
:''The things we learned at Birch Rock Camp
:''Were not both kind and true.

:''And from the rock the birch grows up,
:''So beautiful, white and tall
:''That beauty is truth; truth, beauty
:''It teaches us one and all.
:''Its whiteness stands for purity
:''Of thought and word and deed.
:''Its upward growth, toward heaven above
:''Our hearts should ever lead.

:''As on though life we wend out way,
:''Out path will pleasanter be,
:''Because the days at Birch Rock
:''Shall live in memory.
:''The work, the play, the fellowship,
:''The spirit strong and true,
:''Recall to us our trusting place;
:''So Birch Rock, here's to you.

==Help the Other Fellow==
A song written for Birch Rock, named after the camp motto. It is an other forgotten song that know one knows exactly how to sing.

:''At Birch Rock Camp,
:''On Lake McWain,
:''"Help the Other Fellow"
:''Shall be our aim.
:''When you can't have your way,
:''Don't sulk and fret:
:''Doing things for other people is better yet.

==Semper Fidelis==
This song is often sung by lower camp at the 4th of July parade in Waterford. It one of the more well known songs, all veterans of Birch Rock probably know it. It is upbeat and the "We'll say so!" parts are shouted.

:''B-I-R-C-H-R-O-C-K Hey!
:''Birch Rock, oh Birch Rock
:''We'll sing to thee
:''Finest of camping spots,
:''Finest of company.

:''We'll say so!

:''Oft' we'll return to thee
:''Faithful we'll be.
:''Birch Rock, oh Birch Rock
:''For you and me!
==The Chant of the Chesty Child==
Another upbeat song. If Semper Fidelis is sung loudly, The Chant of the Chesty Child is sung quickly. Often it is sung multiple times, the first time slowly and the later times faster and faster. It is sung increasingly quickly until it becomes almost impossible to sing.

:''We are a bunch of intelligent boys
:''who like East Waterford, Maine
:''We'd rather spend our summers here
:''than any place else we can name.
:''We think our camp's the cat's meow,
:''we hate like sin to knock
:''But there is not another around like ye
:''olde Camp Birch Rock

:''Yeah boys, you said it!
:''Birch Rock! Sis-boom-bah!

:''Yeah, boys, we're for it!
:''We'll say we are!

:''We swim and carve and fish and shoot
:''And paddle canoes and row;
:''<nowiki>'Bout birds and minerals, trees and flowers</nowiki>
:''There's nothing we don't know.
:''We've roamed this region round about
:''On picnics that are grand
:''We are a happy, healthy, hustling, hopping, howling band! HEY!

==Birch Rock Marching Song==
Sung to the tune of the Marines' Hymn, this is an other popular song. Rangeley Lakes is a group of lakes in Maine that [[Pete's Palace]] often goes on a canoing [[trip]] to.

:''From the campfires by our cabins,
:''To the shores of Rangeley Lake,
:''We shall help the other fellow,
:''And good friendships we shall make.

:''We shall strive for truth and charity
:''And to everyone we'll claim,
:''We are proud to spend our summers,
:''On the shores of Lake McWain

==I Would Be True==
[[Image:Library.jpg|thumb|The library]]
I Would Be True is an old church hymn that Onie Brewster liked so she made it a camp song. The last line of the song "I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift" was made into a large plaque which is hung over the entrance to [[the library]].
:''I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
:''I would be pure, for there are those who care;
:''I would he strong, for there is much to suffer;
:''I would be brave, for there is much to dare,
:''I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

:''I would be friend, of all- the foe the friendless;
:''I would be giving, and forget the gift.
:''I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
:''I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
:''I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

==Desperado==
This classic summer camp song is sometimes acted out in front of the camp. Someone plays the desperado, a few campers play the "hoochy goochies" and a camper with a pillow in his shirt plays the big fat policeman.

:''There was a desperado from the wild and wooley west,
:''He went out to Chicago just to give the west a rest.
:''He wore a big sombrero and a gun beneath his vest;
:''And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop-WHOOP!

:''Chorus:
:''Big bold man was this desperado
:''From Cripple Creek way down in Colorado
:''And he Walked around just like a big tornado
:''And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop- WHOOP!

:''He went to Coney Island just to take in all the sights.
:''He saw the hoochy-goochies and the girls all dressed in tights.
:''He got so darn excited that he shot out all the lights.
:''And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop-WHOOP!

:''(Chorus)

:''A big fat policeman came a-walking on his beat.
:''He saw the desperado come a-waking down the street.
:''He grabed him by his whiskers and he grabbed him by his seat;
:''And put him where he could not give his warhoop.

:''(Chorus)
==The Crimson and the Gray==
This was a song that had been forgotten. No one knows the tune. It is named after the camp's primary and secondary color.

:''With crimson and gray for colors
:''Birch Rock Camp will sally forth.
:''whatever may betide us,
:''We are bound to show our worth.
:''Raise high our glorious banner!
:''May it fly for many a day!
:''Hats off every Birch Rock camper
:''For the crimson and the gray!

:''Birch Rock! (Repeat eight times)

:''All hail to the gray and crimson
:''Of the camp we love so well.
:''We are proud to wear its colors,
:''And its benefits to tell.
:''Long life to our camp so glorious!
:''May it thrive for many a day!
:''Hats off every Birch Rock camper,
:''To the crimson and the gray!
==This Land is Your Land==
This famous Woody Guthrie song is sung at Birch Rock. It is usually sung when evening activity is canceled due to rain so everyone sings songs in the lodge.

:''Chorus:
:''This land is your land, this land is my land,
:''From California to the New York island,
:''From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters,
:''This land was made for you and me.

:''As I went walking that ribbon of highway
:''I saw above me that endless skyway
:''I saw below me that golden valley,
:''This land was made for you can me.

:''(Chorus)

:''I've roamed and rambles and followed my footsteps
:''To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
:''And all around me a voice was sounding,
:''This land was made for you can me.

:''(Chorus)

:''When the sun come shining and I was strolling
:''And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
:''As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting
:''This land was made for you and me.

:''(Chorus)

:''This land is your land, this land is my land,
:''From Bonavista to Vancouver Island
:''From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lake waters
:''This land was made for you and me.
==Wannigan==
A wannigan was a crate used to carry food on canoing trips. There still are a few of them around camp.

:''W-A double N-I-G-A-N spells wannigan, wannigan,
:''That's the kind of thing you want to mortgage, mortgage
:''Just before you take it on a portage, portage,
:''W-A double N-I-G-A-N you see.

:''First you lift it,
:''Then you shift it,
:''Next you flop it,
:''Then you drop it -
:''And it's wannigan on me.
==Hiking Song==
A song that is rarely sung at Birch Rock any more, the tune is forgotten.
:''Hike, hike along the way,
:''Birch Rock campers happy.
:''We're out for fun today,
:''Stepping out so snappy,
:''We don't care where we're bound,
:''Nor how far we tramp;
:''Shout! Pass the word round -
:''We hail from Birch Rock Camp!

==Sunset Song==
[[Image:Sunset.jpg|thumb|A sunset over Lake McWain]]
This song is sung after most tree talks.
:''O'er the hills of sunset splendor
:''Dazzles every eye..
:''See the gray smoke from the campfire
:''Cross the crimson sky.
:''Thus another day has ended
:''We're glad we spent it here.
:''Where? At BIRCH ROCK CAMP!
:''Let your voices ring out
:''In a thundering sunset cheer.

==Hit the Hay==
Hit the hay is by far the most commonly sung song at Birch Rock because it is sung every night. At the end of tree talks it is sung twice after the Sunset Song.

:''Let's hit the hay, my hearties
:''For beds where we belong.
:''We've been having fun
:''that is fun;
:''We've been at it all day long.
:''Don't be afraid to yawn;
:''Yawn with all your might.
:''There's another day not touched yet
:''So to all a warm good night!

==Taps==
Taps has not been sung at Birch Rock for years. It is a classic summer camp song though and it was included in the song booklet so here it is.

:''Day is done, gone the sun
:''From the lake, from the hills,
:''From the sky;
:''All is well,
:''Safely rest,
:''Good night

:''Fading light, dims the sight,
:''And a star gems the sky,
:''Gleaming bright
:''From afar,
:''Drawing nigh,
:''Fall the night.

Orb

2008-09-07T14:46:13Z

Rolaydz:

Orb is an [[evening activity]] played at Birch Rock. To play it a big circle is made with pennies and everyone gets inside it. A hackey sack is tossed in the air and everyone tries to catch it as it comes down. The object of the game is to get the orb and throw it at some one to get him out. You can't move with the orb so you have to roll it on the ground and run after it to move around, and you can only do this three times. If the person you throw the orb at catches it then you get out. When you are out you sit on the ground and try to get the orb but you can't move around. If you are out and get the orb then you can try to throw it at someone so they get out and you get up. If you are out and you have the orb you can toss it to another person who is out; then if you throw the orb at some one both of you will get up. There are some variations on Orb, like a one with multiple hackey sacks in play and one where if you get out you are eliminated.

Orb was originally introduced to Birch Rock by Counselor Rob Christie in 1990.