Ryan Massey
Ryan "Ryno" Massey has been a member of the BRC community since the summer of 2000. 2009 will be his 10th summer at Birch Rock. Over the years, Ryan has been a major player on campus. He was originally hired to teach art but by the end of his first summer he was very interested in Campcraft. Ryan has made the Campcraft activity one of our best and most popular. Ryan has also been the CIT director for many consecutive summers and is credited with training most of Birch Rock's current staff.
Early Years
Ryan and his twin Blake are both world travelers and Ryan can honestly say he has set foot on all seven continents. Ryan met a friend named Tyler Johnston at the Country Day school who was a long time Birch Rocker and thought Ryan would love the Rock. So just before the summer of 2000, Mike Mattson hired Ryan to be the camp's art counselor.
Staff Years
Summers of 2000-2001
Ryan showed up at camp determined to give his all to the art program. His plan was to focus on outdoor art and sculptures. Ryan enjoyed the art but seemed to be drawn to the Campcraft activity. He quickly developed a bond with one Mike "Don Miguel" Appicelli, and asked to be moved to the Campcraft area for the summer of 2001. Although Tyler Johnston did not return the following summer, Ryan was drawn in and sold on what Birch Rock is all about. Ryan learned much from Don Miguel and focused mostly on Knife Rights and Fire Rights for the children in '01.
| Year | Cabin | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Buzzard's Roost | Art instructor | First summer and only summer teaching an activity other than Campcraft |
| 2001 | Director's Cabin | Co-Director | Ran Camp with Rich Deering |
| 2002 | Director's Cabin | Camp Director | |
| 2003 | Director's Cabin | Camp Director | |
| 2004 | Director's Cabin | Camp Director | Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04 |
| 2005 | old Chief's Cabin | Camp Director | old Chief's built in winter '05 |
| 2006 | old Chief's Cabin | Camp Director | |
| 2007 | old Chief's Cabin | Camp Director | |
| 2008 | Lion's Den | Camp Director | old Chief's burned down in June '08 |
| 2009 | new Chief's Cabin | Camp Director | new Chief's built in winter '09 |
