Pilgrim Lodge Director's Log

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Italy was phenomenal.  There were three phases:  I was in Rome by myself for five days; then I flew to Budapest, Hungary where I met Deborah and visited with staff member Janos Meszar; Then, Deb and I returned to Italy and drove to Florence with a few stops along the way.  Deb stayed in Italy for her clergy program and I left.  But all that is documented by word and photo on the webpage I spent way too much time on.  You can view it here. 

Life before I left is a blur.  I know I barreled into the trip, packing the night before.  The State Youth Council's Fall Convention was just before I left.  It was really nice to see everyone.  Eric and I stayed in S-1 one last time for the season.  While I was away, Steve Jones managed the Fall Work Day which I am told went smashingly well, in spite of torrential rain.  In fact, Steve closed up the entire camp in the following weeks.  It's tight as a button.  Many thanks to my friend and colleague.  We are blessed to have him care so deeply about PL.

My first day returning after break was spent back on a plane.  I traveled to Mench Mill, a UCC camp in Pennsylvania for a three day program on the American Camp Association's (ACA) accreditation process.  The program was sponsored by the UCC's Outdoor Ministry Association for the benefit of UCC camps.  Have you ever had a project that seems prohibitively massive only to find that once you begin it is more manageable than you originally thought?  Kind of like a huge term paper.  You dread the process until you actually start it, then it's not so bad.  That's what I took away from this program.  Don't get me wrong.  It's a lot of work.  I will be counting on staff fellow staff members, OMC members and other PL friends for help.  Much of it is documentation of procedures we already practice at PL.

As I wrote to one who asked about it earlier this week, ACA accreditation is essentially a list of the camping industries 'best practices.' Many of the standards are already met at PL. Becoming accredited will help us in several ways: First, it will bring a professional edge to our practices and procedures without detracting from our mission. Next, it will mean that we are following the industry standards, so in case of legal trouble we can show that we have done due diligence concerning management and health and safety. Third, it will prepare us for the new onslaught of state regulations due out this Spring, many of which are predicated on ACA standards. Fourth, it will offer parents a level of security in choosing PL as camp for their child. If I were choosing a camp for Eric, I'd want it to be ACA accredited so I'd know that there was someone outside the local system keeping an eye on practices. I believe this is the right thing to do.

Of course the other thing occupying our time in the office is the 2007 camping season.  I'm just starting the brochure which I estimate out in mid-January.  There are a few other details to work out for the program and then I will put the schedule up on the web sometime this coming week. 

And of course believe it or not, it's time to think about summer staff.  I'm also working on a new staff application.  Keep a look out if you're interested or know of someone who would work well at PL.  Many of our beloved long serving staff members have come to a moving on point so this promises to be an exciting season. 

Many thanks to Karen in the PL office who spent many lonely weeks getting the PL annual appeal out and keeping things running.  I used to come back to stacks of mail and a week of return phone calls.  The transition back was quite easy this year thanks to her.  I hope you received an appeal letter and that you'll consider making a gift to PL.  I know there are many good things that need supporting.  Please include PL on your list of giving. Christmas kind of snuck up on me this year.  Still, there is time of focus on the coming of the divine into our everyday, ordinary lives.  I hope it so for you. 

Peace,

Bryan

Monday October 2, 2006

Golly September went fast.  Just a few more weeks of rental season and we close up shop for the winter.  I do hope you'll help out with that process at the Fall Work Day.  We really do count on help from volunteers.  If you're an  member, I'll see you soon at the SYC Fall Convention.  By the way, if you haven't seen the  SYC website lately, take a look. It's hot.

The labyrinth dedication was fun and meaningful.  The labyrinth is bringing a deep and grounding sense of the spirit to PL.   Woodfords church was there for the weekend and a lot of them showed up, which was nice since Jay Young is a member of that church and he did so much to make it happen.  The music was great.  You can get a copy of the song Jay wrote on the labyrinth webpage as well as look at photos from the event.  Also, you can take a look at a few of the amazing night shots Gil Healy took.

As a board member of to the Maine Youth Camping Association (MYCA) I learned of a new set of camping regulations being cooked up.  The state is changing the regulations from 12 pages to 44.  MYCA is working with the state to help them understand the realities of the regulations they're imposing and it sounds like they're doing a great job.  This may ultimately be a good thing since the old regs were somewhat vague.  It comes at a good time because, now that our anniversary plans are over, I am taking American Camping Association accreditation back off the burner.  It is efficient to do both at once.  What is not so good is the new 'restaurant tax' the the state is looking to impose on camps.  Essentially we have to estimate how much of our tuition is food related and pay 7% to the government.   The sentiment on MYCA is that this will pass for the 2007 season although we are committed to fighting it even after its passed.  This could be a serious issue.  I'll keep you posted.

Annual meeting was a hoot. I always enjoy seeing everyone.  I made a PL store pitch, got a better location and ended up with about 4 times the usual amount of sales.  We also showed a slideshow that Gil Healy put together to introduce the labyrinth.  I enjoy seeing all my PL friends that are there and feeling the vibrancy of the conference.  I was proud of us at that meeting.  I know there may be some controversy, but that usually is a sign that we're dealing with issues that matter.  I'm proud to be part of such a church. 

After the OMC meeting on October 14, I will be meeting with all available PL nurses so we can see how we can improve the quality of our nursing care and make things better for nurses as well.  The OMC is hard at work putting the 2007 season together and soon I'll be cranking out a new camp brochure.  I am going to be off for the month of November (including a 'frequent flyer' trip to Rome to follow up on the study I did in Turkey two years ago) so I need to get hopping.  I'm also working on the annual appeal letter.  I hope when you get yours, you'll consider offering a donation to PL.  We really do count on that coming in at the end of the year.

Enjoy the beauty that is autumn in New England,

Peace,

Bryan

Monday, September 4, 2006  Labor Day                     HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

As I sit in my summer office, a few remaining family campers are hugging in the lodge and lugging their belongings to the car while the remnant of staff is busy cleaning the whole place one more time.  As I let my mind wash over the images from the summer, several items bubble to the surface along with the joy and privilege of doing this work: the anniversary, the labyrinth, and the truly incredible camp staff.

The 50th anniversary is a happy memory.  It kind of took on a life of its own.  About four years ago I realized the anniversary would soon be upon us, and my initial thought was that we could use that occasion as a jumping off point for a campaign to bring PL to the next level.  By 'next level' I intended to repair and maintain the site and perhaps enhance some of our program areas.  That led to a series of meetings, committees, professional studies and the long hard work of many people.  The luncheon in December was originally designed to be the kick off event of the campaign.  As it happens, the wheels of process ground incredibly slowly and we simply were not ready by then.  Working in an organization as amorphous as the conference sometimes makes process a challenge.  So even by June 10, I did not feel we had coalesced a vision and plan for a major campaign.  Not wanting to go off half-cocked, the party became just that: celebration for the sake of honoring the gift that PL is, and has been, to so many.  The committee worked many long hours, with great spirit and dedication.  One of my favorite moments was a few days before the event when Peter Godfrey presented me with the huge steel logo that we hung over the road as people entered and later moved to a permanent home in the lodge.  I was truly agog with delight. The build-up to the event was exciting.  Much like putting on a wedding in your back yard, there were moments of panic and disbelief, such as when the landscaper decided to remove the overgrown bushes in front of the farmhouse with a piece of machinery on the 8th day of pouring rain, and ended up removing the front lawn as well.  Still, much was done that had been on the list a long time.  We made a little garden out of the area between the lodge and cabin 1 that had always bugged me as looking unkempt; we painted the front of the lodge, put in a new parking area, decked the place with flowers, finished the final floor in the lodge, cleaned all the bug junk from the gable ends of buildings, and generally repaired things and polished the site for company.  Kudos to Maintenance super Steve Jones for getting behind the project and pulling it off.  Thanks Steve, and Artie and Darin as well.  Our office administrator was there every step of the way ask well, thank Karen! I enjoyed working on the archival timeline.  The next timeline will have to have a note in the spring of 2006 "Bryan spends way too much time working on the timeline."  But it was fun and I enjoyed watching people peruse the end result.  I was very gratified that so many of the people associated with the former Balbrook Lodge showed up to the party.  A favorite moment was when we honored Mr. Carl Barnes, esteemed ice-cream maker, and he seemed truly touched by our affection.  Once the morning gathering was over and I focused on the people who arrived I really enjoyed walking the site and hearing the stories and soaking it in. By now I assume you've read the pages I wrote up on the event.    If not... have fun. 

One of the exciting events planned for June 10th was the dedication of the new Pilgrim Lodge Labyrinth.  Because of the deluge that was Spring 2006, the labyrinth was, at the point, the Pilgrim Lodge Big Pile of Mud, so we postponed that activity.  The labyrinth too is written up on its own page so I won't repeat it here  What I do want to do is recount the affect the completed labyrinth has had on the community here.  Since we finished in late July, I have had person after person come to me with wide eyes telling me how powerful the space is.  It is a unique site. It feels very connected to the earth, organic to the woods in which it is situated.  It has an ancient feel to it, as if one has stumbled upon a previously unknown Stonehenge. Children and teens seem to understand our pleas to honor the site holy ground.  You can watch as they begin the walk, and calm down by the second course.  Several people have come back to camp just to walk the path. I think it has touched a deep spiritual longing that is present our lives, our churches our communities and our culture.  The introspection, and outer symbolism of a journey toward God, our center, and the re-emerging into the world is a metaphor for the entire purpose of Outdoor Ministries.  Many are touched by the knowledge that the stones, both above and below the ground are the old cabin chimneys.  One person even told me of sensing the presence of a relative who has passed, based on feeling of walking amongst the stones resurrected from cabins where she used to counsel.  It's a powerful addition to PL and we've only begun to realize its impact on our community.  Plan to come on up to PL on Saturday, September 9th at 1 pm for the dedication, it's going to be fun. I am humbled by the many hours that went into its construction and the continued loyalty it has engendered as people arrive just to work on maintaining it.  God is still speaking.

With the labyrinth well underway, and the anniversary behind us, it was time to plunge into the 51st season of Pilgrim Lodge.  It's a common misconception that this was our 50th year.  The day after your 50th birthday, you will (or did) begin your 51st year.  It's like that whole 'when really is the millennium?' thing a few years back.  Season 51 was one to remember.  There really are no words to adequaately describe this staff, but I'll try: dedicated, cheerful, helpful, energetic, efficient, fun and in-tune with the mission of the camp.  It was a privilege to serve with them.  If I may change tenses for a moment: Thank you to each one of you.  This summer seemed to slip by faster than any other and I'm sure it was the way you made things move so smoothly.  I really will remember with great affection this particular collection of souls.   I've told the many people who have stopped me to sing your praises that I intended to freeze-dry the whole lot of you to be re-constituted next summer.  Ok, back to third person; Instead of safely stored away, they are scattered to the four winds.  Emily is in Africa, Sarah is on her way to Mexico, Sam is in Guatemala, Artie and Liz are preparing to leave for Honduras, Janos and Gabriella will in few weeks return to Hungary.  The rest are off to college or work closer to home, but the spirit of PL Staff '06 is being spread around the globe.

There are other significant achievements of this summer that should not be overshadowed by the above. Rocky Ackyrod, former staff member and dean of the first Sr. High Island Camp spend many days, and nights over on the Manitou Island building us a new beehive style brick oven.  During that amazing camp, they used the oven to cook just about everything.  I myself enjoyed a fine personal size pizza cooked up in the new oven.  And Jack, we'll keep the new canoe racks, thanks for working that problem out!  Also new to PL is an additional walking trail.  Darin was our Nature Education Director for the third year in a row and spent many hours alone, and with help, creating the new "Upper ZigZag" trail. The first section takes off resurrecting the old forgotten orange trail but soon veers off to explore the little known South Eastern quadrant of Pilgrim Lodge.  It loops around and rejoins the yellow trail.  The "Lower ZigZag is marked and ready for development next summer.  Thank Darin, I'll give the bear your best.  And speaking of Darin, he was able, through his high society connections, to book us "Compost Posse" all summer featuring Compost Dude and Noh'wasta whose hip-hop entertained us all summer and who managed to bring the message of compost, and the folly of food wasting to us all.  Check out "My Space" and search for "Compost Posse"

My gratitude goes out to every counselor and dean. They are the heart of the program who work everyday with our wonderful campers.  Kudos also to our phenomenal group of nurses that show up, set up shop and do their thing for a week and make it seem effortless.

Here are a few of the images that come to mind from summer 2006:

• My son falling in love with fishing

• Asking the Sr.Highers to be mindful of their "My Space" and "Facebook" sites for the benefit of PL and having them really understand why.

• "Jack and the Cheerios"

• The gift of a summer family vacation

• The camper that asked me to come to worship to hear his poem

• Thank you's and affirmations

• The Rimkunas Family singing their amazing oom-pah thing

• All Around Me and their two days of NO FOOD WASTE!

• Sitting with Scott on the porch of S-1

• Wrestling with Jack into the water

• Wondering how I ever functioned previously without the help of Liz

• Many well-packed cones

• Testing Darci's fine work

• Deborah offering a drumming workshop for Middler Spirit

• Indiana Flanders finding the remains of an old car in the woods with a 1931 license plate

• The infectious little-boy energy and joy that Jay and Gil brought to the labyrinth project

• Visiting with my dear friend Val Tutson at PL for the Youth Event

• The 'oh so cute' ant picnic party of Faith Foundations and their ant garden

• Exploring ant lions with Eric and Allie

• Staring in wonder at the amazing, efficiency, and passion of Sarah Bigney

• The sound of rain on the roof of the cabin the morning of Day at Camp.  Again.

• Sitting on the granite bench and watching the sunset at PL.

Of course there are so many more but now it's time to let it all coalesce.

Thank you to everyone for a phenomenal summer.

And on to rental season.

Bryan

Saturday, May 27, 2006                                                                                   click on photos for enlargements

I've not been blogging lately because it's become so trendy.  Not buying it are you?  Well, let's do a re-cap of what I've been up to since the last entry and perhaps you will understand.