Posted by: Logan Landry

It’s been an action-packed kickoff to the hundredth season at Biroca, so let’s take a moment to reflect on the “first week” at camp.

Opening Day arrived on Saturday with lights, cameras, and SO MUCH ACTION as Birch Rock kicked off its 100th season! Campers reunited with old friends, met new ones, found their cabins, met the counselors who will guide them through the summer ahead, and settled back into the rhythm of life on McWain. Naturally, there was only one proper way to launch the first evening activity of the season: a full-camp game of Quorum.

By Sunday morning, the bell was back in charge. That magical sound started slow and steady before racing into its familiar fever pitch, calling camp into motion for a day of activities. After a strong start around campus and a lively game of Cross-Camp Capture the Flag, the community gathered around the Birch Rock to introduce ourselves, ground ourselves, and remember a simple but important idea: keep your head where your feet are.

For the hundredth summer, our feet are here. Our heads are here. And the magic has officially begun.

The week brought rain, sunshine, friendly competition, laughter, badge work, a trip to the Presidential Range, and just enough camp weirdness to remind everyone that Birch Rock is fully awake again. Even when the weather tried to slow things down, the Bingo Hall was hopping with energy and epic prizes courtesy of the staff. The Leadership Campers volunteered themselves as Theo H.’s chariot for the day, Seth B. presented George C. with a hand-knitted 50th anniversary Ford F-Series truck tapestry, and rumor still has it that the Boston Celtics hat Pete gave away may have once been worn by Larry Bird himself!

Out on the tennis courts, Logan W. and Ziggy S. showed instructor Luis that they had what it takes to survive the hundredth season, taking him down in a hard-fought match. Aden R. knocked out his solo canoe portage, lugging a canoe all the way to the field and back. Campers began sharpening their skills and earning senior badges, proving early that this summer will not be short on determination.

Midweek brought one of those strange and entertaining Birch Rock celebrations: Half Christmas. There were half pieces of candy in cabins, half a Christmas tree planted in the Grove, and a dinner in the lodge featuring half a pot roast, with half the room wrapped in lights. Did we mention it was Half Christmas? Half-elves Crinkle and Twinkle, who bore a mysterious resemblance to Jack D. and Seth B., narrated half of a wonderful story and helped lead camp through one of the most unusual holidays on the Birch Rock calendar.

A Birch Rock legend also landed back at camp after traversing the Oregon Trail, not in a Conestoga wagon, but in an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft straight out of science fiction. Ryno shared his time, skills, and wisdom with the community, including a lesson with Ethan N. on one of the oldest outdoor skills around: making fire by friction. On a rainy day, Ethan managed to make smoke appear with a bow drill and the perfect top rock. If that is not a recipe for persistence, I don’t know what is.

Don’t forget Pizza Friday!

Trips also got back in the woods. Eagles Nest flew over to Poland (Maine), to visit the home of Poland Spring, while the Bears took on the Presidential Range. By the time Saturday arrived, camp was ready for a New York-themed campfire and one final burst of full-camp chaos. 

One week after Opening Day, Sunday gave us a chance to slow down, look back, and settle even deeper into camp life. In the morning, we gathered in the Grove to write letters home, so families should keep an eye on their mailboxes! There were plenty of stories to write about from a packed first week.

The Shower Barons hosted a jungle expedition, with steam rolling out of the Lodge as Lower Camp enjoyed nice warm showers. After a week of paddling, running, swimming, hiking, sailing, and playing, those showers were more than earned.

At Sunday Dinner, we learned a little more about what we call different meals. Did you know that dinner is the largest meal of the day, while supper is the last? At Birch Rock, Sunday Dinner is formal, and this week campers noticed a few extra ingredients added to the meal. More than ten staff members wore Decade Club vests over the typical Sunday uniform. Whispers quickly spread through the Lodge: who would be getting their vest and joining the ranks of Birch Rockers who have dedicated ten or more summers to the Rock?

That Birch Rocker was John “The Flanman” Flannery.

In his tenth summer at Birch Rock, we got to share just some of the reasons we love the Flanman so much. He dives deep into his passions and fandoms and shares them with others. He rocks it at the Boathouse, sails McWain like a pro, teaches some of the best strokes and games at instructional, welcomes Birch Rockers year-round, puts in the extra effort to attend bowling events, and runs an energetic cabin and meal as head waiter and so much more. He brings Birch Rock energy, enthusiasm, and just the right amount of friendly mischief.

John is loved by all who know him because he cares. He wants to get to know you, help you succeed, and make sure you have fun along the way.

Here’s to you, John. Thank you for all that you do and for how much you care. We love you, we do!

Now to the fun part, Geronimo! We played an epic game up on the field of both strategy and athleticism, breaking two teams into classes and fighting for control of each other’s flags. Black Elk and Red Wolves went round for round until a final game, where Julian M. was the last camper standing!

We wound down at the Birch Rock for Tree Talk, where we discussed what it means to be a gentleman and how each of us can do our part to be one.

The first week of the hundredth season gave us all the right ingredients: old friends, new cabinmates, strange traditions, warm meals, hard-earned victories, full-camp games, and a community learning how to thrive together. The Campers’ Cookbook has officially begun.

From the Campers’ Cookbook

Each week, campers will help write this guide through their own stories, advice, and field notes from cabin life. These are the first ingredients collected from Week One of the hundredth season.

Owls Perch

The Owls Perch crew was up at 6:30 sharp with Seth and Finn to begin training for the 4 on the Fourth, the four-mile race held on the Fourth of July. With the sun rising over camp, they ran two miles and started the summer with a little grit before breakfast.

Javi S. had a different kind of early-season triumph during Geronimo. Playing for the Red Wolves, Javi grabbed the flag twice and won the round both times for his team.

“Sorry Seth,” Javi said. “You might have led the Black Elk, but I had to win it for my team.”

Eagles Nest

Hunter S. offered one of the clearest recipes for adjusting to camp: set fun goals, push yourself toward them, and dive right into accomplishing something. He said that going after a goal can help campers settle in, work through homesickness, and feel connected to camp quickly.

He also shared some strong friendship advice: do not act like you are better than others, especially when making new friends. Listen, learn about them, and friendships will start to form fast.

Zig House

Rhodey V. shared an important piece of cabin wisdom: if you want more rounds, never ask. Be good, do not nag your counselor, and good things may happen. According to Rhodey, some of the most memorable moments happen during rounds, whether campers are chatting with buddies, reading, or playing cards.

He also had a very specific trip warning: never bring Magic cards on trips. They will get wet. He has seen it happen. Valuable cards and the Maine woods are not always a winning combination.

Dogpatch

George C. week began with a costume choice and somehow became cabin legend. For Bingo Night, he borrowed a white tank top from his counselor Kenny. Over time, the shirt became something between a costume piece, a mascot, and a mystery object of great importance.

George wore it on his trip, despite the usual trip-shirt wisdom, and claimed that Trip Leader John R., also known as RiverB, eventually treated it like a napkin when George was not wearing it. Back at camp, George snuck the tank top back on under a sweater, but RiverB caught the move quickly and sent him back for a clean shirt.

The shirt now hangs in Dogpatch for all to see.

Note from Kenny: “He took it! And RiverB didn’t use it as a napkin on the trip. It was all of them. But yes, it’s still hanging in Dogpatch.”

Tourmaline

Tourmaline’s favorite part of the week was Half Christmas, mostly because everything was cut in half. Sometimes it was an activity period or General Swim. There was even a Christmas tree in the lodge with only half its branches.

But the best part was waking up to candy in the cabin. Of course, it was not normal candy. Each piece had been cut in half.

Their lesson from the week: at Birch Rock, you never know what is going to happen, especially on special days like Half Christmas.

Eli Z. also shared his method for getting into the lake at general swim. The water can feel cold at first, unless it rains, when sometimes it feels warmer. Eli likes that the lake is nice and cool under the surface, with minnows to check out once you are in. His advice is simple: get your feet in, commit, and soon enough the water feels great.

Note from the show runners: We encourage the commitment, but don’t jump off the ladder!

Quartz

Jon B. reminded everyone that even veteran campers can feel a little homesick. Expecting it can help. Everyone has their own way of handling it, whether that means looking at pictures from home, keeping a stuffed animal nearby, or throwing themselves into badge work and camp activities.

His conclusion was simple: camp is awesome, and being part of everything is the best way to get pumped about it.

Graham F. had the opposite advice from Rhodey when it came to Magic cards: bring a deck, because it is awesome. Graham said the variety of decks at camp makes the game more fun, and he has loved playing his Rainbow deck against other campers. His deck may be weird, but at Birch Rock, weird can still have a very good time.

Aaron H. arrived at camp ready for a challenge. He said he was still figuring out who to talk to, but he already had one goal in mind: swimming his Loon. After swimming his Duck last year, Aaron wants to swim across and back as soon as possible.

“I’ll let you know how it goes next week,” he said.

Recipe of the Week: Getting Started

Ingredients:

  • One ringing bell
  • A few old friends
  • A few brand-new friends
  • One game of Quorum
  • Half a Christmas celebration
  • A handful of rain
  • A lot of pizza
  • One legendary visit from Ryno
  • The tenth year of The Flanman
  • Several cabins full of stories
  • More courage and caring than anyone realized they brought with them

Instructions:

Wake up when the bell rings. Learn the names of the people around you. Try something before you are completely sure you can do it. Laugh when camp gets strange. Help the other fellow. Keep your head where your feet are. Then wake up tomorrow and do it again.

Week One is complete, and the first pages of The Campers’ Cookbook have been written. The hundredth season is underway, and our names are already being carved into the reverent walls of the lodge at Biroca.

~Entry by JWhich

Best Bed: Alex Y.

Best Cabin: Zig House

Super Camper: Logan G.