I had gone to the ranch as a camper for a few years when I was about 8 & 9 years old, but I hadn't had much interaction since. I applied, was accepted and started work in May of 2010. I felt so accepted, so valued, so cared for. I was shocked at how the director and administrator went above and beyond to treat their hardworking staff. It only made me want to work harder for them. When I went through personal struggles with friends or in relationships, they were always there to speak with, guide me and pray for me. The staff at Birch Bay Ranch discipled me and I grew in my faith like never before at camp - they really know what discipleship is at the core.
After my two years at Birch Bay I got married and my husband and I spent the next summer at a very prestigious camp in British Columbia called RockRidge Canyon. It is a Young Life Camp of Canada and is one of the highest class camps in all of Canada. I found myself missing the way I was valued and appreciated for all my hard hours of work, like I was at Birch Bay Ranch. It's not that RockRidge was really doing anything "wrong", but I missed being treated to a special meal, getting a free T-Shirt or a free pair of pants. I missed being able to go to the "Tuck Shop" and get a little snack or drink free of charge. I realized there was so many things that Birch Bay Ranch really did "right" that the other camps I had served at were not doing. I found myself making suggestions to the camp director at RockRidge to change what he was doing to be more like Birch Bay Ranch. It all seemed a little crazy in my mind, that a fairly small, humble camp in Alberta held my heart more than a multi-million dollar first class camping facility in beautiful British Columbia.
Since being away from Birch Bay, I have always been welcomed back with open arms. Birch Bay Ranch gave me the opportunity to take a young girl of 15 horse back riding every week out at the Ranch through the winter of 2011-2012. Like all 15 year olds, she really needed someone to give her positive one on one attention and the chance to participate in an activity that fostered responsibility in her life. She ended up buying a horse from the ranch and because of their willingness to let me bring her out riding, her life will never be the same. The camp leadership constantly says "YES!" to the opportunity to make a positive difference in someones life, no matter what that looks like.
This summer, I was brought my friend (who is from China) to the ranch to experience an afternoon "Birch Bay Ranch" style. She loved it so much. All the staff were so kind to her and gave her opportunities that she would otherwise NEVER have had. She said it was the best day she had had all summer. Afterwards, she told me that when she has kids, she wants to send them to Birch Bay Ranch. She is not a believer, but the fact that she would be open to sending her children to a Christian camp, just because she had such a wonderful experience over a couple of hours is amazing to me.
There is no camp or rental facility that I can recommend to any one more than Birch Bay Ranch. I constantly speak about it in the highest regard, because it is run at an incredibly high standard by absolutely incredible people. Birch Bay Ranch is unlike any place I have ever been, from being a camper to staffing all my experiences there have been nothing short of amazing. God is working through the leadership and staff today, tomorrow and always. I would like to say that as a young Christian, there was no better place I could be to grow in my faith and become the woman I am today. Birch Bay Ranch has shaped my life forever, and for that I am eternally grateful.
God has a plan for this place.
Amanda Olsen
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