More Than Just a Summer Job

After going through some very hurtful experiences at the hands of church, I never thought that I would let myself become so attached to any place with such a tight knit Christian community. Summer 2012 was my first year coming out to Birch Bay Ranch to be staff and being part of the four month staff at Birch Bay Ranch, my love and passion for children quickly led me to being the head counsellor of the youngest cabin (Cabin 1). I personally don't know why the female staff weren't fighting for the position :P

My passion for animals is another reason I chose to work at Birch Bay, being part of the horse staff has been so much fun. I've had the opportunity to bring my family out to ride the horses as well. (The photo below is of me and my sister riding Bandit and Legacy into back pasture.)

I found myself being very cautious about creating bonds with the staff at Birch Bay Ranch, because my experience has taught me that things are usually too good to be true. But after the first few weeks I just couldn't hold myself back anymore. After only my first summer at Birch Bay I found myself feeling very much part of the Birch Bay Ranch Family. When I see my future, I see myself continuing to finish my Primary Education Degree in the next three years and spending my springs and summers at Birch Bay. By the time that Spring 2013 rolled around, I was just aching to get back to Birch Bay.

Birch Bay has become my primary Christian community, although I do attend a church regularly - the community at my church has NOTHING on the community I've found at Birch Bay Ranch. I got so many amazing opportunities at Birch Bay: Summer 2012 - I got to play the lead guitar basically all summer. Summer 2013: I was part of the core horse staff and got the really neat opportunity to lead Cabin's 1 and 2 TOGETHER in the Cedar Lodge. Yes together. I slept in Cedar Lodge for 5 weeks with 24 eight year olds all sleeping on camping cots in one big room. I was not sure what to expect, but the outcome was fantastic. The girls LOVED it - it turned out to be just one big slumber party all summer! 

 

I have been so blessed to work (if you can call it that) at a place like Birch Bay Ranch, I've seen the sheer terror in kids eyes when they drop out of the Burma Zip-line backwards! I've led trail rides where the kids are just singing praise songs to God while plodding along on their horses. I've had W.A.G. times in the evening where I literally had to get the kids to stop sharing their stories about how God has helped them because it's bedtime! This past week (Teen Camp #2) I had 4 girls in Cabin 1 rededicate themselves to Jesus. I've had the opportunity to figure out how to get 24 kids to shower at Main Lodge after campfire and then make the trek back up to Cedar. (it took almost 2 hours the first time!) I've had girls begging to get me to wake them up early so that they could come and help catch and brush the horses! 

My experience at junior camp has been far and wide. During one of the weeks in Summer 2013, I would sit down in the fireplace area to wait for the meal to get started and literally the second I even looked like I was going to sit down.. *POW* girls tackling me every which way! I would lay down in the fireplace area after a hard day and again, *POW* children sitting on my back and just wanting to be close to me! 

Teaching the campers that come to camp about Jesus is such an honour to me, and I think it would be such a shame to let such an amazing ministry fade away. I pray that the Holy Spirit will change the hearts and minds of the people governing the committee that will be making a final decision about the future of my second home, Birch Bay Ranch.

Becky Parsons