BBR Reunited

Remember when we would stand in a puddle of dishwater, slamming trays of dishes into the sterilizer.   You soaked yourself with water when you sprayed inside of that metal bowl, but you only did that once before learning the art of deflection.

Remember when we could take the horses for a swim in the lake.  We would ride them down right beside the Main Lodge and sit on their backs as they swam up to the necks in the deep water. 

The Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion Banquet was a time of connecting with old friends, meeting new ones and remembering the years we spent at Birch Bay Ranch.  Among those who attended were past campers, staff, volunteers, and family friends.  



Attendees trickled in throughout the afternoon.  Every arrival was followed by smiles, laughter, enormous hugs, and all the things that come with seeing a dear friend after a long time apart.  The horse drawn sleigh picked up guests at the Main Lodge for a rides through back pasture.

After an afternoon of visiting we all sat down to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  The Main Lodge was still decorated for Christmas.  I could hear Birch Bay Ranch alumni from many years ago say “Remember when we used to put the coloured napkins in the cups like this for banquets?”  Those green and red napkins have been classing up our plastic camp cups for decades.

In the corner of the dining hall was the Donation Tree.  Guests could put a donation in a small, golden box and hang it on the tree like a decoration.  They could also write a prayer and tie it to the tree.  We are pleased to announce that the Donation Tree raised over $1400 for Birch Bay Ranch!

After the meal everyone congregated in the fireplace area for some good old fashioned camp fun.  After a series of door prizes were given away we played a round of “I Have a Pain”, a favourite Birch Bay Ranch improv. skit that truly has spanned over all generations of BBR’s existence.

“Mother, I have a pain.”

“You say it’s going to rain?”

“No, Mother.  I have a pain and I think I’m going to die.”

“You say it’s going to rain in the sky?”

“No.  I have a pain and I think I’m going to D....I....E.”

Gone are the days of ‘show more emotion’ or ‘western’ style of this skit.  Participants had to improvise with ‘gangster’, ‘old timey mystery’, and ‘Jamaican’ style.  Whole-hearted, full belly laughs came from both the audience and the performers.  Our hearts really were filled with joy.  

“I got to play a game of I Have a Pain with the people who I first saw playing it when I was itty bitty. I was feeling so blessed,” said Garret Fraess, the youngest participant of the skit (if you're not including the cameo appearance from 2 year old Sophie...).

After the skit, and a few more door prizes, the current Birch Bay Ranch staff were recognized for their hard work.  Information on the current land ownership/governance situation was shared, as well as a request for prayer.  It has been decided that those involved with Birch Bay Ranch will strive to run its programs and ministries to the very best of their ability, every day, envisioning a long and successful future for the ranch and its outreach to children in our community.  

We don’t know what the future holds for Birch Bay Ranch, but we do know that this summer the doors are open for summer camp.  In the summer of 2014 we will have the opportunity to tell 800 children about Jesus Christ and share His love with them.  If anything else, our efforts over this very difficult year has given us another opportunity to run a full season of summer camp and an opportunity to see lives change in both campers and the young staff who will be on property.  For this we give thanks to the Lord.

The people at the Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion banquet represented over four decades of Birch Bay Ranch staff and campers.  It was incredibly special to sit in a room of people of all ages and many different walks of life, and feel connected to every one of them.  We all have something in common.  An experience that changed our lives, that gave us life-long friends (and often our spouses), skills and abilities that took us into the next chapters of our lives, and most importantly, gave us the opportunity to meet and grow in our relationship with Jesus.  Shared passion is a very powerful thing, and to share a love and appreciation for this very special ministry is an incredible gift we are all thankful for. 

Thank you for attending.  We hope to have another Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Alumni event this year.  If you have suggestions or ideas for the event, please email them to birchbayranch@gmail.com.  

More photos from the event can be found at www.facebook.com/heartbirchbayranch