Loved Every Minute

Birch Bay Ranch is a little piece of heaven placed on earth for us to be reminded of God's glory and that we are not alone. 

Birch Bay Ranch is a place where kids can grow and be strengthened in their faith and build their character on a firm foundation. It is a place where adults can be kids again. The young and the old get to laugh together, cry together, sing together and praise God for the great and the simple things in life.

I became a christian at the age of 7 and the church that my family was attending had a children's program that had a challenge for any child to memorize certain verses of the Bible. If a child memorized the verses then he/she would win a week at Birch Bay Ranch. I studied and memorized and earned a free week at camp! It was such a great experience. That week I made new friends, learned new songs, rode a horse, and grew closer to God.

Many years later after a camping trip, some of my church friends said that they were going to be summer staff at Birch Bay Ranch. I knew that I wanted to be there too. For 3 summers I was a staff member there and loved every minute of it. Yes, every minute. From the children waking up early in the morning saying that they missed their parents and having to walk to Cedar Lodge to phone them, lining up for lunch and listening to the kids tell me about what adventures they had had that morning, stepping in horse poop and having children laugh at me as only children can do, comforting children with night terrors, children throwing up in the middle of the night and praying for God to heal them, to singing songs at the top of my lungs while my toes squished in the sand down at the campfire.

I remember going to the chapels when I had been a camper and then as a staff member helping to make those chapels just as great as they had been when I was a camper. I remember being afraid of horses and frankly most animals and then not only riding a horse and overcoming that fear, but leading trail rides and helping kids overcome their fears. Birch Bay Ranch has a way of revealing God to us and enabling us to show God to others. It is a place I will never forget.

Callista

Cornerstone of Character

Birch Bay Ranch is a very important place for me. While I myself was never a camper there, it was where my High School, Vimy Ridge Academy has held its Outdoor Pursuits camps for the better part of six years. It wasn’t until my friend and I heard they were looking for summer staff in 2009 did I first get involved with an organization that would change my life. As an individual who has served in the Canadian Forces and taught High School I have had a variety of life changing experiences, but getting involved with Birch Bay Ranch stands with many of them as one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my life.

At the time I was at the University of Alberta working towards my Education degree and like many students, was unsure if I was ready for all the challenges of teaching. Birch Bay gave me a place to reaffirm my calling as an educator. Not only was I able to give my time and abilities to this great place, but it gave me gifts in return: friends, laughs, stories, experiences, trials and knowing you were making a difference in a very real way in the lives of those campers.

Birch Bay Ranch has and always will be a place to experience positive life change and I will gladly stand and attest to this great and wonderful place to being a cornerstone of building my character.

Thomas Rogers

Birch Bay Ranch Goes to Mexico!

I have to say Birch Bay has changed my life and so many others. I am 28 years old and when I was young I was a camper at Birch Bay. When I was in high school I became a camp counsellor. I saw many drime performances done at Birch Bay that it touched my heart. Threw music and action it can change people's life's.

At my high school that year we where going on a mission trip to Mexico to share Gods love to the locals and an orphanage. I learned those drimes that I saw at Birch Bay and I shared them to my group and we performed them to 100's of people in Mexico.  Even though they did not speak English the music and the actions in the song, people where responding giving there life to the Lord.

We NEED Birch Bay Ranch to keep open and to do Gods work.

Thank you Birch Bay for changing my life and so many others.

Melody Fradsham

Complete Joy

Birch Bay Ranch is the most significant part of my life and heart. 

The last two years I've had the privilege and responsibility as program coordinator at BBR. At the ranch we have a unique opportunity to share the word of God in incredible ways. The stories shared already on this blog are a testament to that. 

A question that the staff are often challenged with is "what is a room full of Christians thankful for?" This word seems most fitting, "thankful". I am thankful for Birch Bay Ranch. I am thankful that it is God's ranch, I am thankful for the impact He has had on the lives of the campers, staff, volunteers and those who have entered through the ranch gates. I am thankful that He is good all the time. 

When I went through a difficult time that was not good for anyone involved I was left feeling unloved, hurt and abandoned by people I thought were suppose to always love me no matter what. Because of the many years spent at BBR and the experiences and relationships built there I knew that God is good and that His love is greater. I knew at BBR I would be safe and above all else be loved. 

I am so thankful to be a part of the change in people when they decide to give their lives to God. I've seen past campers and staff continue to grow in understanding and faith and become beautiful loving followers of Christ. Birch Bay Ranch is my home, where I find complete joy, and where I continue to experience Gods love in those who come to the ranch and in myself. 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  1 John 4:7

Jordan Lucas

A Message from South Korea

I went to Birch Bay Ranch in the summer 2005. I served children and kitchen as international staff from South Korea. It was so special experiences. I had a lot of memories. I can still remember that.

I believe Birch Bay Ranch is our future. And strongly, I believe that our future is kids. Our kids is our next generation. Birch Bay Ranch is the place to teach God's heart to children. It's very important!!  

I really hope to go to Birch Bay Ranch again to serve our kids.

Donald Byun