Reunion Banquet a Success!

Thank you everyone who came out to The Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion Banquet!  It was a time of connecting with Birch Bay Ranch alumni, family and friends.  Everyone enjoyed spending time together, sleigh rides, and a wonder turkey dinner feast!

This event, and others like it, are intended to connect with and engage with Birch Bay Ranch Alumni.  We are building a  "Birch Bay Ranch Alumni Club" to ensure this rich community is nurtured, staying connected and is aware of any opportunities to become more involved with Birch Bay Ranch and it's ongoing ministry.  Volunteering around the Ranch, helping to raise awareness for BBR in your neighbourhood and attending fundraising events are all opportunities for alumni to stay involved.

If you missed the banquet, please plan on joining us at future events including the Bands n' Bids Fundraiser this spring (dates to be announced) and the Birch Bay Ranch 50th Anniversary celebration at the end of August.  If you are not yet on our mailing list you can sign up here.

Updates from Birch Bay Ranch

• Welcome our new Board of Directors!  Birch Bay Ranch is so excited to welcome our brand new Board of Directors!  This new board is made up of talented, skilled and knowledgeable people who are passionate about Birch Bay Ranch and it's ministry.  They have already been put to work and are doing a great job moving Birch Bay towards a successful and fruitful future.  Thank you!  
• New cabins!  At long last, Birch Bay Ranch is finally getting new cabins!  Thanks to the generosity of several donors and additional funding from grants, the Ranch plans on putting up two new cabin buildings near the current boys dorms.  Each building will have two levels with two cabins on the main level with a bathroom and staff rooms located upstairs.
• Riding arena is operational!  The indoor riding arena opened for business in 2015.  Birch Bay Ranch is offering winter riding lessons to the community and groups and has already started to generate a revenue stream from this new facility.  We are excited for the opportunity the new indoor riding arena offers the Ranch and our community!
• 50th Anniversary Celebration Event!  Birch Bay Ranch has been operating as a summer camp ministry for 50 years!  To celebrate, we are holding a massive event on August 27-28th at Birch Bay Ranch.  We hope to have live entertainment, will be running our activities, enjoying great food and a time of fellowship and celebrating all that the Lord has provided His Ranch!

For more information about what is happening at Birch Bay Ranch, you can visit the website at www.birchbayranch.com.  You can also LIKE their Facebook Page.

Photos from the BBR Reunion Banquet:

Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion Banquet

You're Invited to the 

Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion Banquet!

Join us on Saturday, January 9th, 2016 for the Annual Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Reunion Banquet.  This is an opportunity for Birch Bay Ranch Alumni to connect with old friends, make new ones and learn about the positive future of Birch Bay.   There will be delicious Christmas treats, sleigh rides, full turkey dinner, updates on BBR and a grand prize draw!

Admission is by donation!  Suggested donation is $15/person.

 

Schedule

3:00PM Arrival:  Sip hot coffee or hot chocolate  in the Main Lodge, fully decorated for Christmas!

3:30-5:00PM Sleigh Rides:  Bundle up and enjoy a two-horse open sleighride through the countryside.

5:00PM Banquet Dinner:     Enjoy a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings plus a decadent dessert table.

6:00PM:  Learn the latest updates from Birch Bay Ranch and prize giveaways!

Register before December 15th, 2015 and you'll be entered to win an amazing early-bird grand prize! 

You can register online by filling or the form below or by emailing birchbayranch@gmail.com

Fill out my online form.

HTML Forms powered by Wufoo.

Family Fun Day - at Birch Bay Ranch

It's that time of year again - the world is green, the sun is hot, and memories of summer camp seem to come flooding back. Ahhh what you wouldn't give for just another taste of camp life at Birch Bay Ranch...

Well, what are you doing next weekend?

Birch Bay Ranch is having their annual Family Fun Day on June 6, 2015 between 2pm and 6pm. It's the perfect time to take a mini-road trip to the country and satisfy your thirst for camp fun and adventure (and - spoiler alert - it's for a good cause!).

The ropes course will be open for anyone ages 8 and up to do some rock climbing, ziplining, rapelling, and all of those other fun activities you remember doing as a kid/staff, and depending on when you were last out, maybe there are some new ones you haven't tried yet! The little ones (kids 8 and under) will be able to have a blast with pony rides and bouncy castles, and there will be hayrides and a delicious barbecue available for the whole family to enjoy.

This year's Family Fun Day also involves a momentous feature - the unveiling of the brand new and fully operational indoor riding arena! Snacks and refreshments will be available inside, so definitely take this opportunity to celebrate with everyone at the ranch on the opening of this new building!

Cost for the day is $20/car or $10/individual, and the money goes towards sending kids to camp that may not have otherwise been able to go - certainly a worthy cause that any of us whose lives have been touched by camp can appreciate.

We hope you'll be able to make it out - we'd love to see as many followers of the Heart of Birch Bay Ranch as possible on property to support Birch Bay Ranch on June 6th!

DETAILS

---

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2015
Time: 2pm - 6pm
Address: Birch Bay Ranch, 51505 Range Road 215, Sherwood Park
Cost: $20/car or $10/individual - with proceeds going towards sending kids to camp
More information: www.birchbayranch.com/FamilyFunDay

---

Important Update on the Future of Birch Bay Ranch

Dear friends,

It is with thankful and happy hearts that we write to share with you the latest news about the future of Birch Bay Ranch.

If you're already planning on attending tomorrow's Prayer Walk at the Ranch at 2pm, we look forward to seeing you there. If you weren't sure you'd be able to attend, we hope you'll find a way -- tomorrow's Prayer Walk will truly be a Praise Walk, as we have much to praise God for!

On Wednesday, May 28th, Birch Bay Ranch's current board of directors (which, to remind you, is comprised of the same nine individuals as the board of North Pointe Community Church) met to approve a new set of bylaws for the Birch Bay Ranch Association. Among other things, these updated bylaws address what we've considered the most crucial issue in governance that threatened to stifle the Ranch's ministry: that the Birch Bay Ranch Association needs a new board that is completely separate from the North Pointe Community Church Board.

The new bylaws will allow a brand new board to be appointed to serve in Birch Bay Ranch's best interests, which is amazing news in light of the struggles the Ranch has gone through over the past year. Certainly, this is something to praise the Lord for! From certain closure, to arguably unfair potential land deals, to a hiatus from discussing the issue at all -- we've now arrived at a solution that will see the work of Birch Bay Ranch carry on into the future, and that will allow North Pointe Community Church to begin the process of letting go. We think this is what's right for everyone involved, and we applaud the board for making this important decision.

The new board will be appointed by the Deacons of North Pointe Community Church, but they will take suggestions and criteria for potential members from the leadership at Birch Bay Ranch. They want to see a passionate, impactful board for this ministry, and so do we! There are so many people who are passionate about camp ministry, have a heart for the work at the Ranch, and have the skills and impact necessary to make a true difference for the Birch Bay Ranch Association. We can't wait for them to get together!

We want to thank you, the Heart of Birch Bay Ranch, for everything you've done for the Ranch this past year. Whether you shared your stories with this blog, attended our alumni events, came to one of BBR's fundraisers, liked our Facebook page or followed us on Twitter, we have appreciated every one of you and are so grateful for your passion for this ministry. We are also so thankful that you've included Birch Bay Ranch in your prayers.

So we hope that you will join us on tomorrow's Praise Walk! We'll be walking through the property, covering each area in prayer, blessing this summer's staff and future campers, and praising the Lord for his faithfulness in this situation, and for continuing to pour out his blessings over Birch Bay Ranch!

Please stay in touch with us as we bring you updates on Birch Bay Ranch, invite you to alumni and supporter events, and continue to share with you the incredible impact that Birch Bay Ranch has had on so many lives.

Birch Bay Ranch has a heart, and it's beating strong. You are the Heart of Birch Bay Ranch!

Spring Prayer Walk

When:  Sunday, June 1st at 2:00 PM.
Where:  Birch Bay Ranch (51505 Range Road 215, Sherwood Park)
Why:  To pray for Birch Bay Ranch

With summer camp approaching the Heart of Birch Bay Ranch would like to invite you to join us on Sunday, June 1st for a day of prayer and fellowship at Birch Bay Ranch.  We will be walking around the property praying for the ministry, staff, buildings, facilities, activities, the Board of Directors and the future of Birch Bay Ranch. It's also a great opportunity to re-connect with alumni and friends who all share the same passion for this ministry.
 
The first Heart of Birch Bay Ranch Prayer Walk took place last fall.  It was well attended by staff, volunteers, alumni and supporters of the ranch.  We lifted BBR to the Lord, had an amazing time of prayer and re-connecting with friends, old and new.  We are looking forward to this upcoming prayer walk.

Please join us on June 1st at 2:00PM!