We taught swim lessons to first-time lake swimmers, foraged for wild blueberries, baked communion bread, built dubious rafts, sang our hearts out at the Rock, toasted (and burned) many marshmallows, and wondered, together, what it means to be "Salt & Light" in this world; what the call of Christian community could mean for us and for the world around us.

There's no place like camp at BCH and there are so many folks to thank for making our 2023 summer happen- our faithful chaplains, diligent nurse, tireless core counselors, energetic junior counselors, families and guardians who trusted us with their children, churches who prayed without ceasing, the BCH community who supported us by purchasing items from our Wishlist, the office for youth and young adult ministries in the Diocese of Massachusetts for making sure the counselors had all the snacks they needed, and our very own Board of Trustees camp subcommittee for volunteering to chaperone Junior Counselor weekend activities. It truly does take a village.

We'll miss all our campers but look forward to staying connected and to welcoming you back next summer!

Alongside daily workshops, he also set up "chill zones" outside the dining hall where campers could go to take sensory breaks throughout the day and ask for a check-in if they needed one. Stocked with sensory toys and posters about feelings identification, the "chill zones" became a regular touchpoint for many campers throughout the week.

This pilot program, built into the regular camp day, was a great success with campers and staff alike, and it is our hope to continue to expand on the mental health programming moving into the future, both as an ongoing part of the summer camp program, as well as by offering virtual and in-person touchpoints throughout the year.

Family Camp

This year at family camp, we welcomed families from all three of our partner dioceses: Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Together, we worshiped daily, swam in the lake, celebrated International Night where BCH international counselors taught games, dances, and made tasty treats from their home countries, explored creatures that live and swim in Otter Lake, celebrated our talents at a Talent Optional Variety Show, and rang in the 4th of July with fireworks just up the road in Greenfield.

Parents and guardians gathered with our Mental Health advocate to talk about anxiety in children and families, and every evening, we all gathered in Shaw Lodge for fellowship and snacks, and a time to process the day thus far. We had a great week together and are looking forward to continuing to build this community next summer!

Campus Updates

Forest Management:

The tree clean-up continues from the combination of late winter storms and a very wet spring and summer. We've lost a significant number of trees along the lane, around the ropes courses, and throughout our trail systems. Clean-up is slow but steady and will continue into the Fall. We've begun partnering with University of New Hampshire Extension to put together a long-term forest management plan that takes into account the changing climate and the programmatic and safety needs of our community life here at BCH. One of the first parts of the plan is likely to entail proactively removing more diseased Red Pines from sections of the forest directly surrounding buildings and program areas.

Internet:

Fiber is coming! This summer we've begun the process of updating the internet systems around campus. Fiber installation is happening and systems will be updated over the course of the next six weeks, allowing significantly more bandwidth for guest groups whose online needs continue to grow. We're hopeful this infrastructure update will be a welcome one to all who come to BCH!

Otter Lake:

Last year, BCH led the way in treating Otter Lake for invasive Milfoil, an extremely aggressive, non-native water weed that, left untreated, takes over the lake ecosystem, quickly growing to block sunlight and smother native plants and fish. We partnered with the state of New Hampshire by procuring a 50% grant to do the first treatment. The good news is that the treatment was more successful than expected, given the extensive reality of the spread. Initially, the long-term plan was expected to be management, but given the success of the first treatment, we now believe eradication is possible. This Fall, we've applied for the grant from the state again in order to treat the remaining milfoil a second time. This grant would, once again, cover 50% of the treatment cost. BCH is deeply invested in tending to the land and waters we occupy and our hope is to continue to move forward with the long-term eradication plan.

Otter Lake:

Last year, BCH led the way in treating Otter Lake for invasive Milfoil, an extremely aggressive, non-native water weed that, left untreated, takes over the lake ecosystem, quickly growing to block sunlight and smother native plants and fish. We partnered with the state of New Hampshire by procuring a 50% grant to do the first treatment. The good news is that the treatment was more successful than expected, given the extensive reality of the spread. Initially, the long-term plan was expected to be management, but given the success of the first treatment, we now believe eradication is possible. This Fall, we've applied for the grant from the state again in order to treat the remaining milfoil a second time. This grant would, once again, cover 50% of the treatment cost. BCH is deeply invested in tending to the land and waters we occupy and our hope is to continue to move forward with the long-term eradication plan.

We need your support

In order to continue to serve the campers in our region, to expand our youth camp and mental health programming, to attend to the reality of deferred maintenance, facilities updates, and to tend to the resource of the land we occupy, we need the financial support of our wider BCH community. No gift is too large or too small.

Help us live into our mission to provide a place of belonging, to nurture a sense of wonder and creativity, to explore our faith, and to connect in new ways with God, creation, and each other into the next 20 years by giving to BCH today.

You can financially support the mission of The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center by safely donating online with a one-time or recurring gift to the BCH Operating Fund here or by mailing a check to: The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center, P.O. Box 204, Greenfield, NH 03047 or by purchasing something off of our Camp Wishlist.

Volunteer Work Weekend

This Fall, we'll be hosting another Volunteer Work Weekend 7-8 October, 2023. Bring yourself, your family, your church or your youth group to BCH for the day on Saturday the 7th or stay over to Sunday the 8th and help us change over the campus for Fall programs. 

Join us for a weekend of work (and play!) as we complete various projects around BCH. All ages, stages, and abilities welcome.

Register for the Work Weekend Here.