Becket, MA
September 02, 2010
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Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA is set to welcome Michael Thompson as the keynote speaker at the 2010 Annual Luncheon, Saturday, July 31st at the Chimney Corners Dining Hall.
Dr. Thompson's talk is drawn from the book he is presently writing entitled, "Homesick and Happy: How Children Change and Grow When They Are Away from Their Parents." Dr. Thompson believes that many of the sweetest moments in childhood come when children are away from their parents, when they are dealing with new people and challenges on their own, and when they can feel their own skills and development. In fact, it is often very difficult for children to take risks and feel strong when their parents are around. Overnight school trips, semesters abroad and, of course, summer camp, give children opportunities to grow developmentally that they simply cannot find in modern suburban America.
Michael Thompson, Ph.D. is a consultant, author and psychologist specializing in children and families. He is the clinical consultant to The Belmont Hill School and has worked in more than six hundred schools across the United States, as well as in international schools in Central America, Europe and Asia.
He and his co-author, Dan Kindlon, wrote the New York Times best-selling book, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys (Ballantine Books, 1999). He is the author of Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked Questions about Raising Sons Ballantine, 2000), and co-author (with Catherine O'Neill Grace and Larry Cohen, Ph.D.) of Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Worlds of Children (Ballantine, 2001) and Mom, They're Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems (Ballantine, 2002.) About Best Friends, Worst Enemies the Publishers Weekly review declared, "Not since Dr. Spock and Penelope Leach has there been such a sensitive and practical guide to raising healthy children." The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Achieve Success in School and in Life (with Teresa Barker, Ballantine, 2004) was written to help parents understand the complex journey of children through school, from Kindergarten through senior year. His latest book, It's a Boy! is a comprehensive guide for the parents of boys.
To R.S.V.P. your attendance to the 2010 Annual Luncheon please email Kim Raftery at kraftery@bccymca.org.
Berkshire Outdoor Center was one of fifty-two programs recognized by Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick for teaching students about energy and the environment at the 16th Annual Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education on April 30th.
Berkshire Outdoor Center designs educational programs for schools that provide hands-on nature lessons, opportunities to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom and an appreciation for the environment, as well as recreational water and land-based activities.
Students participate in various ecology classes, such as beaver ecology, forest ecology, animal ecology and pond ecology.
“Our bog walk is a very interesting component newly added to the program. We usually also blend in teambuilding, low ropes activities and some recreational adventure activities. All of our activities have been matched with the curriculum frameworks of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York state. Each of the activities satisfies objectives within these curricula,” explained Steve Hamill, Executive Director of the Berkshire Outdoor Center.
Steve added, “Our organization has run many environmental education programs to school-aged students over the years. Combined, we serve more than 5,000 students in environmental education programs each year. It is meaningful to us to be recognized by the Commonwealth for the excellent programs we run. These programs are a cornerstone of our operation.”
According to state secretary Ian Bowles, programs like Berkshire Outdoor Center bring students, teachers, and communities together to learn and act as environmental stewards to protect wildlife habitate, encourage energy efficiency and reduce waste.
Counselor, village director, nature director, Chimney Corners program director, Alumni Council member – those were the roles Brent Jackson joyfully and passionately held at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. On December 20, 2009, Brent R. Jackson died unexpectedly at the age of 67.
Michael Achey, Spider Alton, Tom Fiore, Eric Grimes, Bob Persons, Bob Rich, Peter Tiffany, Brock Veidenheimer, and Al Weston along with several other alumni spearheaded a Boston to Becket two-day 130 mile bikethon on July 5 and 6, 2010 to raise money for camperships via the Annual Fund in memory of Brent Jackson.
“Brent was just a big deal to me and so many other kids and his death was really unexpected. This bikethon is a way for us to honor his spirit by giving to future campers,” explained Alton.
Chimney Corners Campers and Camp Becket campers welcomed the riders with loud cheers, applauds and a special rendition of "Four Miles Up". Cyclists completed the ride in ninety degree weather.
Fund-raising results are still being tallied, but it is not too late to give. Friends, alumni and families interested in making an outright gift may do so via the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA website by clicking here. When you make your gift online please click on "Bike for Brent" in support of the Annual Fund at BCCYMCA. Checks may be paid to Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. Please indicate on the memo line that the gift is for “Bike for Brent”. Click here to read more about Brent Jackson and his contributions and love for Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA.
Above, Bike for Brent cyclists celebrate. Riders from left to right are Eric Grimes, Al Weston, Peter Tiffany, Spider Alton, BrockVeidenheimer, Michael Achey, Bob Persons, Bob Rich and Chimney Corners Executive Director Shannon Donovan-Monti.
Science educator and favorite "Minister of Fun" at Camp Becket, Bob Pflugfelder was recently featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live for his chemistry experiments. Check out his demonstrations here.
“How would we replace Rudd Pond?”
That was the question an anonymous alumnus and parent asked himself after reading the December issue of Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA News.
“Would we replace it with a swimming pool?”
He realized that his experience at Camp Becket was truly influenced by the presence of Rudd Pond: swimming, boating, camping at Green or Rocky Points, cooling down after a sauna, reading on the library porch, and looking out at the sunset above the pond at dinner. For him, Rudd Pond was and is the heart and center of Camp Becket.
He called Phil Connor to discuss the project costs. It was during that call Phil shared with him that the George I. Alden Trust had just made a $50,000 gift to help repair the dam. Pleased with the good news and the knowledge that the YMCA was working to find funding, this alumnus realized that the repair cost still stood at $314,000. He offered to pay one-third of the remaining cost at $105,000 if Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA could raise an additional $210,000 by December 31, 2010.
“It is important for people to think of this as an additional call to philanthropic duty not a substitute for their annual fund gifts as it is truly a unique and special project that is not optional,” emphasized the donor who is well aware of how the $600,000 Annual Fund goal will budget for campership dollars and the roughly $4,000,000 in deferred capital upgrades that need to be addressed.
For information on how you can help Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA meet the $100,000 challenge grant contact Brenda Marsian, CFRE, Chief Development Officer at bmarsian@bccymca.org.
The George I. Alden Trust has granted $50,000 toward the repair of Rudd Pond Dam to Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. The Camps and Berkshire Outdoor Center must raise an additional $280,000 to fund the remaining cost to repair the dam and dike.
Responding to the announcement, Phil Connor, CEO of Becket Chimney Corners YMCA said, “This investment by the Alden Trust allows us to continue to be good stewards of our natural resources and provide a safe environment for Camp Becket boys and Berkshire Outdoor Center participants to discover, play and build positive life-long characteristics.”
Eighty acres of water make up Rudd Pond and for over 120 years this spring-fed and pristine treasure has provided beauty and tranquility, camping functionality, and been an ecological resource for wildlife. But this integral part of our community of campers and families is at risk.
Awareness of addressing the need to repair Rudd Pond Dam presented itself in 2008 during a routine dam inspection with the Massachusetts Dam Safety Commission with a three phase plan to meet regulatory requirements.
The first phase of the project was completed in July 2009 with the construction of an access road to allow heavy machinery to reach the dam site. In addition to the access road, reinforcement of the spillway and the gatehouse foundation were completed.
George I. Alden Trust’s investment is the first of what Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA’s Office of Development anticipates will be several gifts given to address the remaining costs of the repairs. This private support will relieve the financial burden of the repair costs of Rudd Pond Dam and help to accelerate the final phases of repair work on the dam.
Steve Cowell, Camp Becket Parent and Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA Board of Trustee member was featured in the Boston Globe for his innovative conservation programs which are receiving national attention. Read the Full Story
Lee Daniels, father of Chimney Corners camper Clara Daniels, is receiving great acclaim for his newest film Precious. The film and ensemble cast have been nominated for numerous awards such as the Golden Globe and Spirit Awards. Learn more about this film
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748 Hamilton Road, Becket, MA 01223
Tel: (413) 623-8991 | Fax: (413) 623-5890