CCC Dining Hall Updates - Jan-Aug 2005 
   
 
   
 

August 1st, 2005

Yesterday, the Annual Luncheon of the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA was held in the Chimney Corners Camp Dining Tent. Traditionally held at Camp Becket, the luncheon is an opportunity to award members of our community for their service and dedication to our organization. This year's award winners were Annie Seigle, Gordon Kraft-Todd, Adam Farren, Dan Langmead, Dave Lind, and our Volunteer of the Year was Glenn Canfield. Organizaed by Laurie DeLuca, our Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations, the event was an amazing experience in the tent.

Immediately following the luncheon was the groundbreaking for the new Dining Hall. The entire Chimney Corners Camp posed for a photograph in front of the tent and the official launch of the construction of the new Dining Hall was presented by Amy Gutschenritter and David Irons.

To learn more about the Annual Luncheon, click here. To view the 2005 Annual Luncheon Program (pdf) click here. To view images of the Annual Luncheon and Groundbreaking for the new dining hall, click here. To see what the new Dining Hall will look like, click here (pdf).

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
   
 

July 26th, 2005

Chimney Corners Camp is running swimmingly! Look at these pictures of the tent. Can you believe that there have been 2,000 pre-summer meals and 33,000 meals served first session? That's 35,000 meals all served under the Big Top! Tom Marshalek, Mik Monti, Keith Sharp and their fantastic crew of over 10 staff have done an amazing job, shown their flexibility to work under different conditions than those which they are used to, and achieved high evaluation scores to boot!

But hey, I know you want to see what the new Dining Hall is going to look like. Click here to check it out (pdf).

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
   
 

June 10th, 2005

Well... so far more than 2,000 meals have been served in the Chimney Corners Camp Dining Tent, the list including Outdoor Center groups - Reevaluation Counseling and a Girl Scout Troop from the Albany area. We have also had hundreds of kids from Connecticut eat in our tent through the Nature's Classroom program and of course our newest arrival - the TLS staff for the Youth Travel Programs. The TLS staff are here to begin their training for this summer's YTP journey around Lake Champlain in New York's Adirondacks and the western side of Vermont.

This photo to the left is of the bathroom facilities, but the toilets you see here are going to be placed INSIDE the building there, not left outside where they are right now!!!

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
   
 

May 27th, 2005

Today year-round staff from every department at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA participated in setting up the tent - and all the tables fit comfortably... 45 tables in all will allow for up to 450 people to eat under the Big Top.

There's a stage, bigger then the stage in the old Dining Hall, and hot food lines for serving the delicious and nutritious meals that Tommy and his team have been getting high evaluation scores for. In fact, scores for meals this Spring are higher than they've ever been!

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
   
 

May 25th, 2005

These photos are actually a few days old, but as it stands, the CCC Dining Tent will be fully operational by Memorial Day, with our first Outdoor Center/Nature's Classroom groups eating in the tent on Tuesday. The floor you see here is plastic composite decking, made from a combination of recycled plastic and sawdust. 1/2 of the 6000 square feet of decking was donated by LP Adams of Pittsfield for the project.

This Dining Tent has all the amenities of the old Dining Hall, but newer and better! And remember, this is the first time in a few years that the whole CCC Community will be able to eat together under one roof - this tent is larger than the old Dining Hall was.

It has to be seen to be believed, so please, come up and see it this summer!

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
   
 

May 5th, 2005

The floor is being built. The electrical work is done. The sides of the tent need to be secured, and a ramp is being built linking the kitchen with the food distribution sections of the tent. This is all very exciting stuff and this summer is going to be a great summer to remember for our Chimney Corners Campers. The tent will be ready for the first Outdoor Center user groups by the end of this month.

Photos by Steve Hamill

 
   
 
     
 
April 28th, 2005

Architects and Project Managers from Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens met with Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA Leadership Staff again today to continue discussing design plans for the new Chimney Corners Camp Dining Hall. The meeting was the final meeting in Phase I of the planning process, and construction work is expected to commence soon. The construction site has been separated from the camp to allow work to continue without impacting the camp's program or security. Images shown here are the initial plans for the new Dining Hall.

Stay on the lookout for more updated plans and images as they become available.

Photos by Steve Hamill

   
 
     
 
April 26th, 2005

Today's the day the Big Top started going up. Now keep in mind when you look at these images that this is far from the finished product. This 60x100' Classical Tent will be illuminated from within by indirect lighting around each of the three main peaks. In the coming weeks a floor will be built and the tent will receive all the extras it needs to make this summer PHENOMENAL for Chimney Corners Camp. It will truly be an amazingly fun summer to remember

Photos by Jim Brown and Steve Hamill

   
 
     
 
April 22nd, 2005

After a couple of months of operation through the Spring season, the temporary Chimney Corners kitchen is running smoothly.

Craig Tighe has also leveled an area for the positioning of our 60'x100' dining tent to be positioned alongside the CCC Arts Center. The facility will be amazing and the CCC campers are in for a lot of fun this summer. It will be the first time in years that the entire camp has been able to dine together under one roof.

The tent will be installed prior to this work weekend, the last weekend this month, and then the floor will be installed inside the structure.

Photos by Jim Brown and Steve Hamill

   
 
     
 
March 18th, 2005

The Chimney Corners Camp Arts Center Dining Hall is now running at full steam, with Mik, Keith and Tommy delivering great quality meals to Nature's Classroom and Outdoor Center guests 7 days a week. We have served more than 2,000 meals in the last two weeks alone, and at great quality too. One guest's evaluation: "I would pay to eat at this restaurant!" So well done to Tommy and his crew.

The kitchen is divided into three major areas - the food prep area and the cooking facility are adjoined and then the dry storage and refrigerators and freezers are accessible by a winterized vestibule and decking. There's a loading dock and a full recycling and trash/compost receptacle built into the structure.

Photos by Shaz Atwell
   
 
     
 
March 1st, 2005

We have already commenced operations out of our new Arts Center Dining Hall facility. More than 600 meals have been served by Tommy, Mik and Keith, our wonderful food service staff. Features of our new kitchen facility included a heated foyer area and kitchen, large dry storage area, a Food Service Director office, emergency escapes, walk in coolers and freezers, waste storage area, prep kitchen and a loading dock. With over 600 meals served and an average food evaluation greater than 4/5, we are right on track for a spectacular spring season at the Outdoor Center.

Photos by Steve Hamill
   
 
     
February 8th, 2005

Our construction crews (along with John Goddard, Craig Tighe and their teams) were framing the kitchen and leveling the entrance road to the new facility. We have scheduled Western Massachusetts Electric to finish connecting the power supply to our new kitchen facility at the Chimney Corners Camp Arts Center this week. By next week our new kitchen will be fully operational.

Photos by Jim Brown and Steve Hamill.
   
 
     
 
February 3rd, 2005

Plans are now in place for food service for the winter and spring season at Chimney Corners Camp. A temporary kitchen is being built adjacent to the CCC Art Center. Mik and Tommy traveled to Long Island to arrange for a mobile kitchen unit from Stewart’s Mobile Concepts. This kitchen has all of the equipment necessary to provide meals for both our outdoor center and summer camp.

Tommy has purchased two refrigerator boxes, coolers and freezers that will be placed next to the mobile kitchen. Elton and his crew will build an enclosed deck that will connect all the boxes and the Art Center. Elton and the maintenance staff have also worked hard to get the electric, water, and phone systems back online. The Art Center can accommodate groups in the colder months. For the warmer months we will be laying down a large deck and placing a large tent on the green next to the Art Center. The tent will be equipped with sides and lighting so the space is fully protected from the elements. CCC campers can look forward to all eating together under the “Big Top” and we will still have the Art Center available for program activities.

We are very thankful to the companies that have been helping us get our temporary food service facilities into place. Craig Tighe Excavating, Stewart’s Mobile Concepts, Joe Conlon & Sons Refrigeration, B & G Food Service Supplies, Markel Insurance, PFG Springfield, Mac Gray, and Mity Lite Tables and Chairs who have helped us work quickly to get our food service up and running.

Photos by Steve Hamill
 

 

January 21st, 2005

The Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA has received permission to begin the clean up of the CCC Dining Hall fire site. Building permits have been received to re-establish water and electric utilities within the existing foundation of the CCC Dining Hall.

Today contractors began constructing the temporary structure. This will allow us to reconnect water & electricity to the Arts Center and Wellspring Lodge, and to provide electrical services to the temporary kitchen facilities when they are completed.

Despite sub-zero temperatures, the maintenance department, John Goddard and his crew are working to complete construction the temporary utility shed. Craig Tighe is also working with his excavator to remove debris from the site. This commitment from our staff and local contractors will ensure our Outdoor Center operations will resume as soon as possible.

Photos by Jim Brown