Birocapedia - User contributions [en]

Ranger

2021-04-03T18:11:44Z

Seve:

[[Image:RangerSam1.JPG|thumb|Ranger Sam Deeran 2005]]
The Ranger is the fourth and final [[Campcraft]] badge. In 2005 it was earned for the first time since the 70's by Sam Deeran. Since 2005 two more campers have earned the Ranger badge—Ben Howard and Harry Netzer both earned it in 2008.
==Badge Parts==
===Survival 301===
[[Image:Rangerknots.jpg|thumb|Rangers Harry Netzer and Ben Howard doing the Survival 301 knots test 2008]]
Survival 301 is the final set of survival skills taught at Campcraft. The parts of survival 301 are leatherworking, cooking, and knot tying. For the leatherworking part you have to make something out of leather like a medicine pouch, a possibles bag, or a pair of moccasins.

The cooking part consists of learning wilderness cooking skills like how to make bread with only a fire and a few basic ingredients. This type of bread is called an ash cake because to make it dough is put almost directly into the fire to cook. When it is fully cooked the bread has a coating of black ash, hence the name ash cake. Ash cakes are the food eaten on the final badge part, the solo.

For the knots part of the Ranger you must be able to tie the zeppelin bend, double sheet bend, jug knot, bowline, boa knot, and figure eight. For the test you have to tie them while treading water blindfolded.

===Wild Food Day===
To get the Wild Food Day badge part you need to spend a day at camp eating nothing but wild food gathered from around camp. During the Wild Food Day you spend most of your time gathering and preparing food. A short list of edible wild foods on campus is:
*Chanterelle mushrooms
*Blueberries
*Blackberries and raspberries
*Daylilies
*Various fauna including:
**Frogs
**Chipmunks
**Squirrels

=== Fire Master ===

[[Image:Bow Drill.png|thumb|An illustration of a bow drill set]]

To earn the Fire Master badge part one must make and start a fire with a bow drill. A bow drill is a fire-starting device that relies on one of the simplest ways of generating energy: friction. Ancient peoples used friction to their fire making advantage with many different incarnations of the same idea including the fire plow, fire saw, and hand drill. All of these friction based fire makers consist of two pieces of wood rubbing against each other to generate heat and punk, the two components that together make an ember. Punk is fine, charred wood dust that can easily ignite. The hope is that the friction makes enough punk and heat for the heat to ignite the punk. Lit punk makes a slow burning ember that can be placed in a tinder ball to light a fire.

A bow drill physically consists of a shaft of wood that is rotated very quickly by the string of a bow essentially the same way a rope turns a pulley. The tip of the shaft is placed like a drill bit against a softer piece of wood called the fire board and the other end is held in place by a rock with a notch in it. Pressure is put on the top rock and the bow is pumped back and forth hopefully making the shaft slowly eat away at the fire board turning it into punk and igniting that punk. The ember is then placed into a tinder ball of dry, fibrous plant matter and blown on until it bursts into flame.

===Solo===
The final part of the Ranger is an overnight solo in the woods along the [[Crooked River]]. The solo is a culmination of the Campcraft program with many of the survival skills from the four Campcraft badges like fire starting, shelter building, and cooking being necessary to staying relatively comfortable. The solo is not about survival but rather being comfortable alone in the wilderness.

The camper going on the solo can bring only ten items with him. Most of the ten is taken up by necessities including:
#A sleeping bag
#Tarps
#Food
#Water
#A whistle
#A knife
#Fire making supplies

Ranger

2021-04-03T18:11:08Z

Seve: /* Solo */

[[Image:RangerSam1.JPG|thumb|Ranger Sam Deeran 2005]]
The Ranger is the fourth and final [[Campcraft]] badge. In 2005 it was earned for the first time since the 70's by Sam Deeran. Since 2005 two more campers have earned the Ranger badge—Ben Howard and Harry Netzer both earned it in 2008.
==Badge Parts==
===Survival 301===
[[Image:Rangerknots.jpg|thumb|Rangers Harry Netzer and Ben Howard doing the Survival 301 knots test 2008]]
Survival 301 is the final set of survival skills taught at Campcraft. The parts of survival 301 are leatherworking, cooking, and knot tying. For the leatherworking part you have to make something out of leather like a medicine pouch, a possibles bag, or a pair of moccasins.

The cooking part consists of learning wilderness cooking skills like how to make bread with only a fire and a few basic ingredients. This type of bread is called an ash cake because to make it dough is put almost directly into the fire to cook. When it is fully cooked the bread has a coating of black ash, hence the name ash cake. Ash cakes are the food eaten on the final badge part, the solo.

For the knots part of the Ranger you must be able to tie the zeppelin bend, double sheet bend, jug knot, bowline, boa knot, and figure eight. For the test you have to tie them while treading water blindfolded.

===Wild Food Day===
To get the Wild Food Day badge part you need to spend a day at camp eating nothing but wild food gathered from around camp. During the Wild Food Day you spend most of your time gathering and preparing food. A short list of edible wild foods on campus is:
*Chanterelle mushrooms
*Blueberries
*Blackberries and raspberries
*Daylilies
*Various fauna including:
**Frogs
**Chipmunks
**Squirrels
===Totem Staff===
For the Totem Staff part of the Ranger you need to make a staff that depicts an animal you have picked as your totem animal. A good tree to make a staff out of is a Sugar Maple because the bark can be easily peeled off to give the staff a smooth surface. The staff can then be woodburned or carved with a depiction of your animal.
=== Fire Master ===

[[Image:Bow Drill.png|thumb|An illustration of a bow drill set]]

To earn the Fire Master badge part one must make and start a fire with a bow drill. A bow drill is a fire-starting device that relies on one of the simplest ways of generating energy: friction. Ancient peoples used friction to their fire making advantage with many different incarnations of the same idea including the fire plow, fire saw, and hand drill. All of these friction based fire makers consist of two pieces of wood rubbing against each other to generate heat and punk, the two components that together make an ember. Punk is fine, charred wood dust that can easily ignite. The hope is that the friction makes enough punk and heat for the heat to ignite the punk. Lit punk makes a slow burning ember that can be placed in a tinder ball to light a fire.

A bow drill physically consists of a shaft of wood that is rotated very quickly by the string of a bow essentially the same way a rope turns a pulley. The tip of the shaft is placed like a drill bit against a softer piece of wood called the fire board and the other end is held in place by a rock with a notch in it. Pressure is put on the top rock and the bow is pumped back and forth hopefully making the shaft slowly eat away at the fire board turning it into punk and igniting that punk. The ember is then placed into a tinder ball of dry, fibrous plant matter and blown on until it bursts into flame.

===Solo===
The final part of the Ranger is an overnight solo in the woods along the [[Crooked River]]. The solo is a culmination of the Campcraft program with many of the survival skills from the four Campcraft badges like fire starting, shelter building, and cooking being necessary to staying relatively comfortable. The solo is not about survival but rather being comfortable alone in the wilderness.

The camper going on the solo can bring only ten items with him. Most of the ten is taken up by necessities including:
#A sleeping bag
#Tarps
#Food
#Water
#A whistle
#A knife
#Fire making supplies

Ranger

2021-04-03T18:10:47Z

Seve: /* Survival 301 */

[[Image:RangerSam1.JPG|thumb|Ranger Sam Deeran 2005]]
The Ranger is the fourth and final [[Campcraft]] badge. In 2005 it was earned for the first time since the 70's by Sam Deeran. Since 2005 two more campers have earned the Ranger badge—Ben Howard and Harry Netzer both earned it in 2008.
==Badge Parts==
===Survival 301===
[[Image:Rangerknots.jpg|thumb|Rangers Harry Netzer and Ben Howard doing the Survival 301 knots test 2008]]
Survival 301 is the final set of survival skills taught at Campcraft. The parts of survival 301 are leatherworking, cooking, and knot tying. For the leatherworking part you have to make something out of leather like a medicine pouch, a possibles bag, or a pair of moccasins.

The cooking part consists of learning wilderness cooking skills like how to make bread with only a fire and a few basic ingredients. This type of bread is called an ash cake because to make it dough is put almost directly into the fire to cook. When it is fully cooked the bread has a coating of black ash, hence the name ash cake. Ash cakes are the food eaten on the final badge part, the solo.

For the knots part of the Ranger you must be able to tie the zeppelin bend, double sheet bend, jug knot, bowline, boa knot, and figure eight. For the test you have to tie them while treading water blindfolded.

===Wild Food Day===
To get the Wild Food Day badge part you need to spend a day at camp eating nothing but wild food gathered from around camp. During the Wild Food Day you spend most of your time gathering and preparing food. A short list of edible wild foods on campus is:
*Chanterelle mushrooms
*Blueberries
*Blackberries and raspberries
*Daylilies
*Various fauna including:
**Frogs
**Chipmunks
**Squirrels
===Totem Staff===
For the Totem Staff part of the Ranger you need to make a staff that depicts an animal you have picked as your totem animal. A good tree to make a staff out of is a Sugar Maple because the bark can be easily peeled off to give the staff a smooth surface. The staff can then be woodburned or carved with a depiction of your animal.
=== Fire Master ===

[[Image:Bow Drill.png|thumb|An illustration of a bow drill set]]

To earn the Fire Master badge part one must make and start a fire with a bow drill. A bow drill is a fire-starting device that relies on one of the simplest ways of generating energy: friction. Ancient peoples used friction to their fire making advantage with many different incarnations of the same idea including the fire plow, fire saw, and hand drill. All of these friction based fire makers consist of two pieces of wood rubbing against each other to generate heat and punk, the two components that together make an ember. Punk is fine, charred wood dust that can easily ignite. The hope is that the friction makes enough punk and heat for the heat to ignite the punk. Lit punk makes a slow burning ember that can be placed in a tinder ball to light a fire.

A bow drill physically consists of a shaft of wood that is rotated very quickly by the string of a bow essentially the same way a rope turns a pulley. The tip of the shaft is placed like a drill bit against a softer piece of wood called the fire board and the other end is held in place by a rock with a notch in it. Pressure is put on the top rock and the bow is pumped back and forth hopefully making the shaft slowly eat away at the fire board turning it into punk and igniting that punk. The ember is then placed into a tinder ball of dry, fibrous plant matter and blown on until it bursts into flame.

===Solo===
[[Image:Solo.jpg|thumb|Preparing for a solo. Rangers Harry Netzer & Ben Howard with Ryan Massey 2008]]
The final part of the Ranger is an overnight solo in the woods along the [[Crooked River]]. The solo is a culmination of the Campcraft program with many of the survival skills from the four Campcraft badges like fire starting, shelter building, and cooking being necessary to staying relatively comfortable. The solo is not about survival but rather being comfortable alone in the wilderness.

The camper going on the solo can bring only ten items with him. Most of the ten is taken up by necessities including:
#A sleeping bag
#Tarps
#Food
#Water
#A whistle
#A knife
#Fire making supplies

Ranger

2021-04-03T18:10:22Z

Seve: /* Survival 301 */

[[Image:RangerSam1.JPG|thumb|Ranger Sam Deeran 2005]]
The Ranger is the fourth and final [[Campcraft]] badge. In 2005 it was earned for the first time since the 70's by Sam Deeran. Since 2005 two more campers have earned the Ranger badge—Ben Howard and Harry Netzer both earned it in 2008.
==Badge Parts==
===Survival 301===
[[Image:Rangerknots.jpg|thumb|Two campers, Rangers Harry Netzer and Ben Howard doing the Survival 301 knots test 2008]]
Survival 301 is the final set of survival skills taught at Campcraft. The parts of survival 301 are leatherworking, cooking, and knot tying. For the leatherworking part you have to make something out of leather like a medicine pouch, a possibles bag, or a pair of moccasins.

The cooking part consists of learning wilderness cooking skills like how to make bread with only a fire and a few basic ingredients. This type of bread is called an ash cake because to make it dough is put almost directly into the fire to cook. When it is fully cooked the bread has a coating of black ash, hence the name ash cake. Ash cakes are the food eaten on the final badge part, the solo.

For the knots part of the Ranger you must be able to tie the zeppelin bend, double sheet bend, jug knot, bowline, boa knot, and figure eight. For the test you have to tie them while treading water blindfolded.

===Wild Food Day===
To get the Wild Food Day badge part you need to spend a day at camp eating nothing but wild food gathered from around camp. During the Wild Food Day you spend most of your time gathering and preparing food. A short list of edible wild foods on campus is:
*Chanterelle mushrooms
*Blueberries
*Blackberries and raspberries
*Daylilies
*Various fauna including:
**Frogs
**Chipmunks
**Squirrels
===Totem Staff===
For the Totem Staff part of the Ranger you need to make a staff that depicts an animal you have picked as your totem animal. A good tree to make a staff out of is a Sugar Maple because the bark can be easily peeled off to give the staff a smooth surface. The staff can then be woodburned or carved with a depiction of your animal.
=== Fire Master ===

[[Image:Bow Drill.png|thumb|An illustration of a bow drill set]]

To earn the Fire Master badge part one must make and start a fire with a bow drill. A bow drill is a fire-starting device that relies on one of the simplest ways of generating energy: friction. Ancient peoples used friction to their fire making advantage with many different incarnations of the same idea including the fire plow, fire saw, and hand drill. All of these friction based fire makers consist of two pieces of wood rubbing against each other to generate heat and punk, the two components that together make an ember. Punk is fine, charred wood dust that can easily ignite. The hope is that the friction makes enough punk and heat for the heat to ignite the punk. Lit punk makes a slow burning ember that can be placed in a tinder ball to light a fire.

A bow drill physically consists of a shaft of wood that is rotated very quickly by the string of a bow essentially the same way a rope turns a pulley. The tip of the shaft is placed like a drill bit against a softer piece of wood called the fire board and the other end is held in place by a rock with a notch in it. Pressure is put on the top rock and the bow is pumped back and forth hopefully making the shaft slowly eat away at the fire board turning it into punk and igniting that punk. The ember is then placed into a tinder ball of dry, fibrous plant matter and blown on until it bursts into flame.

===Solo===
[[Image:Solo.jpg|thumb|Preparing for a solo. Rangers Harry Netzer & Ben Howard with Ryan Massey 2008]]
The final part of the Ranger is an overnight solo in the woods along the [[Crooked River]]. The solo is a culmination of the Campcraft program with many of the survival skills from the four Campcraft badges like fire starting, shelter building, and cooking being necessary to staying relatively comfortable. The solo is not about survival but rather being comfortable alone in the wilderness.

The camper going on the solo can bring only ten items with him. Most of the ten is taken up by necessities including:
#A sleeping bag
#Tarps
#Food
#Water
#A whistle
#A knife
#Fire making supplies

Ranger

2021-04-03T18:08:30Z

Seve:

[[Image:RangerSam1.JPG|thumb|Ranger Sam Deeran 2005]]
The Ranger is the fourth and final [[Campcraft]] badge. In 2005 it was earned for the first time since the 70's by Sam Deeran. Since 2005 two more campers have earned the Ranger badge—Ben Howard and Harry Netzer both earned it in 2008.
==Badge Parts==
===Survival 301===
[[Image:Rangerknots.jpg|thumb|Two campers doing the Survival 301 knots test]]
Survival 301 is the final set of survival skills taught at Campcraft. The parts of survival 301 are leatherworking, cooking, and knot tying. For the leatherworking part you have to make something out of leather like a medicine pouch, a possibles bag, or a pair of moccasins.

The cooking part consists of learning wilderness cooking skills like how to make bread with only a fire and a few basic ingredients. This type of bread is called an ash cake because to make it dough is put almost directly into the fire to cook. When it is fully cooked the bread has a coating of black ash, hence the name ash cake. Ash cakes are the food eaten on the final badge part, the solo.

For the knots part of the Ranger you must be able to tie the zeppelin bend, double sheet bend, jug knot, bowline, boa knot, and figure eight. For the test you have to tie them while treading water blindfolded.
===Wild Food Day===
To get the Wild Food Day badge part you need to spend a day at camp eating nothing but wild food gathered from around camp. During the Wild Food Day you spend most of your time gathering and preparing food. A short list of edible wild foods on campus is:
*Chanterelle mushrooms
*Blueberries
*Blackberries and raspberries
*Daylilies
*Various fauna including:
**Frogs
**Chipmunks
**Squirrels
===Totem Staff===
For the Totem Staff part of the Ranger you need to make a staff that depicts an animal you have picked as your totem animal. A good tree to make a staff out of is a Sugar Maple because the bark can be easily peeled off to give the staff a smooth surface. The staff can then be woodburned or carved with a depiction of your animal.
=== Fire Master ===

[[Image:Bow Drill.png|thumb|An illustration of a bow drill set]]

To earn the Fire Master badge part one must make and start a fire with a bow drill. A bow drill is a fire-starting device that relies on one of the simplest ways of generating energy: friction. Ancient peoples used friction to their fire making advantage with many different incarnations of the same idea including the fire plow, fire saw, and hand drill. All of these friction based fire makers consist of two pieces of wood rubbing against each other to generate heat and punk, the two components that together make an ember. Punk is fine, charred wood dust that can easily ignite. The hope is that the friction makes enough punk and heat for the heat to ignite the punk. Lit punk makes a slow burning ember that can be placed in a tinder ball to light a fire.

A bow drill physically consists of a shaft of wood that is rotated very quickly by the string of a bow essentially the same way a rope turns a pulley. The tip of the shaft is placed like a drill bit against a softer piece of wood called the fire board and the other end is held in place by a rock with a notch in it. Pressure is put on the top rock and the bow is pumped back and forth hopefully making the shaft slowly eat away at the fire board turning it into punk and igniting that punk. The ember is then placed into a tinder ball of dry, fibrous plant matter and blown on until it bursts into flame.

===Solo===
[[Image:Solo.jpg|thumb|Preparing for a solo. Rangers Harry Netzer & Ben Howard with Ryan Massey 2008]]
The final part of the Ranger is an overnight solo in the woods along the [[Crooked River]]. The solo is a culmination of the Campcraft program with many of the survival skills from the four Campcraft badges like fire starting, shelter building, and cooking being necessary to staying relatively comfortable. The solo is not about survival but rather being comfortable alone in the wilderness.

The camper going on the solo can bring only ten items with him. Most of the ten is taken up by necessities including:
#A sleeping bag
#Tarps
#Food
#Water
#A whistle
#A knife
#Fire making supplies

File:RangerSam1.JPG

2021-04-03T18:07:25Z

Seve:

The Eclipse

2021-04-01T13:38:37Z

Seve:

[[image:Eclipse.jpg|thumb]]
During the summer of 1989, Birch Rock's master of all things fun and creative [[Bob Van Dyk]] came up with a plan to fake an eclipse for the campers. In other words, he planned the ultimate camp prank to fool every camper at once.

Bob was in his third summer as [[Head Counselor]] in '89 and was almost always funny. The camp was small with only around twenty campers and the prank was planned for when the [[Senior Camper]]s were off campus. A couple of the Sunday staff meetings were used as time to plan and prepare as a group. Bob spent about ten days quickly holding up a newspaper and announcing to the camp that there was going to be an eclipse. Bob would go so far as to read parts of the "article" to the group, an article that apparently never existed.

The plan was to choose a dark night with little stars and to ring the bell and wake the campers up like it was a normal day but do it at 2:15am. The staff adjusted every clock on campus at 2am to 7am so when the bell rang the clocks all read 7:15am. Also a few staff members actually started cooking bacon in the kitchen and running the dishwasher so it felt like breakfast as the campers arrived near the lodge.

It all went off perfectly. The boys poured out of their cabins amazed at how dark it was and the staff continued to act like it was a regular day, telling them to get dressed and go down to the wash house and then head to Flagpole. The boys were still looking up in amazement when the second bell rang. As Bob gathered them up at the flagpole and actually had the boys raise the flag, random staff members were being called away to "help with setup" or "for a phone call" or "[[Don Munn|Don]] needs help sliding the dishwasher out." Eventually, Bob was at Flagpole with all the campers and no staff. The staff went around the lodge to the Lower Shop which was right behind the campers and peered quietly giggling through the lattice.

It was Upper Camper Chris Kilburn-Peterson who finally said, "Wait a second, this can't be real, I think I can see a star." The staff poured out of the Lower Shop laughing and started singing "[[Let's Hit the Hay]]!"

==Watches at Birch Rock==

The really amazing thing about the Eclipse prank is that during the planning process, when it was decided the staff would change all the clocks, someone brought up the question of what to do with the camper's watches. It was decided that the watches would be confiscated a week before the prank. The excuse was we wanted to get the campers even more back into nature. After the prank the staff never got around to returning the watches and at the post-prank Sunday staff meeting it was decided that it seemed better when the campers had no watches because they weren't checking them all the time, counting the minutes until lunch and wanting to get out of the water early during instructional swim, etc., and not paying attention to the moment. The watches were only returned at the end of the summer. Since then campers have not been allowed to have watches at Birch Rock.

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T01:19:07Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
[[Image:Tshirtquilt.jpg|thumb|T-shirt Quilt]]
[[Image:Holdingshirt.jpg|thumb|Mike Mattson holding up staff shirt 2019]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019 ''Let's Go!!''===
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020 ''Dedicated Passionate Leaders''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 2020 was a hugely important summer for those few young men able to make it to BRC. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and a very few dedicated diehards made it to camp. This was Leadership Camp. 23 campers, 7 CITs and a small staff. It was a successful summer in that all enjoyed camp and no one caught the virus.

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T01:14:12Z

Seve:

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T01:13:31Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
[[Image:Tshirtquilt.jpg|thumb|T-shirt Quilt]]
[[Image:Holdingshirt.jpg|thumb|Mike Mattson holding up staff shirt 2019]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019''Let's Go!!''===
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020 ''''===

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T01:12:13Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
[[Image:Tshirtquilt.jpg|thumb|T-shirt Quilt]]
[[Image:Holdingshirt.jpg|thumb|Mike Mattson holding up staff shirt 2019]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019 "Let's Go!!"===
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020 ""===

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T01:11:57Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
[[Image:Tshirtquiltjpg|thumb|T-shirt Quilt]]
[[Image:Holdingshirt.jpg|thumb|Mike Mattson holding up staff shirt 2019]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019 "Let's Go!!"===
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020 ""===

File:Holdingshirt.jpg

2020-09-22T01:09:57Z

Seve:

File:Tshirtquilt.jpg

2020-09-22T01:09:02Z

Seve:

Head Counselor

2020-09-22T01:03:52Z

Seve: /* Gallery */

[[Image:2006_announcements.jpg|thumb|The 2006 head counselor Doug Miller running announcements]]
The Head Counselor is a special counselor who runs many of the day to day activities at camp. Some of the Head Counselor's jobs include doing [[inspection]], leading announcements, and running flagpole.

== List of Head Counselors ==

The second name on the list below is the Program Director. During those specific summers the Head Counselors position was divided amongst two individuals.
*1936: Charles Downs
*1973: [[Dave Weeks]]
*1974: Dave Weeks
*1975: Dave Weeks
*1976: Dave Weeks
*1977: Dave Weeks
*1978: Dave Weeks
*1979: Ben Brewster
*1980: Jim Tsouvalos
*1981: Toby Brewster
*1982: Toby Brewster
*1983: Toby Brewster
*1984: Toby Brewster
*1985: [[Rich Deering]]
*1986: Joe Curry & Seth Wheeler
*1987: [[Bob Van Dyk]]
*1988: Bob Van Dyk
*1989: Bob Van Dyk
*1990: [[Ron Mattson]]
*1991: Ron Mattson
*1992: Ron Mattson
*1993: [[Josh Church]]
*1994: Josh Church & Mike Mattson
*1995: [[Mike Mattson]]
*1996: Mike Mattson
*1997: Mike Mattson
*1998: Mike Mattson
*1999: Thomas Joyce & Mike Mattson
*2000: [[Thomas Joyce]]
*2001: Thomas Joyce
*2002: Thomas Joyce
*2003: CJ Nesher
*2004: Doug Miller
*2005: Doug Miller
*2006: Doug Miller
*2007: Mark "The Weaz" Sutherland & Doug Miller
*2008: Mark Sutherland
*2009: Mike "Nordy" Nordblom & Mark Sutherland
*2010: [[Ryan Massey]] & Mike Davis
*2011: Ryan Massey
*2012: Ryan Massey
*2013: Ryan Massey
*2014: Zach Lynn
*2015: Bob Donahue
*2016: Bob Donahue
*2017: Bob Donahue
*2018: [[Nick Musciano]]
*2019: Nick Musciano
*2020: Nick Musciano

== Gallery ==

<gallery>
Image:HCDaveW.jpg|Dave Weeks 1973-1978 w/ Jim Tsouvalos 1980
Image:HCTobyB.jpg|Toby Brewster 1983-84
Image:HCRichD.jpg|Rich Deering 1985
Image:HCJoeC.jpg|Joe Curry 1986
Image:PDSethW.jpg|Program Director Seth Wheeler 1986
Image:HCBobVD.jpg|Bob Van Dyk 1987-89
Image:HCRonM.jpg|Ron Mattson 1990-92(standing with Bob VD)
Image:HCJoshC.jpg|Josh Church 1993-94
Image:HCMikeM.jpg|Mike Mattson 1995-98
Image:HCThomasJ.jpg|Thomas Joyce 1999-02
Image:HCCJN.jpg|CJ Nesher 2003
Image:HCDougMCrop.jpg|Doug "Ragin' Cajun" Miller 2004-06
Image:HCMarkS.jpg|Mark "the Weaz" Sutherland 2007-08
Image:HCMikeN.jpg|Mike "Nordy" Nordblom 2009
Image:RynoThumb.jpg|Ryan "Ryno" Massey 2010-2013
Image:Pickles_2014.JPG|Zach "Pickles" Lynn 2014
Image:Bob Donahue 2016.JPG|Bob Donahue 2015-2017
Image:Nick_Musciano_2017.JPG|Nicholas "the Italian Stallion" Musciano 2018-2020
</gallery>

Head Counselor

2020-09-22T01:03:28Z

Seve: /* List of Head Counselors */

Mike Mattson

2020-09-22T00:53:58Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles, and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

Mike was not at camp for Leadership Camp in 2020 because of COVID-19. He spent the summer at home in Windham, helping Rich run BRC from afar. With his two boys so young, he felt it best to not tangle with the pandemic. Mike spent much of the summer thinking about 2021 and preparing for his return to the hillside.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
Image:SimonReid2020.jpg|Simon & Reid 2020
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from home in Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2020-09-22T00:52:44Z

Seve: /* Family Life */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles, and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

Mike was not at camp for Leadership Camp in 2020 because of COVID-19. He spent the summer at home in Windham, helping Rich run BRC from afar. With his two boys so young, he felt it best to not tangle with the pandemic. Mike spent much of the summer thinking about 2021 and preparing for his return to the hillside.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
Image:SimonReid2020.jpg|Simon & Reid 2020
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2020-09-22T00:52:12Z

Seve: /* Family Life */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles, and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

Mike was not at camp for Leadership Camp in 2020 because of COVID-19. He spent the summer at home in Windham, helping Rich run BRC from afar. With his two boys so young, he felt it best to not tangle with the pandemic. Mike spent much of the summer thinking about 2021 and preparing for his return to the hillside.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
Image:SimonReid2020jpg|Simon & Reid 2020
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

File:SimonReid2020.jpg

2020-09-22T00:51:27Z

Seve:

Mike Mattson

2020-09-22T00:49:12Z

Seve: /* Summers of 2018-2020 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles, and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

Mike was not at camp for Leadership Camp in 2020 because of COVID-19. He spent the summer at home in Windham, helping Rich run BRC from afar. With his two boys so young, he felt it best to not tangle with the pandemic. Mike spent much of the summer thinking about 2021 and preparing for his return to the hillside.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2020-09-22T00:47:27Z

Seve: /* Summers of 2018-2020 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

Mike was not at camp for Leadership Camp in 2020 because of COVID-19. He spent the summer at home in Windham, helping Rich run BRC from afar. With his two boys so young, he felt it best to not tangle with the pandemic. Mike spent much of the summer thinking about 2021 and preparing for his return to the hillside.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T00:41:16Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019 "Let's Go!!"===
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020 ""===

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T00:40:31Z

Seve:

[[Image:IMG 5896(2).jpg|thumb|A collection of shirts]]
Every summer the staff receive a staff t-shirt with a quote on the back. The quote is usually symbolic of that summer in some way or was said a lot that season. The quote starts with "Summer of (and the year)...(then the quote)". Below is a list of the quotes and the story behind them.

===1984 ''Facilitators of Fun''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve.

This was the first year of the quoted t-shirts. It was a huge hit with the staff, and Director Ben Brewster was credited with the idea. This was however Ben's last summer.

===1985-1988 no quotes===
With Ben gone, the idea was lost.

===1989 ''Making a Difference''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

One of the staff members from the 1984 staff returned for one last summer on staff before he needed to move into his career. It was Peter Herzig who mentioned a fond memory to the '84 shirts and asked that we order one for the '89 summer. A piece of paper was passed around at a staff meeting for quote ideas and after a brief debate it was David Jenkins' quote that was chosen.

===1990 ''We're Just Not Kidding''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1990 was one of the most memorable summers. Many summer camps were starting to close do to a lack of enrollment and BRC only had about 26 campers and SIX staff. There was no funds for T-shirts so they were never ordered. About 4 years later, the Mattson brothers ordered 1990 quoted shirts and mailed them to the 1990 staff. It was such a memorable and crazy summer that shirts were just needed. As a staff we had to pull off so many outrageous things and persevere through so much that we often had to say to people We're Just Not Kidding when we said what we wanted to do or what we had done.

===1991 ''Chief Ain't Runnin' No Country Club''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the most popular and most well known of camp's shirt quotes. During the '91 season a movie was shown about a summer camp with a director named Chief. In the movie the campers sing a song called Chief Ain't Runnin No Country Club. Although the name of the movie escapes memory, the song was sung around camp a few times that summer.

===1992 ''A Sideshow''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The summer of 1992 was a total blast! Led by Director Bob Van Dyk, the staff was often referred to as a sideshow. Every single staff member that summer could have pulled off being an elite Campfire MC. The announcements after meals would be referred to as sideshows and would last twice as long as the norm with counselors giving 2 or 3 crazy announcements per meal. With little budget, killing time with goofy announcements worked wonders.

===1993 ''Stay On Target''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is an obvious Star Wars reference. Star Wars references were used quite a bit in 1993. For example, when a camper would ask the Head Counselor a million questions the HC might eventually say, "No Jabba, You Bodda" while waving his finger. Stay On Target was often used to get the campers to gain focus when they're not paying attention or drifting.

===1994 ''Walking Your Own Mile''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters

This quote was meant to promote independence which is a skill that many campers come to camp to work on and to inspire them to go after their personal goals in life.

===1995 ''Rising To A Higher Level''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This is one of the best quotes symbolically. After about five summers of waivering over whether or not camp is going to open each summer. Many decided to stand tall and say, "We will keep the Rock open". With this declaration and the support of many the Lodge Reconstruction happened. Plans were in the works for better equipment and training. BRC was on its way back up to the top again.

===1996 ''Another Day, Another Badge''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During the summer of 1996, Archery instructor Jared Levine would get up just about every day with a badge announcement. By the tenth time of starting the announcement the same way, he started saying "Another Day", and then every one else would say, "Another Badge". The idea that badges were being awarded to campers everyday was great.

===1997 ''United We Stand''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Led by Director Deering and a great older, experienced staff, Birch Rock decided to become accredited with the American Camping Association. It was a major effort to get everything from paperwork and training, equipment and maintenance, staff regulations, etc. up to ACA standards, but once we were done Birch Rock had become a top notch camp and a recognized camp within the industry. This move would put our camp on the map and enable us to grow and gain a larger camper base. The staff was proud to work together with little argument and were 100% united in its effort to gain an A rating within the ACA ranks.

===1998 ''Shake A Hand, Make A Friend''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

This was a major summer for the presence of visiting staff member Dave Weeks. In 1998 Dave gave an announcement to the kids about how to introduce yourself to people with confidence, a strong handshake and good eye contact. Now, usually when someone is introduced to the camp, they will be introduced by saying something like, "This is my brother Jim. So Shake a hand, Make a friend.

===1999 ''Greatest Camp In The World''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

During Introductions on Opening Day of 1999, CJ Nesher gave a terrific introduction of himself and then went into a speech about how the campers should be psyched to be at camp because Birch Rock was literally the greatest camp in the world. This hit home with so many that it came up many more times that summer.

===2000 ''Chief Ain't Running No Country Club''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

We were late in ordering the shirts in 2000 and needed a quote quickly after a brief debate we decided to reprint the 1991 quote because it was the most memorable. This made the 2000 shirt kind of the millennium shirt of remembering the best of the past.

===2001 ''Building New Legends''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

When it came time to pick the quote for 2001, it was Josh Pincus who was talking about the fact that we always glorify the heroes of the early years of Birch Rock without recognizing the more recent greats. Josh said as we move into the new millennium we need to build Birch Rock some new legends. "I mean that's what we're doing," he said, "we're building new legends."

===2002 ''Run With The Pack''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

As we prepared for the upcoming season, Director Mike Mattson decided to order a quoted shirt for staff to have right away as a morale booster. The plan was also to have a "Summer of" quoted shirt but many thought that the one shirt was enough. That's why the 2002 shirt is the only one without the year on it.

===2003 ''Make It Happen''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

During Staff Orientation Week, junior counselor Ben Young was wearing a baseball cap with the words, "Make It Happen" on it. The staff loved it so much that it became a motto and statement of the summer. In fact it is still used around camp often still.

===2004 ''Running Like a Well Oiled Machine''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

There were many times in June leading up to the summer that Director Mike Mattson would refer to his staff as running like a well oiled machine when asked by parent, board members, etc. how they look. It was often enough that he started calling them WD-40. At the end of the summer the 2004 shirt had "WD-40" where "staff" would have been on the front of the shirt.

===2005 ''Another Day Not Touched Yet''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2005, the staff seemed to have the campers sing "Hit the Hay" much more often then the norm. In fact, for many events, they sang it once seated and then a second time as they left for bed. By the end of the summer it was the only song the new kids had learned.

===2006 ''Green is the Tertiary Color''===
A Green shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The staff wanted a green Birch Rock staff shirt so badly that they were arguing that green is the third camp color behind crimson and gray. The argument was that green symbolized the surrounding nature. In the end, we allowed the green shirt, just this one time.

===2007 ''Ain't No Time For The Jibba Jabba''===
A Grey shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Director Mattson had a cell phone that had a ringtone of Mister T saying, "Ain't No Time For the Jibba Jabba". The staff started saying it around camp as a way of saying less talk, more action.

===2008 ''This Phoenix Will Soar''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Four days prior to Opening Day, Chief's Cabin, the cabin the director lived in, burned to the ground while the staff were all off campus. Upon return and when the realization of the fire hit, the first thought for many was are we going to open on Wednesday. The answer was yes, this phoenix will soar.

===2009 ''Have a Happy Hotei''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, long sleeve

During Staff Orientation, Mike Mattson talked about the story of the Laughing Budda or Happy Hotei. This tale of an ancient monk who believed in always being positive and passing positive energy to others. This monk would walk into villages constantly laughing and smiling and giving candy and gifts to the children. The staff decided to dedicate their energy to always being positive and having a Happy Hotei kind of a day, everyday. When asked to do something in 2009, many of the staff would respond, "Hotei!" (instead of OK)

===2010 ''Making The Jump To Lightspeed''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

The pitch to the staff in 2010, during Orientation week, was that we wanted to surprise every camper on campus with new things. We wanted our most experienced senior campers to go "Wow!" as often as possible. We also decided to move some of the program traditions like "Flour Cake" into our First Session program. Instead of all the traditions being stacked into the back part of the summer, we tried to spread things out so everyone, even first session guys got in on some fun. Traditions like Flour Cake, Beach Day, Cabin Competition, Whales, etc. Everything was considered and then spread out over the whole program calendar. This launched us into fun very quickly. Instead of our staff slowly building up to a glorious finale, it was a "jump to lightspeed" right out of the gate. Right away in weeks one and two, we were doing crazy camp stuff. It made for a sensational summer. The Millenium Falcon was chosen as the symbol on the shirt because a group of our staff all threw funds together to purchase a staff car named "the Millenium Falcon"..... To The Falcon!

===2011 ''I'm In!''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

The 2011 staff worked well together as a unit. Everyone got along and connected with each other so well, we were a perfect TEAM. Every morning our staff huddle ends with someone saying, "I'm in" and putting their hand in the circle. All then say, "I'm in" for the morning staff "Oooo-Rah!"

===2012 ''Old School, Hardcore, Long Term''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This shirt was dedicated from the 2012 staff to Rich Deering and Mike Mattson and their many years of year round, dedicated service. These two men live, breathe and eat Birch Rock 24-7 and have for over 3 decades. Many others like Mike Apicelli, Dave Weeks, Erik Joelsson, Pam Stock, etc. Were also still around giving all they could to the place they loved. Birch Rock is generations coming together.

===2013 ''Just Crazy Enough''===
A Grey shirt with Green ringer and Green letters, short sleeve

Our 2013 staff was a terrific mix of veterans and new guys of all ages and stages. Real pros, who knew how to run a safe, adventurous program. They had it all and were "just crazy enough" to keep that fresh camp energy going.

===2014 ''Knights of Biroca''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

Ever since the Game of Thrones books were released, Mike Mattson and Ryan Massey had been talking about the Birch Rock staff being Knights of Biroca. In 2014, Ryan created a new game called the Knights of Biroca which ended in a game on the hill where the staff were formed into a giant dragon, and the campers had to pull flags off of certain counselors to eliminate certain limbs of the dragon. In order to win, the campers had to get the flag off of the staff member who was considered the heart of the dragon. One of the oldest campers, Ed Stafford, leaped his way in and was able to pull the flag. It was fun, it was different. The men of Birch Rock are noble and chivalrous gentlemen who want to Help the Other Family. They are...the Knights of Bircoa!

===2015 ''Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

A new generation of up and coming staff began to truly soar. These guys were funny, brilliant and CRAZY!

Also, a staff car had it's brakes release sending their car rolling down the hill into a tree.

===2016 ''"90" in the Bucket''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This summer was the summer of Kan Jam. The boys were frisbee guys and they were playing Kan Jam all the time. Also, the staff introduced THE BUCKET, a character made up of a walkie talkie in a small bucket who would announce Evening Activity. Finally, it was our 90th season.

===2017 ''Attitude is Everything''===
A Maroon shirt with White letters, short sleeve

This quote is most associated with Mr Don Munn, who passed away before the 2017 season. The staff wanted something to remember him by and this quote says it all.

===2018 ''New Experiences, Old Traditions''===
A White shirt with Maroon letters, short sleeve

In 2018, we had a terrific discussion about the importance of trying new things and exploring all the activities. This discussion fired up the idea of the "Junior Badge Sweep." The staff didn't want the quote to just be try new things, so that led us to NEW EXPERIENCES. And of course we all know how much we love our traditions at Birch Rock.

===2019 "Let's Go!!"
A Heather Grey shirt with Crimson letters, short sleeve

Many of the campers and staff were using the term, "Let's Go!" whenever they were pumped about something. It was heard all over campus often.

===2020

Staff T-shirt Quotes

2020-09-22T00:34:46Z

Seve: /* 2015 Ain't No Brakes On This Crazy Train */

User:Jackduggan

2020-06-17T23:17:41Z

Seve: Creating user page for new user.

my name is jack and i love birch rock camp!

User talk:Jackduggan

2020-06-17T23:17:41Z

Seve: Welcome!

'''Welcome to ''Birocapedia''!'''
We hope you will contribute much and well.
You will probably want to read the [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Help:Contents help pages].
Again, welcome and have fun! [[User:Seve|Seve]] ([[User talk:Seve|talk]]) 23:17, 17 June 2020 (UTC)

Mike Mattson

2020-06-17T20:56:58Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2020-06-17T20:56:08Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Managed Camp from Windham, ME
|Camp Director
|Leadership Camp, summer of COVID 19
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T19:53:56Z

Seve: /* Director Years */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-2007 ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

In 2007, Rich started up the Decade Club. Anyone in their 10th summer at camp was honored and awarded a Decade Club vest during one of our Sunday dinners.

=== Summers of 2008-Present ===

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg|thumb|Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps. Decade Club starts
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|New Onie's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T19:51:44Z

Seve: /* Summers of 2002-Present */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-2007 ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

In 2007, Rich started up the Decade Club. Anyone in their 10th summer at camp was honored and awarded a Decade Club vest during one of our Sunday dinners.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg|thumb|Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps. Decade Club starts
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|New Onie's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T19:49:41Z

Seve: /* Rich's Summers at the Rock */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-Present ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg|thumb|Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps. Decade Club starts
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|New Onie's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T18:35:16Z

Seve: /* Rich's Summers at the Rock */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-Present ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg|thumb|Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|New Onie's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:16:42Z

Seve: /* Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1986]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:16:10Z

Seve: /* Staff Years */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|left|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:15:09Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:14:47Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|left|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|St Croix River Trip 1990]]

[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]

[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:14:01Z

Seve: /* Summers of 1994-1996 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]

[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:13:38Z

Seve: /* Summers of 1994-1996 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]

[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:13:12Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]

[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:12:20Z

Seve: /* Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986 */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:11:57Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:10:45Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|left|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:09:51Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|left|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

File:Simon Mike 2019.jpg

2019-12-09T18:08:59Z

Seve:

Mike Mattson

2019-12-09T18:08:16Z

Seve: /* Mike's Summers at the Rock */

[[image:Mike Percy.jpg|thumb|Mike and Percy in 2011]]
Mike Mattson is the current director of Birch Rock, a position he has held since 2002. Before that he was the assistant director to [[Rich Deering]] for four years starting in 1998. He was also Head Counselor for four years beginning in 1995 and was the [[Waterfront Director]] for three summers. Mike's camper years were spent mostly on the field and at the [[Nature]] and [[Campcraft]] areas. He also loved [[Instructional Swim]] and was often first in the water. The 2019 season was his '''37th summer''' with BRC.

At the Chip Ceremony in the early '90s, Mike said, "...and for those of you who are wondering if I will be back next summer, I tell you this, '''Mike Mattson never leaves Birch Rock!'''"

==Life Before Birch Rock==
After attending a few day camps and one sleep away camp in New York, (the camp in New York being the camp that Mike's father attended for many summers and was the Head Counselor of in the '60s) Mike's parents continued to search for the right camp. In the winter of 1983, [[David Weeks]] and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Mike's brother [[Ron Mattson]] and step-brother [[Dave Jenkins]] wanted to attend because many of their school mates were going. Mike however, at age twelve, was not interested in trying the camp experience anymore but was sent by his parents anyway, for the full six-week season. He was off to camp fussing the whole way.

==Camper Years==
[[Image:Mike_Mattson_1983.jpg|thumb|left|Mike 1983]]
===Summer of 1983===

Mike arrived at camp with a negative attitude but after a few days of homesickness his cabin counselor Paul Voss had him completely entertained. He enjoyed swimming with instructor Mike Herzig and [[archery]] taught by Joe Curry. In fact, he signed up for archery almost everyday and was awarded best archer at Birch Rock for 1983 at the awards ceremony along with the first seven archery badges. Although he had fun, he decided not to return to BRC in 1984 because his family was moving from the Baltimore area to the Philadelphia area in the summer. He definitely regretted this decision.

===Summer of 1985===

[[image:MikeMoose.jpg|thumb|Mike and Dave Jenkins on the Moose River.]]
The next summer, 1985, was one of Mike's favorites. He was a [[Senior Camper]] in [[Cabin 7]] with Paul Voss again, back then cabin 7 & [[Cabin 8]] were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This time Mike went badge crazy earning many more badges on the field including 7 more archery badges, he also earned his loon and seal and earned the Wilderness Adventure badge, which was the equivalent of the top [[nature]] and top [[campcraft]] badges combined. One of Mike's fondest camper memories was building a watchtower up on the field using long tree trunk and branch poles all lashed together with rope. The tower could hold two and was tall enough to look offer the basketball court fence. It was the final piece to earning the Wilderness Adventure badge and a happy moment.

During Cabin Competition in 1985, Mike's creativity showed up during the Animal Imitation round with a stunning imitation of an amoeba with gas. Mike would perform this imitation upon request for many summers to follow.

The Senior Campers went on two big [[trip]] in 1985, one on [[Moose River]] and the other a hike up [[Mount Washington]]. The Moose River trip was led by Scott MacGregor and Toby Brewster with counselor Paul Voss from Cabin 7. Mount Washington was led by Ryck Birch with counselor Seth Wheeler from Cabin 8. These two trips were highlights in Mike's short camper career.

==Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986==

It was during Mike's [[CIT]] summer that he realized how much he loved summer camp. In the summer of 1986, Mike was a little nervous about being a counselor-in-training and working with campers, but he was also excited. On Opening Day, when the youngest camper in camp arrived at camp, Mike keyed on him. This boy was an eight year old named [[Josh Pincus]] who was obviously a little homesick and also a real spitfire. Mike spent as much of his day as he could hanging out with Josh. They went everywhere together. Josh quickly went from a homesick guy to a life long Birch Rocker and would later become one of Mike's key administrators on campus. Mike learned, even at age 15, he could make a difference in a camper's summer.

His CIT year is also the summer Mike got his 15th archery badge. The badge archery guidelines are based on campers 7-15 years old. Since Mike was 15, Birch Rock decided to let him go for it. Counselor Rob Christie stayed up on the hill with Mike after [[Evening Activity]] a few times and by the third try Mike was an official American Archer. There are fewer than ten Birch Rockers who have ever earned the 15th archery badge.

==Staff Years==

===Summers of 1987-1989===
[[Image:MikeM1988.jpg|thumb|Marc Chase, Mike & David Vincentsen in the kitchen during Banquet 1988]]
Mike spent his first three staff summers as the cabin counselor of [[Cabin 1]] and loves that age group (ten to eleven) to this day. Mike taught Archery, [[Baseball]], [[Basketball]], and [[Swimming]]; and in 1989, Mike and his step-brother Dave created the [[Volleyball]] activity at Birch Rock. Mike loved teaching on the field but had a stronger bond to the swim area, the hub of all camp activity.

Just like in his senior camper and CIT years, Mike loved being in the kitchen and worked in the kitchen as often as possible. He was always in the kitchen during the end of the year banquet. It was during the 1988 banquet when the camp lost power and the dishes needed to be washed by hand. Mike loved being in the kitchen and especially working with Head Cook [[Janice Walker]].

Mike and a few of the other younger staff formed a rap group in 1988 and performed two raps for Campfire. Mike was the "Beat Master" and did the beat box with his mouth while Adam Whinston, Marc Chase and Dave Vincentsen rapped. They called themselves Def Con 4. Def Con 4 did a performance for the parents on visiting day and another one for Scott MacGregor after his bike ride accross the US.

===Summers of 1990-1993===

[[image:Mike90.jpg|thumb|Mike on the St Croix trip in 1990]]
Mike was the Waterfront Director and Senior Camper Counselor in 1990, 1992, and 1993. He was in [[Pete's Palace]] in 1990 and Cabin 8 in '92 & '93. These were the lean years of Birch Rock, prior to its resurgence with the reconstruction of the lodge in 1994-'95.

During the summer of 1990, Mike and five campers were in a major car accident while returning to camp from the St. Croix River trip. The accident happened towards the end of the season and Mike was determined to get right back to camp. So after a couple of days rest, Mike was back down on the waterfront teaching swimming. Mike was featured in the new camp video shortly after the accident with scars on his face. This video was the camp promotional video for almost ten years.

From 1987-'90, many campers would beg to be on the Mattson team during Cross-Camp Capture the Flag. Mike and his brother Ron would often serve on a team together and went undefeated when paired for five consecutive seasons during every Cross-Camp game. When Mike returned to camp in 1992, his brother Ron decided to make them heads of the opposing teams. Ron's team won two out three games. Mike was "shot" off the catwalks by his brother for the first time since joining the staff ranks five summers earlier.

In 1990, Mike was a [[Campfire]] MC with his step-brother Dave Jenkins. Dave and Mike brought back the [[Zambini Brothers]] skit that has been a part of Birch Rock for almost 40 years, and even added the 'mirror push-ups' piece to the Zambini show. The two also performed a Saturday Campfire over at Waganaki(during Waganaki's final season) where both camps performed skits and Mike and Dave MCed and performed the Zambini Brothers.

Sometime in the winter of 1991, Mike and Evan Farmer adventured up to Maine from Baltimore. The visit brought them to Rich Deering who took them up to Birch Rock for a snowshoe trek around camp. Mike was amazed to ring the bell with no one around and to swing down into the counselors swim tent which was almost buried under feet of snow. It was during that trek to Maine that Mike decided he was going to move there. A year later Mike moved to Portland, Maine to be closer to camp and has been there ever since.
[[Image:MikeM1991.jpg|center|Winter Visit 1991]]
===Summers of 1994-1996===

[[image:Admins94.jpg|thumb|Senior Staff 1994]]
In 1994, Director Brad Smith hired Mike to work as the Program Director and move into the Directors Cabin. Mike's job was to plan and help run the program with Head Counselor Josh Church. This would end up being Josh's last summer.

Mike became [[Head Counselor]] for 1995 and 1996, but in 1996 at the age of twenty-five, Mike announced to Director Rich Deering that he was ready to move on. Shortly after his announcement, Rich Deering approached Mike with an offer of a year-round job as the Associate Director. This marked the beginning of a team that is still in place to this day.

Mike wrote many of the staff skits for Campfire from the mid-90s through 2000. This included the ''[[Prince of Biroca]]'' in 2001, a skit performed on a Sunday afternoon in the old rifle range turned outdoor theatre. The ''Prince of Biroca'' was a prince and dragon type of skit with elves, witches, knights, etc. He also wrote with help ''(Captain Cream of Wheat and) [[The Hot Cereal Federation]]'', ''[[The Tickle-Me-Elmo Abduction]]'', ''Xfiles'' (comes to Birch Rock), ''the Thesbian Puppets'' and performed with others in a Birch Rock percussion band called ''Spirit World''. But Mike's all time favorites were the ''[[Avid Readers]]'' with Josh Church in 1992 and ''[[Robin Hood and His Morose Men]]'' in 1994.

==Director Years==

===Summers of 1997–1999===
[[image:MikeSebby.jpg|thumb|Mike with Nick Fountain, Sebby Weeks and unknown 1997]]
And so it was that by the end of the summer of 1996 Mike was now working year round as the Associate Director. This was also the time period when Birch Rock was planning for the American Camping Association's accreditation visit in 1997, the first visit from the ACA since the early '80s. Mike and Rich worked closely on the ACA standards, staff training, and many new ways to improve and strengthen the camp. Camp was on the rise.

Mike continued to act as the Head Counselor during these summers and in 1999 worked closely with [[Thomas Joyce]] as he moved into the Head Counselor role. It was around this time that Mike brought the single ding style of bell ringing to announce [[Tree Talk]] on Sundays, a signal to the campers that it's time to settle down. 1999 was the first summer of the new seven week season.

===Summers of 2000–2001===

At this point, Mike and Rich were working more as equals. Mike earned a co-director role and was starting to become much more responsible for the full day-to-day activities at the Rock. In fact, during this time period Rich was concurrently working in downtown Portland during the summer. Starting in the summer of 2000 Birch Rock had more than 100 campers coming through campus every summer, nearly twice as many as BRC had ever had from 1926 to the late '90s.

The Daily Journal, now called the Birch Blog, was started up by Mike on Birch Rock's new website. An idea that was spawned from finding a stack of old daily journals Chief & Onie used to fill out during the summer. Chief would write about the weather that day, what special events were happening and what the key staff had going on that day. The Daily Journal has become an important link for the parents to know what's happening at camp day to day, and has also turned Mike into camp's photo journalist. Since 2000, Mike has been one of Birch Rock's key photographers.

===Summers of 2002-2009===
[[Image:2007-08-04 3.jpg|thumb|Mike in front of the plaque commemorating his 25 years with Birch Rock, 2007]]
With Birch Rock bigger then ever and much maintenance work still to be done, the Board of Directors decided to promote Rich into an Alumni Director and Development role. Mike was offered the Camp [[Director]] position. Mike and Rich continue to be the perfect team with Rich's marketing skills and Mike's program running experience.

In 2005, the Director's Cabin, Mike's home for ten consecutive summers, was torn down and a new cabin named [[Chief's Cabin]] was built in its place. The new cabin was the first insulated building on campus but it would stand for only four summers. It burned down four days before Opening Day of 2008. Mike moved into [[Lion's Den]] for the 2008 summer. It was the first time he lived somewhere on campus other than right on the driveway since the summer of 1993, fourteen years prior.

During the summer of 2007, Rich Deering led the camp in celebrating Mike's service with "Mike Mattson Day", a day that ended in a plaque for Mike on the wall in the lodge. The plaque was placed on the wall right by the table that Mike has been the head of for many summers. Mike had been dreaming of one day earning one of those plaques for most of his time at camp, so this was certainly a major moment in his camp career, and such an honor.

The new Chief's Cabin, reincarnated in the same insulated glory as in 2005, returned Mike to his perch along the driveway for the summer of 2009.

[[Image:Mike Arrowhead.JPG|center|Burning the BRC Arrowhead into the outdoor slide]]

===Summers of 2010-2013===
[[Image:DSC 0922.JPG|thumb|Mike and Ryan Massey running the BRC Ice Cream Truck]]
For the summer of 2010, Mike wanted a special surprise for the campers as often as possible. The idea was to not repeat anything done in recent years like Backwards Day or Geronimo Pep Rallies. The Program was to have the stuff be new to everyone even the senior camper who's been around for the last six summers. The staff also moved a couple things forward into the first session so the first session guys would get to see them too, like the flour cake. Mike's best ideas for 2010 included setting up a battle between 3000 tan army men and 3000 green army men in Pete's Palace, while the boys were on their trip, (here's a link to video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQSrITbNXA]), the BRC ice cream truck with happy 50's ice cream guys using words like "kiddo" and "swell", and le Lodge, which was about transforming the lodge into a five star restaurant with menus and everyone in character, and so much more. The BRC Ice Cream truck was extremely popular. Mike and Ryan played a Caribbean version of "The Entertainer" while delivering snacks with an overly happy attitude, just perfect!

In the spirit of 2010, the next two summers had a lot of tremendous energy and creativity. There were a number of different themed dinners and specialty days. These special moments kept the kids excited to play and allowed the regular schedule to flow easier for everyone. With this new program plan of constant creative fun and surprises, Ryan Massey and Mike decided to start promoting longer stays at the Rock with the campers. Many campers were starting to extend and we were starting to see a real increase in full season campers. As long as there was plenty of new fun for the boys to enjoy and keep them entertained enough, they were in. They love it at the Rock! 2011 and 2012 were the transition years showing real growth. Growth coming from the staff and a very strong program.

The big highlight in 2012 was Geronimo Weekend. An amazing weekend of good times focused entirely on Ryan Massey's Geronimo game. There was a whole story and plan of events, games and learning lessons formulated and executed by Mike and Ryan. The staff did an amazing job and this one weekend had everyone PUMPED for BRC for summers to come. The campers loved it. Mike also planned a Quest day for the senior campers that weekend. He took them on a whole riddle quest that had them marching all over the hillside. The boys were dressed as the Barbarians of Geronimo, so they roamed campus in face paint and their proud white color. Geronimo Weekend was one of Ryan and Mike's best collaborated pieces in their time working together.

Mike came into the 2013 staff orientation with a plan for the big program meeting. He showed the staff the 1926 brochure and Chief's own words for what he wanted Birch Rock to be. Chief wanted a place where a boy can grow and learn how to live and be happy in the outdoors. It was about making boys "campers". Mike explained to the staff that he wanted the target theme of our program to be about outdoor living skills. This placed activities like Nature, Campcraft, Canoeing, Archery, Riflery, etc. as our big players. Mike told instructors of acitivities like Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis to focus on skills needed to be a good "camper". Skills like teamwork, endurance, building up strength, speed, balance, etc. It's not about the competitive edge in a sport like Soccer. It's about endurance, teamwork, communication. Mike told the staff in 2013 to plan the entire program with making them great "campers" in mind.

===Summers of 2014-2017===
[[Image:Jeffrey_and_Larch.JPG|thumb|Jeffrey and the Larch 2015]]
In 2014, Mike focused much of his energy on the Nature program at Birch Rock. He spent a lot of time bringing in items and redesigning the Hatchery (the ole "Fish Hatchery" or the original "Allen Kearns Library" on the waterfront), bringing in a 55 gallon fishtank and a few other tanks, books, homemade posters specific to Lake McWain, tree ID displays, etc. After 2014, in the off-season, Mike decided to take a closer look at the Nature program and perhaps rewrite it to better fit a new direction for the activity. The focus for Nature was going to be on learning to observe. Campers will observe, gather data (using nature journals, writing or art), research, identify and then eventually present to the camp. The aim will be to get campers more excited and fascinated by what's living around them. The focus will be on what lives here on campus.

Establishing the BRC Arboretum at camp has been a dream of Mike's for almost 2 decades. In 1997, Mike watched as Dick Penley arranged for two Sugar Maples to be added to the lodge area post reconstruction, in memory of his parents. Mike was amazed by the thought of these two small trees growing into giants before his eyes. This triggered Mike down the path of planting his own trees at BRC, so he got on the phone with Ryck Birch and started talking about establishing an arboretum of trees, bringing as many varieties of trees to the camp grounds as possible so the kids can observe, identify and enjoy. After years of planting different trees, protecting them with a fence in their early years and then watching them grow large enough to have that fence removed, it was time to announce the arboretum to the community and begin tracking specific trees of specific species as they grow over the years. This data gathering, observing and care will fall to the Nature program. As the Arboretum gets promoted more and more, children will get more involved and want to plant their own trees around camp. In 2015, Jeffrey NK planted the first Larch at camp, near Pete's Palace.

Identifying all the species on campus and accumulating the data into a file in the Nature building is another dream of Mike's. To know what lives HERE at camp and everything we can about these creatures is plenty of research for campers for many years to come and teaches them to put their head where there feet are. When the Minks were found on the waterfront and researched it was learned that they spray a musk much like skunks but not with the same accuracy, when we found the Ringneck Snake and researched it, we learned that they are constrictors who live in the leaves and underbrush eating salamanders and slugs, or when Marcos caught the huge Fallfish, we learned that the Fallfish is one of the largest minnows in North America and can get up to 20" long. Nature is all around us all you have to do is look.

In 2017, Mike started ordering Tree ID signs from Voss signs out of New York. These signs will be distributed all over camp to the Arboretum trees. They will help the Junior Maine Guide candidates and Nature campers learn to identify the trees around them. Interest in the variety of trees growing on campus will grow as well. The Nature program is really taking off thanks to the spark Mike put back into the program and of course the hard work of all the staff members who teach Nature on a regular basis.

===Summers of 2018-2020===
[[Image:Simon 2019.jpg|thumb|Simon, 4th of July 2019]]
Mike's a family man now. He is a very proud father of two boys, Simon & Reid, and absolutely loves when they comes to visit him when he's at camp during the summer. The young men of Birch Rock have been wonderfully welcoming, giving Simon high-fives and fist-bumps and always so happy to see Reid. They also love to call Simon the "Prince of Biroca" which is a very cute reference to a popular repeat staff skit that Mike wrote. Simon at this point sort of just wanders around the lodge following one parent or the other. He also loves Uncle Dicky (Rich Deering) and spends a lot of time visiting Onie's Cabin. We cannot wait to see Reid at Birch Rock this coming summer.

At camp, Mike devotes much of his time to the Nature program, trees on campus and the camp arboretum, the homesick campers (this is Mike's specialty), and mentoring and managing the staff. Mike also spends time tracking and managing the behavior management at camp through communication, sit downs with campers, notes from staff, and data collection. Mike enjoys puzzles and the cabin lists and table lists are his puzzles. These assignments of where a camper has to be, who they have to live with and relate to, and who they will be seeing every day are carefully thought out and planned. Trying to the get the campers in the right cabin, with the right staff members can be a very difficult juggling act and cabin assignments are precisely thought out on many levels.

Mike is also an ideas man and loves to use his years of experience at camp to help the younger staff come up with fun ideas for staff skits, program planning, new games, cabin parties, and general sideshow spontaneity. Daily meetings with other admins on the hillside keeps the place always alive with activity and good times.

==Family Life==

On September 17, 2016, Mike married Rebecca Brophy (Becca worked at Birch Rock for four summers from 2008-2011) in Otisfield, ME about a half hour from Birch Rock. Then everyone drove over to camp for a beautiful reception. There were many Birch Rockers in attendance including: Ron Mattson, Dave Jenkins, Brian Roskow, Rich Deering, Dave Weeks, Seth & Toby Brewster, Janice Walker, Cathy Roland, Erik Joelsson, Mike Herzig, Ryan Royalty, Jonas Mikolaynuas, Josh Pincus, Josh Church, Seth Wheeler, Jared Levine, Ryck Birch, James Nelson, Thomas Joyce, Charlie MacDonald, Jacob Brophy and DJ Lenza Latendresse. Lenza did an amazing job DJing and the lodge dance floor was active all night.

The lodge was decked out with lights and paper lanterns and there was a large tent out in the grove. The weather was perfect, the music was grand, the drinks were flowing and a good time was had by all. The Mattsons are forever grateful that the Brewsters allowed the wedding on campus. The camp had not had a wedding celebration on campus in many years. Loyalty has its privileges.

A year later on September 8, 2017, Mike and Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and future Birch Rocker, Simon James Mattson. Simon's first outfit in the hospital was a custom made Birch Rock onesie. Many have asked Mike when Simon will be moving into Hilton. Mike's response, "Hilton? Simon will be living in Chief's at age two if I have anything to say about it. After all, I make the cabin list." It will be great to have a baby boy on campus. There will be plenty of "Big Brother" babysitters.

During camp, summer of 2019, as Simon was on the verge turning two, his brother arrived! On July 23, 2019, Reid Gregory Mattson was born. Reid was born at the start of week 5 of the season, just a few days after second session's opening day. Mike was off campus for a few days and then back in the action as a proud father of an almost 10 pound baby boy. Another Birch Rocker is born. While Simon was a pretty calm baby himself, Reid is just sweet as can be.

Mike's hoping the Mattson boys will love their summers at the Rock and will one day work along side him in the staff ranks. But I guess we have a few years to go before that happens.

<gallery>
Image:BRC_at_wedding.jpg|Wedding Reception at BRC 2016
Image:Simon_BRC.jpg|Simon Mattson 2017
Image:ReidMattson.jpg|Reid Mattson 2019
</gallery>

==Biroca Blast Photo Books==

In the summer of 2014, Mike started working with Picaboo books to make photo albums of the camps memories. The idea being that while the old Biroca Blast was great for memories that fact that the books were made of simple paper meant that they were often falling apart on people or getting lost in stacks in their attic. These new photo books are more expensive but should last much longer and are less likely to be lost. Mike has done every book from 2014-2018. In 2019, Peter Brewster took on the photo book and did a wonderful job.

<gallery>
Image:Biroca Blast 2014.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2015.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2016.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2017.jpeg
Image:Biroca Blast 2018.jpeg
</gallery>

==Plaque Work==
[[Image:Mike Painting 2012.JPG|thumb|Painting an activity group header plaque, Bobcats]]
In 2005, Mike joined a few other staff members in working on the [[plaques]] for the lodge wall. Mike added the woodburned animals and a few painted plaques. The 2005 and 2006 group headers were animal woodburns and offered a look that was a new addition the lodge walls.

The 2007 Header plaque was a dedication to Birch Rock as a whole. Note the small birch on the Rock at the base of the tree, which is symbolic of a rebirth and new beginnings for the place (there is currently a small tree on the Rock).

The 2008 Header speaks more of the 2008 summer directly. On the left side of the plaque are the two dogs (Kiko & Gritz) who perished in the fire just before the first session started. They stand down by the bell and behind them there is an empty space where [[Chief's]] had been. The right side is a picture of the new Brewster Health Lodge, built just before the 2008 season.

We decided to put the 2011 plaques in an unusual spot in the lodge. Every inch of space in the lodge is becoming valuable real estate for plaques. It was decided to have a nice 2011 Header in the point of the triangle. Mike decided to have the Birch tree grow right up through the number one in 2011.

The 2012 Header and the plaques themselves are connected entirely to an amazing Geronimo weekend during Week 3 of the summer. The Header is from the Friday night pep-rally that started the weekend going. The spirits can be seen on the edges of the group. The activity group header plaques were painted in a Haida art style to go with the Geronimo theme. And the four spirit words go around the border of the plaques.

In 2014, the staff were called Knights of Biroca, and Ryan Massey offered a new game for the campers called "Battle for Biroca". The Header plaque has a shield and sword in memory of the Knights.

During the end of the summer in 2019, Matt Rotman asked if Mike wanted to add something to the last piece of wood on the plaques, since there was an extra board. Mike painted out the animals in the activity group names walking in harmony together; Bears, Raptors (Eagles, Buzzards & Owls), Wolves, and Otters.

<gallery>
Image:2005 Animal Header.jpg|2005 Elk Header being burned
Image:Plaq065.jpg|2006 Cougar Header being burned
Image:2007Header.jpg|2007 Header
Image:Plaq072.jpg|2007 Activity Group Headers, woodburned
Image:2008Header.jpg|2008 Header
Image:005.JPG|2011 Header
Image:2012 Header.JPG|2012 Header
Image:2012 Wolves Header.JPG|2012 Wolves Header
Image:2012 Plaques.JPG|2012 Plaques
Image:2014 Header.JPG|2014 Header
Image:Footer 2019.jpg|2019 Footer
</gallery>

==Mike's Summers at the Rock==

[[Image:zimzam2.jpg|thumb|Zambini Brothers 2010]]
[[Image:MikeM2.jpg|thumb|left|St Croix River Trip 1990]]
[[Image:MikeM8.jpg|thumb|Cabin Competition 1995]]
[[image:MikeCIT.jpg|thumb|left|Mike after a CIT skit 1987]]
[[Image:SpiritWorld.jpg|thumb|Spirit World 1999]]
[[Image:MikeMHeadC.jpg|thumb|left|Head Counselor Mike Mattson]]
[[image:MikeM1992.jpg|thumb|Mike as Waterfront Director in 1992, note the new (2nd year) catwalks. Josh Church in water and Chuck Hatcher in distance]]
[[Image:HotCFed.jpg|thumb|left|Captain Cream of Wheat and The Hot Cereal Federation]]
[[Image:Simon Mike 2019.jpg|thumb|left|Simon joins his dad during announcements 2019]]

<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Role
!Note
|-align="center"
|1983
|Cabin 5
|Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|''foolish''
|''regretted it''
|-align="center"
|1985
|Cabin 7
|Senior Camper
|with Counselor Paul Voss
|-align="center"
|1986
|Pete's Palace
|Counselor-in-Training
|with CIT Director John Mason
|-align="center"
|1987
|Cabin 1
|Junior Counselor
|Basketball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1988
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Basketball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1989
|Cabin 1
|Counselor
|Volleyball, Baseball, Archery, Swimming
|-align="center"
|1990
|Pete's Palace
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1991
|''skipped''
|''missed it''
|''visited & helped out for 6 days''
|-align="center"
|1992
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1993
|Cabin 8
|Waterfront Director
|Senior Camper Counselor
|-align="center"
|1994
|Director's Cabin
|Program Director
|Program With Head Counselor Josh Church
|-align="center"
|1995
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1996
|Director's Cabin
|Head Counselor
|Program
|-align="center"
|1997
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1998
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|continued as Head Counselor
|-align="center"
|1999
|Director's Cabin
|Associate Director
|Program with Head Counselor Thomas Joyce
|-align="center"
|2000
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2001
|Director's Cabin
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Rich Deering
|-align="center"
|2002
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2003
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2004
|Director's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Director's Cabin torn down in fall '04
|-align="center"
|2005
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|old Chief's built in winter '05
|-align="center"
|2006
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|old Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2008
|Lion's Den
|Camp Director
|old Chief's burned down in June '08
|-align="center"
|2009
|new Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|new Chief's built in winter '09
|-align="center"
|2010
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|birth of the BRC Ice Cream Truck
|-align="center"
|2011
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|(Haida themed) 2012 Plaques
|-align="center"
|2013
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2014
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|extra attention to Nature program
|-align="center"
|2015
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Established the BRC Arboretum
|-align="center"
|2016
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|New Tree ID signs
|-align="center"
|2018
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Simon's first summer at camp
|-align="center"
|2019
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid is born during camp
|-align="center"
|2020
|Chief's Cabin
|Camp Director
|Reid's first summer at camp
|-
|}
</div>

[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T18:05:52Z

Seve: /* Rich's Summers at the Rock */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-Present ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg|thumb|Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T18:05:23Z

Seve: /* Rich's Summers at the Rock */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-Present ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
[[Image:Rich honors Matt Rotman with a Decade Club Vest 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]

File:Rich & Matt 2019.jpeg

2019-12-09T18:04:24Z

Seve:

Rich Deering

2019-12-09T18:00:53Z

Seve: /* Rich's Summers at the Rock */

[[Image:RichD.jpg|thumb|Rich and his dog Roxie 2002]]
Rich Deering is currently Birch Rock's first Alumni Director, a position he has held since 2002. Before that Rich held many roles at Birch Rock: He was the assistant director to [[Brad Smith]] for a couple summers in the mid-'90s, and was [[Head Counselor]] in the mid-'80s, but probably enjoyed his [[Waterfront Director]] years in the '80s the most. Since being Waterfront Director, Rich can still often be found on the waterfront helping with Instructional Swim.

In the mid-'90s, when the Board of Trustees hired Director Brad Smith, Rich was the perfect man to assist Brad in settling in and recovering the somewhat dwindling Birch Rock. Rich's business savvy and amazing sales ability have always been strengths for the camp community, but it is his love for the Rock and knowledge of its history that was of great use to Brad and the camp in the '90s and today.

Rich will likely be best remembered for what he did during his own summers as [[Camp Director]]. Brad did a terrific job of keeping the camp numbers up enough to stay afloat, but it was Rich who took the camp to the next level. He did this in many ways such as getting the camp accreditated by the American Camp Assocation, hired a seasoned and talented staff, expanded the camp season from six weeks to seven, launched Family Camp and Maine Wilderness Adventure programs, worked closely with the Board of Trustees on facility management, financial stablity and much more....

Rich has always said that, "...camp is a place of life-long learning for all, no matter what your age."

== Life Before Birch Rock ==
Rich grew up in Falmouth, Maine. The youngest child and only son of Jack and Ann Deering, Rich came from a family where summer residential camp was the core of one's summers. Both his mom and dad attended summer camp as children, and his two elder sisters spent many summers at Camp Se Sa Ma Ca in Raymond, NH.

At the age of eight, his dad and mom toured his father's alma mater, Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake as a possibility for Rich in the summer of 1973. However, the Deerings close family friends from Cape Elizabeth, ME - Bob & Helen Cleaves insisted that they tour Birch Rock in East Waterford as a possible alternative as their sons, Bobby and Harry were currently campers and the second Cleaves generation. Upon entering the campus and touring with Assistant Director Mike Deneault, the Deerings savored the spirited energy and saviored the delicious home-made brownies of Chef Albert. Birch Rock became Rich's new summer home, and the rest of his life journey began........

== Camper Years ==
[[image:RichDkid.jpg|thumb|He has always been at home on the BRC Waterfront]]
=== Summer of 1973 ===

Rich's memories from his first year at camp from the 2001: A Short History booklet:
<blockquote>
The carved names, the stuffed animals, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, popovers with jam and brownies that tasted like fudge, everybody saying hello and introducing themselves to me—those are memories of my first hour at camp. I do not remember my parents leaving, but I do remember the bell ringing loudly, calling us together. My first summer at Birch Rock had started.
</blockquote>
Rich will always have fond memories of hot cocoa, polar bear swims, operation motivation and the [[Midnight Phantom]] to name a few. Rich also talks often about his time spent with [[Onie Brewster]] in the library as he was tutored daily with his lifelong friend Harry Cleaves.

=== Summer of 1974-1978 ===
After spending his first year in the cabin's relatively new deluxe cabin, Hilton B, Rich enjoyed his six camper years in both lower and upper camp. Tennis, riflery, archery, campcraft and swimming were his primary activities of choice. However, the mountain trips along the Applachian trails with Mike Apicelli and Nat Weeks were some of his fondess memories.

== Staff Years ==
[[image:DaveNRichD.jpg|thumb|Dave Needle & Rich in the early '80s]]
=== Summers of 1979-1981 ===
Rich was a cabin counselor at the young tender age of 15. During Rich's staff summers he taught mostly swimming and tennis. Rich seems to best remember the years he was a staff member in the Upper Camp quad, Eagles Nest and Buzzard's Roost. The teenagers seemed to best fit Rich's talents as a counselor. Rich was able to reign them in with ease and a firm commitment to teach campers to "Put Your Head Where Your Feet Are."

=== Summers of 1982-1985 ===

When Rich moved into the administrative ranks on campus it was a natural fit for him to be the Waterfront Director. He always had a love for swimming and the swim area was a terrific venue to work with all ages and stages of campers each and every day. Rich was known to push the kids hard to learn and would often focus on endurance with long swims and long periods of treading water and survival skills. Rich specialized in Basic Rescue and Water Safety as well as ARC Lifesaving.

At the end of the season, Rich and the other waterfront staff would dress up in "costumes" and act as waterfront gods on a throne. Each camper would enter the counselor's swimtent (the [[Moose Manor]]), an area they were never allowed to go into, and bow before the swim gods. After being tapped on each shoulder by a sort of plunger scepter (a swim snorkel), Rich as the Waterfront Director would inform the camper that he passed his swim course that season. It was always entertaining.

In 1985, Rich became the camp's Head Counselor but of course could always be seen helping in the swim area and in fact taught a few classes everyday. Rich was a well organized Head Counselor, and even at that point you could see a developing Camp Director in the making. [[Mike Mattson]] and Rich both fondly remember Rich sending then [[Senior Camper]] Mike into the kitchen at least twenty times that summer to work with Janice. Mike loved it! It was the beginning of a life-long mentoring partnership and friendship........

===Summer of 1988===
Rich returned to work with the CIT group. This particular group was to be CITs for a second summer in a row because Birch Rock decided to move the CIT age to 16. Rich worked with CITs Adam Whinston,Evan Farmer, Matt Woodworth and Tom Bull to name a few. It was during this summer, that Rich began to learn more about the overall organizational operation of BRC from his mentor and lifelong friend, Toby Brewster. For the past four years, Toby was the camp's director and he surrounded himself with a core cabinet of faithful Birch Rockers including his brother Seth, Ryck Birch, Scott MacGregor, Harry Cleaves and the ever constant and dedicated: Donald Munn and Janice Walker.

== Director Years ==

=== Summers of 1993–1995 ===
[[image:RichBrad1993.jpg|thumb|left|Rich & Brad Smith at the 1993 Waterford Parade]]
In 1993, Director Brad Smith hired Rich to be his Assistant Director. Rich had Birch Rock deep in his fabric, which helped make him the perfect assistant to Brad who was entirely new to the BRC community. Rich had remembered and absorbed each and every detail taught to him as a camper and young counselor over the years and was a fountain of information in a time when there was no real written history. Rich ended up being a link between BRC's heroes of the past and its new legends of the future.

Although Rich was unable to return in 1994 he was right back on campus at Brad's side in 1995, and by the next season was the first full-time Camp Director.

For both 1993 & 1995, Rich used his own CIT program that he had worked on as a part of his Masters degree in Adult Education and Counseling. The first year it was a difficult program to truly implement because we only had one Super CIT, Andre Ezequelle, but in 1995 Rich had a great CIT group: Thomas Joyce, Bret Ingold, and Tyler Johnston.

=== Summers of 1996–2001 ===

[[image:RichDMikeM1993.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike Mattson on a day off in 1993]]
Rich stepped up into the Camp Director role in 1996, and he continued the up hill march that Brad had started in helping BRC grow. Rich noted that there was very little documented history over the past decades and new camp regulations and external expectations had to be put in place. With the help of the beloved and giving Brewster Family and Trustees,years of BRC history and records were gathered from files, photos, equipment, etc. and organized to help build the camp foundation and launch the community for the next century. Although it was a supreme and daunting task, Rich spent much of 1996 reaching out to to the past Birch Rock Family, so that the present community could be stronger and preserved.

[[Image:RichPuppet.jpg|thumb|left|Mike gets puppet of bearded Rich made 2001]]
He also started to connect with the other camps and researched returning Birch Rock to accreditation status with the American Camping Association (ACA). Rich hired [[Mike Mattson]] as a year round employee at the end of the summer of 1996. The plan was for Birch Rock to be visited in the summer of 1997 and there was much work to be done. Under Rich's leadership and diligence, and with the assistance of a few of the key staff members, the ACA standards book was prepared, along with all the other on campus manual and we would master the accreditation visit. The Birch Rock staff that summer was top notch, as always.

Thanks to all that hard work and the extra efforts to come over the next few summers Birch Rock was beginning to grow. After the summer of 1998, Rich reported continued growth and the Board of Trustees endorsed the change of the program season from 6 weeks to 7 weeks. In 2000 a new cabin, [[Owl's Perch]] was built with beds for more campers. This new cabin pushed Birch Rock passed the 100+ campers per summer mark.

It was sometime late '90s that Rich and Dave Jenkins created the Quest activity. This zen-like activity which focused primarily on communication and listening. Had the boys focus on themselves and their Birch Rock myth. This was a great way for Rich to get some quality time with individual campers. This activity was around for about 3 or 4 summers.

Also, during the summer of 2000, Rich, with help from Mike Mattson, along with Camp Runoia Director Pam Cobb and their Trip Leader Todd Erler developed a new coed trip program for BRC's older campers. This was the Maine Wilderness Adventure program which started up in 2001. In 2001, Roxie, Rich's dog, arrives on the scene.

=== Summers of 2002-Present ===
[[image:MikeMRichDRock.jpg|thumb|Rich & Mike with Kiko & Roxie 2007]]
With so much growth and positive momentum it was time for a slight shift in roles and responsibilities. Although the Deering/Mattson team stayed together, Richard redirected much of his energies to the external camp community as the camp's new Alumni Director. He focused on fundraising and development as the camp started up a major campaign: A Call for Character.

Not including his membership with the American Camping Association, Rich has spent much of his recent camp years getting to know the camping industry all over the state. His interest in Maine youth camping in general motivated him to become the President of the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2007. Rich has developed strong relationships with many Camp Directors in the state and has called upon those connections a number of times to the benefit of Birch Rock.

At this point, with so many summers under his belt, Rich wears many hats for Birch Rock. Ultimately, the fact is he still finds himself down on the waterfront teaching swimming where he himself learned as a camper. He continues to be an important link between the old brc history and the new legends that are present and future leaders.

Rich has been recognized with one of the grandest honors at Birch Rock, a special plaque on the wall in the lodge for his many summers of service to the Rock.

== Rich's Summers at the Rock ==

[[Image:RichD1.JPG|thumb|left|Rich and Roxie]]
[[Image:Swim81.JPG|thumb|Waterfront Staff 1981]]
[[Image:Mike&Rich.jpg|thumb|left|Mike & Rich]]
[[Image:MikeandRich2019.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Mattson & Rich 2019]]
<div align="center">
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cabin
!Status
!Note
|-align="center"
|1973
|Hilton A
|Camper
|with Counselor Chris Carney
|-align="center"
|1974
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Tom Amezholt
|-align="center"
|1975
|Cabin 3
|Camper
|with Counselor Cam Miller
|-align="center"
|1976
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Phil Goodwin
|-align="center"
|1977
|Eagle's Nest
|Camper
|with Counselor Ben Brewster & Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1978
|Cabin 8
|Camper
|with Pete Haas
|-align="center"
|1979
|Cabin 3
|Junior Counselor
|w/campers Glenn Brengel, Kit Carson
|-align="center"
|1980
|Cabin 2
|Counselor
|w/campers John Russell, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1981
|Cabin 4
|Counselor
|w/campers Will White, Spaulding Goetze
|-align="center"
|1982
|Buzzard's Roost
|[[Waterfront Director]]
|w/ campers Spaudling Goetze, Rob Mendelsohn
|-align="center"
|1983
|[[Buzzard's Roost]]
|Waterfront Director
|w/Ron Mattson, Rob Christie
|-align="center"
|1984
|''skipped''
|
|
|-align="center"
|1985
|The Swordfish
|[[Head Counselor]]
|Program Director
|-align="center"
|1986
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1987
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1988
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[CIT Director]]
|
|-align="center"
|1989
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1990
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1991
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1992
|Trustee
|
|
|-align="center"
|1993
|[[Lion's Den]]
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1994
|Trustee
|
|-align="center"
|1995
|Swordfish
|Assistant Director
|worked with Brad Smith
|-align="center"
|1996
|[[Swordfish]]
|[[Camp Director]]
|Full-time @ BRC
|-align="center"
|1997
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|ACA Accreditation
|-align="center"
|1998
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Campus Capital Improvements begin
|-align="center"
|1999
|Swordfish
|Camp Director
|Expand to 7 week season
|-align="center"
|2000
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with [[Mike Mattson]]
|-align="center"
|2001
|Swordfish
|Co-Director
|Ran Camp with Mike Mattson
|-align="center"
|2002
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New MWA and FC Programs
|-align="center"
|2003
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Launch Campaign:
|-align="center"
|2004
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Boathouse
|-align="center"
|2005
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Chief's Cabin
|-align="center"
|2006
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2007
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Elected Pres of ME Youth Camps
|-align="center"
|2008
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|New Infirmary
|-align="center"
|2009
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2010
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2011
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2012
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2013
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|Roxie's last summer
|-align="center"
|2014
|Swordfish
|Alumni Director
|the Swordfish gets torn down after camp
|-align="center"
|2015
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2016
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2017
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2018
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-align="center"
|2019
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|Launches the BRC Ambassadors
|-align="center"
|2020
|Onie's Cabin
|Alumni Director
|
|-
|}
</div>
[[Category:People]]