Plaques

The plaques are lists of the names of all of the campers at camp each summer that are carved into wood and nailed up on the walls of the lodge. Plaques also include the names of all of the campers who swam their Seal or Whale that year along with their times. The tradition of putting up plaques started in 1926, the first year of camp, and has continued every summer since. While Bill "Chief" Brewster was the director of camp he single handedly carved each summer's plaques using hand tools. After that there was a period when each camper carved his name into a small plaque and all of the individual pieces were nailed up together at the end of the year. Now the plaques are made by a group of counselors using a router. From the year 2001-2007 the plaques became more and more ornate, incorporating carvings of the animals that represent each age group and large top plaques for the year. The 2008 plaques were a departure from this trend, reverting to the 50's style of plaques that does not have age group plaques.

Most of the wall space inside the lodge is now covered with plaques. Old plaques have been moved around the walls to be more efficient with space but soon there will be no more space at all for new plaques.

Facts

• There are some special plaques around the lodge commemorating important things at Birch Rock such as ones for important people
• Along with the normal plaques there are also CIT plaques put up in Pete's Palace
• A few years ago the Senior Campers recorded all of the names from every year on a computer so they will be always preserved

Pictures

• 

  The 2005 plaques (the year piece and long distance swim pieces were later cut down to conserve space)

• 

  The 2006 plaques

• 

  The 2007 plaques

• 

  The 2008 plaques

Plaque Meisters

There have been a number of people who have helped keep the plaque tradition going since Chief died in 1973. Here's the list:

• 1926-1972: William "Chief" Brewster
• 1973: ? and Campers
• 1974: ? and Campers
• 1975: ? and Campers
• 1976: ? and Campers
• 1977: ? and Campers
• 1978: ? and Campers
• 1979: ? and Campers
• 1980: ? and Campers
• 1981: ? and Campers
• 1982: ? and Campers
• 1983: Paul Voss and Campers
• 1984: Paul Voss and Campers
• 1985: Paul Voss and Campers
• 1986: Matt Voss
• 1987: Bob Van Dyk
• 1988: Bob Van Dyk
• 1989: Todd Vincentsen
• 1990: Terence Pincus
• 1991: Colin Leonard
• 1992: Colin Leonard
• 1993: Jared Levine
• 1994: Josh Pincus
• 1995: Jared Levine & Thomas Joyce
• 1996: Todd Vincentsen
• 1997: Thomas Joyce
• 1998: Todd Vincentsen
• 1999: Thomas Joyce
• 2000: Thomas Joyce
• 2001: Galen Arnold
• 2002: Josh Pincus
• 2003: Josh Pincus
• 2004: Allen Lee
• 2005: Galen Arnold, Ryan Massey, Doug Miller & Mike Mattson
• 2006: Ryan Massey, Doug Miller & Mike Mattson
• 2007: Ryan Massey, Doug Miller & Mike Mattson
• 2008: Ryan Massey & Mike Mattson
• 2009:

Making the 2005 Plaques

• 

  Mike burns the Elk

• 

  Mike & Ryan mount the plaques

• 

  2005 Plaque Meisters

Making the 2006 Plaques

• 

  Ryan on the router

• 

  Mike paints routed out letters

• 

  Names get painted

• 

  It's all coming together

• 

  Mike woodburns Cougar header

• 

  Almost finished

• 

  Just before they went up

Making the 2007 Plaques

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Plaq077.jpg