Ron Mattson

Ron Mattson & Joe Curry as Campfire MCs 1987

Ron Mattson spent 10 summers at Birch Rock from 1983-1992. Ron was BRC's first Field Director and acted as Head Counselor for a few summers during some of Birch Rock's "thinnest" with low numbers of campers and staff and limited funds for equipment. Ron managed to lead a fairly creative staff who used a tremendous ammount of imagination to keep the campers entertained and coming back for more.

Life Before Birch Rock

Ron attended a day camp or two and one other overnight camp before finding Birch Rock. The private school Ron attended in Baltimore, St Paul's, had a couple of teachers Dave Weeks & Doug Dickey who were promoting Birch Rock and recruiting many of Ron's fellow students. Ron and his brothers were off to BRC for the summer of 1983.

Camper Years

Summers of 1983-1984

Ron & Chris Brandjes mess around on the waterfront 1983

The summer of 1983 Ron arrived at the Rock and was shuttled off to Buzzards Roost to spend the rest of his first summer with counselor Rich Deering and 7 other teenage troublemakers. Dave Weeks and Doug Dickey were so successful in recruiting the Baltimore area that there were 23 Baltimorians out of 56 campers in '83. Many of those young men were straight out of St Paul's. Ron knew everyone and settled in quickly. Ron spent much of his two camper summers up on the field and was awarded ten badges in his first summer. Always quick and willing to tear it up around campus Ron would often come out of the woods during cross camp capture the flag covered in bloody scrapes or slamming into the office to slow his momentum coming down the hill.

Counselor-in-Training Year: 1985

Ron gladly returned to camp eager to move into the staff ranks and give back what he could on the field. Ron focused his CIT training on the field at Baseball but really helped all over the field. His CIT Director that summer was Jerry Curry and they lived in Pete's Palace. Due to limited camper summers Ron swam his Whale during his CIT summer with a time of 2:46.

Staff Years

Summers of 1986-1988

Ron with camper at Pleasant Mountain 1987

Ron's younger staff years were spent on the field at Baseball, Archery, Basketball and would also be used on McWain at canoeing. Ron became a fixture in Upper Camp spending four summers in Eagles Nest as close to the field (his turf) as possible. An entire "generation" of thirteen year olds looked forward to Ron's special mix of fun and creative abuse (powerhouse pillow fights and such). Ron's skills went so deep as to prevent mischief during rest periods by napping with his eyes open. Campers were often seen waving their hands in front of Ron's face to see if he was awake.

Summers of 1989-1992

Ron is credited with being the first Director of Field Activities (Field Director) in 1989. This position was created as a way of moving Ron up the ranks without needing to move someone out. Ron's knowledge and skills commanding the staff on the field and during Evening Activity was so reliable he was asked to return and take over Bob Van Dyk's position as Head Counselor in 1990. Summer of 1990 was one of the camp's most memorable and Ron was in charge. In command of 5 other staff members and 4 CITs, with old equipment and few campers. The early '90s summers were about keeping the campers entertained in whatever way possible. Every staff member taught 3 or 4 different activities and all were all-stars on the stage during Campfire. This was a creative group, and Ron was at the top.

Year	Cabin	Role	Note
1983	Buzzards Roost	Camper	with Counselor Rich Deering
1984	Eagles Nest	Camper	with Counselor Joe Curry & Cort Morgan
1985	Pete's Palace	CIT	with CIT Director Jerry Curry
1986	Eagles Nest	Junior Counselor	Baseball, Basketball, Archery & Canoeing
1987	Eagles Nest	Counselor	Baseball, Basketball, Archery & Canoeing
1988	Eagles Nest	Counselor	Basketball, Baseball, Archery & Canoeing
1989	Eagles Nest	Counselor	Baseball, Archery & Canoeing
1990	Lion's Den	Head Counselor	Program
1991	Swordfish	Head Counselor	Program
1992	Director's Cabin	Head Counselor	Program