Dave Jenkins
Dave Jenkins has been a member of the Birch Rock community since 1983. After three camper summers, Dave spent a number of summers teaching on the field including acting as Field Director in 1990. Dave served as Waterfront Director for a summer before finding his real calling as a Trip Leader in 1993. For the next eight summers Dave focused much of his energy into reinvigorating Birch Rock's Trip Program. From organizing the trip room and inventory to planning and initiating trips, as well as leading many, Dave single-handedly kept the tradition that had been going on since the days of Buck Hard of every camper going on at least one trip every summer. Dave also improved upon the camp's already established "Leave No Trace" policies and practices and brought the camp into the new century by formulating trip manuals and paperwork for future trip leaders. In 2004, Dave returned to act as Assistant Director and spent much of the summer helping with the medical side of camp.
Dave has also served as the primary trip leader of the Maine Wilderness Adventure program for two summers and has often offered his assistance to the camp's Trip Leaders, even during summers he was not going to attend.
Contents
Life Before Birch Rock
In the winter of 1983, David Weeks and Doug Dickey were recruiting a lot of campers for Birch Rock around the Baltimore area. Doug taught science at St. Paul's School and Doug was at the Glenelg School. Dave was one of Doug's students. Along with his step-brothers Ron and Mike Mattson, Dave was excited to be off to camp in Maine with a bunch of friends from his school in Baltimore. Dave signed up for the full six-week season.
Camper Years
Summer of 1983-'84
Dave arrived at camp excited and maybe a little anxious but was immediately taken in by his cabin counselor Ryck Birch. Although Dave suffered slight bouts of homesickness and sometimes had trouble dealing with his cabin mates, boys a year younger then he was, Dave seemed to enjoy his time hanging out with Ryck and loved the activities and community life. By mid-season the camp realized that Dave was too mature for his cabin and decide to move him to Cabin 6. This was great for Dave because the campers were a better match. Dave still had Ryck Birch next door and now had Cabin Counselor Seth Wheeler. Dave was psyched.
Dave was one of BRC's top jocks on the field and was seen at the field activities all the time. In fact, the summer of 1983 was the last time Birch Rock played its rival Waganaki in a game of baseball, and Dave was Birch Rock's starting pitcher. Dave pitched an awesome game that ended in a shutout. Dave was also the camp's top offense player on the soccer team in '83-85.
Summer of 1985
The next summer, 1985, was Dave's Senior Camper year in Cabin 8 with Seth Wheeler again, back then Cabin 7 & Cabin 8 were often used as the Senior Camper cabins. This was a major summer for Dave, mostly because of his Whale swim. When Dave got ready to swim his Whale there was already a Whale in the water, Kip McManus. Kip was half way around the lake when Dave dove in, and when Kip finished his swim he was the new record holder for fastest camper Whale time. About an hour later, Dave arrived at the docks having broken the record again by coming in three minutes faster than Kip. Dave would hold that record until Jamie Grantham broke it. Dave finished out his camper years having earned almost every badge on the field, except a number of archery badges and was one of the camp's best swimmers.
The Senior Campers went on two big trips 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.
Counselor-in-Training Year: 1986
In the summer of 1986, Dave was thrilled to be heading into the staff ranks. Most of Dave's connections at camp were with people older then he was, and he was truly thrilled to be working along side those he had admired over the last few summers. At this point Dave was being groomed to be a BRC field counselor. In those days everyone taught everywhere but Dave was mostly field focused.
Staff Years
Summers of 1987-1991
Dave was so thrilled to finally be on staff in 1987 and was ready to shine. He was the counselor of the young guys in Hilton B and was teaching field activities. But sadly, Dave started feeling a little sick during Staff Orientation week and by the end of week one he was sent home with a case of mono. Dave would return in 1988 and taught Lacrosse, Soccer, Baseball, and Basketball for the next three summers.
In 1989, Dave and his step-brother Mike created the Volleyball activity at Birch Rock. Dave loved teaching on the field but agreed to become Waterfront Director in 1991 when Mike Mattson skipped the summer. With new catwalks and a decent number of instructors, Dave was able to put together one of the better run swim areas camp has ever had. Mike returned in 1992 and this time Dave took a summer off.
Dave's talent with a volleyball and frisbee were both unmatched through those summers. Dave's long, accurate throws on the Ultimate Frisbee field became essential for his team every time the game was played.
Summers of 1993-2000
Dave returned in 1993. New director Brad Smith asked Dave to help out with the trip program. Brad had planned on many of our trips to be guided by guide companies, but hired David to lead a few of the main trips Birch Rock has always had. Dave was great on the field and waterfront but finally camp had found his calling. With Birch Rock struggling financially for so many summers Dave had inherited a dying Trip Program. Dave spent much of 1993 learning the basics of trip leading, and from 1993-2000 he cleaned and organized the trip room, created a trip manual, etc. In 1998, with plenty of trip experience, Dave was asked to better merge our in-house Campcraft activity with the trips off campus. Dave went to work immediately and began to help improve the Campcraft program.
It was sometime in the early '90s that Dave was a Campfire MC with his step-brother Mike Mattson. 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.
Dave also led Tree Talk for a number of summers. The school teacher came out of him upon every visit to the Rock. It was obvious Dave planned Tree Talk out well each week and had many campers and young staff step up and help out often. One of the best Tree Talks Dave ever led was about Your History in which Dave had people get up and talk about their favorite memories and biggest accomplishments at Birch Rock. Jamie Grantham, who held the camper Whale time record for many years, was visiting and Dave had Jamie talk about the Whale and his experiences leading up to his epic swim.
Summer of 2002
In 2002, Director Mike Mattson hired Dave to be Assistant Director. On top of returning to run his Behavior Mod. program, Dave also served a major role in the Health Lodge in '04. When the camp's nurse needed to leave after two weeks with a family issue, Dave stepped in and took care of the campers and their medications until replacement medical staff could be hired. Dave was a certified Emergency Responder.
Dave helped with office work, communicating with parents, evaluating staff, and many other areas where his experience could be used. Dave could even be seen on the hill teaching basketball or soccer sometimes. He also led a few off campus excursions to the local gardens and one night overnights.
This was the summer Dave developed Birch Rock's new Behavior Modification Program. With his background in teaching, Dave initiated a staff training process and Behavior Mod. program for the camp. The program including how to deal with campers day-to-day, dealing with homesickness and many other tidbits. He also helped form a communication link between the staff and administration in dealing with behavior issues. This new program has helped many campers since deal with their frustrations and other issues.
Another part of this program involved Guiding Principles, which were selected by the staff during Staff Orientation week just prior to each summer. This short lined ideas were dispersed throughout camp and helped remind the campers each day. Ultimately, one principle sits above all is, the camp motto, "Help the Other Fellow"
MWA Years
Summers of 2006-2007
With his 7 summers leading trips for Birch Rock, Dave was a great choice for the MWA program. He would plan the calendar, set up the dates, and help organize and pack all of the gear. Dave's dog Rye was at his side, carrying his own food in his doggy pack, for segments of the trip. Although much of MWA is led by Guide Companies, Dave led the hiking and canoeing sections with a secondary leader. Dave has become an avid photographer in recent years and is credited with many of Birch Rock's best trip pictures over the last decade.
Dave's Summers at the Rock
| Year | Cabin | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Cabin 3, Cabin 6 | Camper | with Counselor Ryck Birch, with Counselor Seth Wheeler |
| 1984 | Buzzard's Roost | Camper | with Counselors Jerry Curry & Chris Maloney |
| 1985 | Cabin 8 | Senior Camper | with Counselor Seth Wheeler |
| 1986 | Pete's Palace | Counselor-in-Training | with CIT Director John Mason |
| 1987 | Hilton B | Junior Counselor | went home with mono. during first week |
| 1988 | Hilton B | Counselor | Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer |
| 1989 | Cabin 3 | Counselor | Volleyball, Lacrosse, Basketball |
| 1990 | Eagle's Nest | Field Director | |
| 1991 | Pete's Palace | Waterfront Director | new catwalks in 1991 |
| 1992 | skipped | ||
| 1993 | Pete's Palace | Trip Leader | |
| 1994 | Cabin 3 | Trip Director | |
| 1995 | Pat's Cabin | Trip Director | |
| 1996 | Pat's Cabin | Trip Director | |
| 1997 | Pat's Cabin | Trip Director | |
| 1998 | Large Tent on Platform | Trip Director | The tent platform was built in 1998 |
| 1999 | skipped | ||
| 2000 | Pat's Cabin | Trip Director | |
| 2001 | skipped | ||
| 2002 | Swordfish | Assistant Director | created Behavior Mod. Program |
| 2003 | skipped | ||
| 2004 | skipped | ||
| 2005 | skipped | ||
| 2006 | off-site | Maine Wilderness Adventure Director | 5th MWA trip |
| 2007 | off-site | Maine Wilderness Adventure Director | 6th MWA trip |
