Soccer

Soccer Game 1980s

Soccer has been one of the top field activities for many summers. For many years Birch Rock took great pride in it's soccer team. The soccer coach would hold tryouts, announce the team, hold practices and prepare the goaly before the big game against one of the area camps. The chief rivalry for many summers was with Waganaki until they closed in 1989.

Don at Waganaki soccer game in the '80s

• In the '80s, the campers would run up the hill from the Birch Rock and due a lap around the field as a warm up and would do many endurance drills. When it was time for the big game over at Waganaki, the Birch Rock boys would jog over to Waganaki's soccer field with a "Woot" chant. Once at the field the team would run down and around the rivals who are strecthing on their end. Back then there was often a staff game held after the camp game. For a couple summers Don Munn and Dickey Briggs would arrive dressed as women or clowns or some other crazy outfits and cheer from the sidelines.

• In 1994, Birch Rock had it's first big pep-rally. A large fire was lit in the center of the grove around a stump and the staff did an indian chant to wake up the campers (this was just after lights out) The campers gathered and the staff, dressed as shamans, gave praise to the "gods" and the camp's soccer team. They then announced the teams captains and gave them their own praise and salute.