Mike "Don Miguel" Appicelli

Mike Appicelli 2008

Michael "Don Miguel" Appicelli has been a member of the camp's community for many decades. He began his time at the Rock as a young enthusiastic camper and will often tell stories of the past. He worked for years in the 1970s for Mike & Phyllis Deneault on the camp's staff. Then in the mid-90s, Mike returned to Birch Rock with his son Dan Appicelli. He continues to return to camp summer after summer to pass what he learned at camp to the next generation. The campers and staff look forward to his arrival every summer.

Summers in 1990s

The 1990s marked the return of Don Miguel to Birch Rock. This time he had a son in tow. Mike's son Dan Appicelli attended the Rock for a few years in the mid-90s. Although eventually Dan would stop coming to camp, Don Miguel kept coming back. He was an important player in reinvigorating the campcraft area and training the next generation of staff in outdoors skills. Don Miguel was also excellent with Birch Rock's latest bunch of young staff members. He would often be seen lending an ear to a couple of the junior staff.

Not only did Don Miguel bring back and strengthen Campcraft on campus, he would also take the boys fishing or golfing as his other two specialties. Both the golfing and fishing activities were normally limited to two or three campers which allowed Don Miguel to focus a lot of quality time with the boys. For the boys to get a good hour or two with a camp legend like this was perfect.

Summers in 2000s

Don Miguel continues to return to Birch Rock as often as he can. Sometimes he's there for a session, sometimes just a couple weeks, but we will take what we can get from this master of the outdoors. Don Miguel often returns to camp with Dave Weeks at his side, and the two dedicate much of their time at camp working with the Cubs Camp group. The Cubs are boys 7-10 years old who are new campers to Birch Rock. These youthful spirits have know idea what they are in for when they march off into the woods with Don Miguel and Dave.

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  Don Miguel with Mike Deneault 1975

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  Don Miguel 1976

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  Dan Appicelli 1995

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  Multi-tasking