Ron Mattson
Ron Mattson spent ten 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 amount of imagination to keep the campers entertained and coming back for more.
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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 as 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.
Summers of 1983‒1984
The summer of 1983 Ron arrived at the Rock and was shuttled off to Buzzard's Roost to spend the rest of his first summer with counselor Rich Deering and seven 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. He 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 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 speedy time of 2:46.
Staff Years
Summers of 1986-1988
Ron's younger staff years were spent on the field at Baseball, Archery, Basketball, and also on Lake McWain at canoeing. Ron became a fixture in Upper Camp, spending four summers in Eagle's 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 to prevent mischief during rest periods went so deep that he napped 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 as 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 were so reliable he was asked to return and take over Bob Van Dyk's position as Head Counselor in 1990.
The summer of 1990 was one of the camp's most memorable and Ron was in charge. He was in command of only five other staff members and four CITs and had old equipment and few campers. The early '90s summers were about keeping the campers entertained in whatever way possible. Every staff member taught three or four different activities and all were stars on the stage during Campfire. This was a creative group, and Ron was at the top.
When Ron was the Head Counselor, he was the one to create the ring style used for Rest Period and Lights Out that we still use to this day. Four sets of two rings while your counting down and three sets of two and a single ring when it's rest period or lights out. Ron's theory was that those cabins far from the bell (Eagles and Buzzards and Cabins 7 & 8) could not here what was being yelled. The single ding made it possible to know the lights out or rest period without having to even listen to what was being hollared.
| Year | Cabin | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Buzzards Roost | Camper | with Counselor Rich Deering |
| 1984 | Eagles Nest | Camper | with Counselors 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 |
