Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Camp Berkshire Report
Strategic Planning & Development Update
7/6/09
1. Greeting from Pastor Jose
2. Summer Camp for Juniors & Teens
3. Executive Committee Votes a Camp Berkshire Master Plan
4. Newly Refurbished Minnesota, with Capacity for 72 people, coming in the fall
5. Volunteers Needed for Special Work Day (Sunday, July 19)
6. Wireless Free Internet Access in the Camp
7. Trading Post/Camp Store
8. Ropes Course & Climbing Wall
9. Go-Karts
10. Health Station
11. Bedding Upgrade
12. Donations Appreciated
13. Upcoming Projects
14. Camp Berkshire Strategic Planning & Development Team
1. Greeting from Pastor Jose
If you have been to Camp Berkshire lately you have probably noticed some changes and improvements on the Campus. The leadership of the Camp (Hector Perez, Manager; Walter Harris, Associate Manager for Development; and Jesus Garcia, Assistant Manager for Maintenance) together with their team are doing great work with the goal that our Camp becomes better than it has ever been. When you see them or anyone on Camp Berkshire’s Staff, please take time to thank them for the many hours of hard work and effort to make Camp Berkshire a place worthy of God and His people. This past Sabbath, 11 people gave their lives to God through baptism right here in Camp Berkshire’s Pool, more will come in the following weeks. We love Camp Berkshire and are working hard to bring it back to what it should be because it is a place where people meet God, make commitments to Him and His Church, a place where lives of children, youth, and adults are changed, and a place where long lasting memories, which strengthen the relationship with God and the Church are created.
Following, we are including a Ministry Report and a few Development Updates:
2. Summer Camp for Juniors & Teens
For the first time in years Camp Berkshire is offering a Summer Camp Program. Junior Camp took place from
June 28 -July 5 and the Teen Camp is presently ongoing (July 5-July 12). Information for Camp Berkshire’s 2010 Summer Camp Program will be coming shortly. Begin to make plans for your children and teens’ Summer Camp in 2010 at Camp Berkshire.
3. Executive Committee Votes a Camp Berkshire Master Plan
After one year of hard work, visioning sessions, research, surveys, brainstorming, and strategic planning, Camp Berkshire’s Development and Strategic Planning Team presented the Suggested Master Plan for the Camp to the Greater New York Conference Executive Committee. After the presentation and a good session of questions and answers, the Master Plan was voted on Sunday, May 31. On Monday, June 1, we visited the Headquarters of the Town of Dover got all the applications and submitted them a few days later. Tonight we are meeting with the Planning Board of the Town of Dover. We do not anticipate the final permit for our entire Master Plan tonight; we know the process will take several months. There will be public hearings, environmental studies, some bargaining among other things. We are committed to follow through with this process and your prayers, support, and feedback are appreciated through the process.
The presentation to the Executive Committee was clear at pointing out that executing a Master Plan takes a long-term commitment, which requires the united effort, prayers, and financial support of Conference Administration, Camp Management, Local Churches, and each individual constituent.
Quality Worship Space
The Master Plan emphasizes the vision of the Camp to “Meet God in Nature” and includes the suggested improvement and additions to the indoor and outdoor corporate worship areas, as well as personal worship space, prayer gardens, and hiking trails for children, youth, and adults.
Training, Break-Out, & Meeting Space
The Master Plans makes provision for workshop rooms, meeting rooms, making Camp Berkshire a friendly place for retreats and conventions.
Comfortable Lodging
The suggested lodging space in the Master Plan increases to about 1,100 beds, most of them would be usable year-round. The suggested lodging facilities are varied, ranging from dorm style dormitories, retreat family lodges, family suites, honey-moon style cabins, RV Park, and Camping Sites. Presently there are only 72 beds usable year-round. The rest of the cabins can only be used late spring, summer, and early fall, while the weather is warm.
Fellowship & Recreation
Fellowship, recreation, physical activity, and enjoyment in nature is part of God’s plan for individuals of all ages. The Master Plan also suggests for the creation and improvement of recreational areas such as: a nature Center with an Observatory/Planetarium, Camp Downtown Street, pool area for kids & surf pool, kids playground, climbing wall and ropes course, separate softball and soccer fields, indoor and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, bike trails, Lake Beachfront with canoes and boats.
Summer Camp
The Master Plan also suggests a separate area for Summer Camp; this way summer camp and campmeeting can take place at the same time without major space limitations.
This Master Plan is the result and the shared vision of the Greater New York Conference. Your suggestions, comments, answers to surveys were taken very seriously, and the Master Plan just voted reflects our collective dream for our Camp. We are shooting for the stars, not everything will be done overnight; we will need town permits, public hearings, more approvals, and lots of money; Now we have a vision that has been voted (this had never happened before), an authorized sense of direction, and the approval to work for something big and excellent.
4. Newly Refurbished Minnesota, with Capacity for 72 people, coming in the fall
The rooms will have two queen size beds, full bathroom, wood floors, air conditioning and heater with a maximum capacity of 4 people per room. This building will be surrounded by a deck; will be a self- contained building with a kitchen, fellowship hall, and work out room. Though the bad weather has set the development crew back a few days, they are working hard to get it ready for the fall. This building will be perfect for small church retreats and groups. Following you will see a picture of BEFORE and the progress that has been made.
BEFORE
PROGRESS
5. Volunteers Needed for Special Work Day (Sunday, July 19)
Sunday, July 19 will be a work day at Camp Berkshire. We need volunteers to donate some hours of their time to help the camp in our quest to continue to improve. We need to do some major clean up. If you are able to bring a group from your church, it would be a tremendous blessing to our Camp.
We also need individuals who are specialized in “sheet rocking.”
Work will begin at 9:00 AM. For more information, please contact Camp Manager, Hector Perez,
hperez2183@hotmail.comand (845) 832-6681, or Associate Manager for Development, Walter Harris
Rombo33@aol.comand (646) 528-0901.
6. Free Wireless Internet Access in the Camp
Camp Berkshire now has free wireless internet access. I am writing this update right now, on a picnic table, underneath a tree, in the camping area. Throughout the main hub of the camp, you have free internet access.
7. Trading Post/Camp Store
There is now a Trading Post/Camp Store which is opened in between meal hours and after sundown on Saturday nights. There you can get veggie snacks, veggie drinks, and Camp Berkshire souvenirs.
8. Ropes Course & Climbing Wall
A new ropes course with high elements which are 35 ft high and a 35 ft high climbing wall are being professionally installed right now here at the Camp. Camp Manager Hector Perez expects to open this new attraction on Sunday, July 19.
9. Go-Karts
Four go-karts have already been purchased and used during summer camp in a provisional go karts track. These
Go-karts are also available to your church group, youth group, or club. When coming to Camp Berkshire make sure to reserve them, if interested.
10. Health Station
There is a Health Station at the Camp; you will find it in between the bathhouse and the primary building. The Health Ministries Department of our Conference, under the leadership of Pastor Ruben Merino and Doctor Herbert Goulding equipped it and has coordinated the Physicians and Nurses who are available during our Conference Events. You can’t miss it, it has a big white flag with a Red Cross flying on the entrance.
11. Bedding Upgrade
The old mattresses and metal box springs dating back to the origins of Camp Berkshire have been retired after serving for over 20 years. They have been replaced with up to date mattresses.
12. DONATIONS APPRECIATED & NEEDED
Obviously we are at the very beginning of the development process. A little progress has been made, however there is a long way to go. As we upgrade the facilities of the Camp, donations will be needed. If you would like to donate to the development projects of Camp Berkshire, please send your donation to:
Camp Berkshire
ATT: Development Project
680 Berkshire Road
Wingdale, NY 12594
Some of these projects have been completed but need to be paid for. Others are in process while some others have not yet been started. These are projects we can help with:
Furniture for Motels: $1,995.00 per room (1 Received, 4 Committed, 7 needed)
Road to the Lake: $ 10,750.00
Sidewalks: $5,636.28
Go-Karts: $8,000.00
13. Upcoming Projects
The Camp Berkshire Strategic Planning & Development Team is presently getting ready to recommend the next big project, which will most likely be another lodging project. We are looking at the following buildings: Montana, Georgia, and the old Trading Post. Presently Montana is still in operation; Georgia and the Trading Post are not functional at this point. Refurbishing or rebuilding these three buildings would continue to add to the lodging capacity of Camp Berkshire.
Montana
Georgia
& Trading Post
14. Camp Berkshire Strategic Planning & Development Team
Feel free to share your ideas, opinions, and feedback with me or other team members, they are: Gilberto Alvis, Walter Harris, Jaik Koo, Richard Mills, Hector Perez, Angel Reyes, and Lloyd Scharffenberg.
Many Blessings!!!!
Jose
Pastor Jose H. Cortes Jr.
Director, Adventist Youth Ministries Department
Chairperson, Camp Berkshire Strategic Planning & Development Team
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