Updated on 12/02/2007

Hi everyone,

If you are not a returning camper or staff some of this may not make sense to you.  But, I think you will get the general idea.

We plan on making several exciting changes to the program for the summer of 2007.  The main changes are listed below, in no particular order.  I think this will be our most ambitious year yet.  I am already so excited for next summer to arrive.  I hope to see you at camp next summer and would love to get your ideas and feedback.  You can e-mail me at Director@BearRiverRanch.com.

• Change to our camper scheduling.     Science camp will run for nine weeks.  The first three weeks will be for one week campers only.  No camper will stay over between sessions.  (This means that everyone will have off on Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning for the first three weeks of camp, plus one more day of during the week.)  The last six weeks will have three, two week sessions.  Campers can stay two, four or six weeks of camp.

• New Cabin   Arizona will be the newest addition to our western village.  This cabin is being built just past New Mexico. 

• New Cabin Assignments  Our newest cabin Arizona will be used by our female ASITs and extra female staff.  Texas and New Mexico will be the new cabins for Sr. girls.  Tennessee and Kentucky will be the new cabins for Jr. girl.  Boy cabins will be Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama, given in order from youngest to oldest.. 

• New Animal Building   This is what I am the most excited about!  The Animal Learning Center is almost finished.  Animals should move in by the end of December.    The ALC is located just past the chicken coop  on the  left hand side of the road before you get to the barn.  It will have; an animal room (similar to our old animal room.  In fact all the animals from the old animal room will be moved to this room), a reptile room ( a little bit bigger than our old reptile room, an animal enrichment room (for taking out different animals and allowing them to play.  A new jr vet room (much bigger than our old room.  A big food prep kitchen, a bathroom and eight indoor / outdoor pens.  Tabitha (our new office manager) is painting mural on the walls of the outside pens and they are looking fantastic.

• New Trading Post      Our camp store will be moving into the old animal room, which means it will be HUGE!  No more waiting in line to get into the Trading Post during free time.  YEAH!!!  We are looking for suggestions for things that you would like to see in the camp store next summer.

• New Internet Cafe.  The internet cafe will be moved to the old Trading post location.  This means that campers can send e-mails during free time.  We will also schedule every cabin to have 30 minutes in the internet cafe every other day.  This way campers who can never seem to find the time to let their parents know how they are doing will have time in their schedule at least every other day.

• New camp library.   We will be putting a camp library into the new internet cafe.  The shelves that are currently in the room will be filled with books, board games, brain teasers, puzzles that can be checked out be individuals or cabin groups to be used during siesta or cabin group times.  This new location should make it easy access for everyone.  While this room will be locked, the cabin leader from every cabin will have the key.

• New Fishing Pond - Barbara's Pond was drained at the end of the summer.  Scott is in the process of digging it out and making it bigger.  We hope to stock it in the spring.  We will also be renaming the pond.  Any ideas?

• New Staff Lounge - If time permits we have plans on finishing the staff lounge

• New Office Manager - Tabitha Gill is our new part time Office Manager.  She works from 1 pm - 5 pm Monday - Friday.

• New Animals - We have added two really unique animals to our family.  Sarah a two toed sloth and Little Bit is a miniature horse that stands less than 3 feet tall. 

•  Read October Paw Prints for more information and pictures.
•  Read January Paw Prints for more information on our new Animal Learning Center

The following staff are those that I know are planning on returning to camp this summer.

1. Rachel - Assistant Program Director
2. Forrest - Assistant Program Director in charge of animals
3. Melissa - Unit Leader for girls - Cabin Leader youngest Jr girls (Kentucky)
4. Jerome - Unit Leader for boys - Cabin Leader - oldest Sr boys (Alabama)
5. Mallory - Animal Specialist
6. Kelsey - Animal Specialist
7. Sam (Samantha) - Cabin Leader oldest Sr girls (New Mexico)
8. Tosha - Cabin Leader oldest Jr girls (Tennessee)
9. Gin - Cabin Leader youngest Sr girls (Texas)
10. Kim - Arizona cabin  (which will be the cabin used by our female ASIT's)

See you in the summer!

Lori Martin

Owner / Director