Camp Becket

Camp Becket, also known as Camp Becket-in-the-Berkshires, is a YMCA summer camp for boys in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Founded in 1903 by George Hannum on Rudd Pond in Becket, Massachusetts,[1] it is one of the oldest continually operational summer camps in the United States, and is consistently rated among the best camps of its kind. The camp aspires to teach core values espoused by its second director, Henry Gibson.[2]

Chimney Corners Camp
A photo of Chimney Corners campers from the 1930s. Part of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA

Chimney Corners is a single-sex girl's sister camp to Camp Becket situated about a mile away, on Smith Pond. Chimney Corners offers many opportunities for young girls, including horseback riding, tennis, soccer, and many other sports and arts activities. The camp is divided into three different age groups: The Junior Unit (cabins named after famous ships), for girls ages 7–11; The Intermediate Unit (cabins named after mythical places), for girls ages 11–13; and the Senior Unit (named after constellations and goddesses), for girls ages 13–15. The camp is divided into two four week sessions, although the youngest campers have the opportunity to stay for just two weeks. Girls in the oldest age group can also participate in construction cabins and Adventure Odyssey was reinstated for Chimney Corners in 2014.

Girls older than 14 can take part in travel and service programs, then participate in the Aides Program or travel to a South Dakota Reservation in a program called REACH (Reaching, Educating and Caring for Humanity), and then become an Assistant Counselor and Counselor. Some of the oldest Chimney Corners staff members have been to the camp for over 13 years.

Initiated in 1991, the primary goal of the REACH Program is to help teens develop leadership skills through a service-oriented experience, based in a Lakota Sioux community in South Dakota. The services heighten the importance of volunteer service for the benefit of others. The REACH Program incorporates visits to pow-wows, Badlands National Park, Wounded Knee, Mount Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

In the southwestern corner of the Cheyenne River Reservation, participants stay in the Red Scaffold community center. Red Scaffold is a small town consisting of 15-30 homes, churches, cemeteries, and playgrounds with a population of approximately 100-150 people. REACH groups will also partner with the Sioux YMCA located in the town of Dupree.

Chimney Corners also has its own set of mottos:

Agape: Unconditional love for all of humanity

PACE: Positive Attitude Changes Everything

HELPS: Healthy Living, Empowering Girls and Women, Leadership and Learning, Positive Relationships, and Social Responsibility.

Chimney Corners is also rich with traditions. These include song and dance competitions called Wiff N' Poof and Song and Sign, a 5K color run during first session, and Chimney Palooza, a dance party run by the Aides, during second session.

Aides

The Aides program at Chimney provides the opportunity for around 20-30 young women to connect with each other for eight-and-a-half weeks. The girls live in the Ina Gibson Lodge, or the IGL, with group leader/s. The group works to provide services for the camp such as working in the kitchen, office, camp store, and helping out with camper activities. They participate in leadership training programs, learn lifeguarding skills, and interact with campers while simultaneously maintaining camp traditions. One of these traditions is the important process of name selection. Each Aides group must come up with a name with the word "aide" in it, such as "Invaiders" or "Ebulaides." After choosing a name, the Aides write a song that describes their group as well as their name, while also building a sign that represents the group. Most songs refer to events of the summer and include inside jokes.
2019: Ebulaides
2018: Deviaides
2017: Revelaides
2016: Coronaides
2015: Syncopaides
2014: Insigniaides
2013: Liberaides
2012: Constellaides
2011: Exuberaides
2010: Escapaides
2009: Reverberaides
2008: Scintillaides
2007: Jubilaides
2006: Invaiders
2005: Incineraides
2004: Exhileraides
2003: Brigaides
2002: Discombobulaides
2001: Tornaideos
2000: Yippi-Ai-Aides
1999: Milleniaides
1998: Renegaides
1997: Milky Waides
1996: C.I. Aides
1995: Illuminaides
1994: Ricochaides
1993: Hip Hop Hooraides
1992: Grenaides
1991: Masqueraides
1990: Shaides (Shades)
1989: Decaides
1988: Reggaides
1987: Gatoraides
1986: The Live Aides
1985: Kool - Aides
1984: Band - Aides

References
  1. Gibson, Henry William. Twenty-five Years of Organized Boys Work in Massachusetts and Rhode Island915. State Executive Committee. p. 129.
  2. Cheley & Baker, Camp and Outing Activities, Introduction by HW Gibson, Assoc. Press, 1915

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