Valley Parents: New Brownsville camp connects kids to community, outdoors
Published: 08-19-2024 11:49 AM |
BROWNSVILLE — The recipe for guaranteed summer fun is simple: Start with a hot, sunny day. Mix in large amounts of cool water at a swimming hole. Then simply toss in some excited youngsters and results come out perfectly every time.
At the Brownsville Base Camp in late July, that formula worked as nearly all of the campers in attendance on a Friday afternoon during the camp’s second week in July said that swimming was one of their favorite parts of the camp — unsurprising given the month’s high temperatures.
After getting some lessons from lifeguard Sami Yates, the children splashed into the water of Mill Brook, with several swimming in the deep section below a collection of rocks. The three dozen campers were in grades kindergarten through seventh grade and live in West Windsor and surrounding towns including Windsor, Hartland and Woodstock.
Lucy Moore, 11, of Brownsville, was all smiles after cooling off in the brook.
“The camp is really fun and I can’t really choose one thing,” Lucy said when asked which part is her favorite. “It is all different and you get to try new things every day.”
In its inaugural year, the Brownsville Base Camp ran for four weeks — July 8 to Aug. 2 — and, with weekly registration, families could send their child or children for the number of weeks they choose. Attendance averaged about 30 each of the first two weeks.
The camp was created earlier this year when resident Chris Nesbitt connected with the camp’s co-founders Amanda Yates, a teacher at Albert Bridge School and Jessica Brodie, executive director of Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. Nesbitt said he had been trying to start a child care facility in town but was coming up against a lot of challenges, including finding a location. When Yates and Brodie reached out to him with their idea, Nesbitt said he got on board immediately.
He helped raise around $30,000 in seed money and establish the camp’s nonprofit status, among other administrative and legal steps needed to create the camp. Meanwhile, Yates and Brodie wrote the detailed camp procedures. Nesbitt said they raised enough money to offer financial assistance and lunch is provided every day. It costs $250 per week and $200 for siblings; financial assistance is available.
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“What I am most proud of is that this is done with local people and local initiative,” Nesbitt said. “We are doing it ourselves.”
The nonprofit launched in March and started enrolling campers. March is considered late for most summer camps — many are already filled before then — but organizers had no trouble finding interest among families. The founders also feel fortunate that the village setting — as if it were designed for a camp with kids in mind — has everything they need within walking distance.
“I think the setting of the town is like this magical place,” Brodie said, while standing at the edge of the brook and watching the children swim. “You have the school, (where they gather at the start of the day) the library, the town hall, the (Ascutney) outdoor center, the mountain, the river. It is all right here.”
Searching for crayfish captured the imagination of Annisa Enos, 11, who was staying with her aunt while attending camp.
“The brook is interesting and there are a lot of crayfish. I almost caught one,” Annisa said.
The camp has a number of other activities that vary depending on the weather. Swimming in Mill Brook behind the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Department station became an afternoon routine because of the heat, while mountain biking at the Albert Bridge School took place during the cooler mornings.
Yates, also a co-founder and director, said her son, Reeve, 7, discovered newfound freedom on two wheels at camp. There is a certified bike instructor three days a week and a bike rodeo with an obstacle course.
Watching the others ride, Yates said Reeve declared, “I want to ride like those guys” and he soon gained the confidence to try. It’s a chance many of the children wouldn’t otherwise have because they don’t have space to ride, she said.
“He learned how to ride the bike the last two days,” she said. “He finally mastered the art of biking.”
Bike riding was also a camp highlight for Hazel Toloss, 6, of Brownsville, who took a break from swimming to describe her camp experience.
“Today I got my training wheels off,” Hazel said proudly with a big smile.
It was one example of what Yates and Brodie want for the campers. The group also hiked on Mount Ascutney, had an outdoor class at the Ascutney Outdoor Center, story and craft time at the Mary L. Blood Memorial Library and took a field trip to the Sherman Manning Aquatic Facility in White River Junction.
“They have a mix of structured time and free time, Brodie said. “We want them to have enough freedom to have fun and learn.”
Yates said their goal in starting the camp was to provide a local child care option for families as many other camps require more daily driving.
“We came at it with similar interests in wanting to support families,” Yates said. “Second, We have a strong outdoor program at Albert Bridge (school) and we wanted to continue to provide opportunities to be in nature and doing traditional summer activities.”
As Yates and Brodie watched the children play in the water, they both were excited for the camp’s success in its first year and said they would like to expand it to six or eight weeks next year.
“It is nice to have something in town that is accessible,” Brodie said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.