Delegates to Convention “saw the face” of Bement Camp and Conference Center in the form of five of its active campers, who are also honor students, athletes and actors and actresses.

            “Through this camp, I’ve come to recognize acts of God’s love on earth, and I am more apt to realize where all this love is born from – God,” said one Bement youth, John Mills. “Bement is very much a Holy place.

Young people of all ages took part in Convention.
At top, children sing in the choir during the Convention Eucharist.
Above left, youth delegates sit together during Evening Prayer.
Above right, the Rev. Cathy Venkatesh, former rector of St. James, Great Barrington,
sits with her infant daughter, Maya.

            John – and one other youth amongst the half dozen gathered at Convention – spoke of Bement as a place of peace and tranquility that offers them solace, an appreciation for nature and a stepping stone for building self-confidence, leadership skills and deep friendships.

            “Bement Camp and Conference Center has been a place of peace and strength for me,” John said. “This place has given me more than I could ever ask for, and I wanted to share that with the youth of this Diocese.”

            These two youths offered their stories of Bement after a presentation by Bob Sawyer, a member of the Bement Board of Directors and the Bement Task Force, outlining a major change in the operations at Bement as well as a financial need.

            Bob called on each parish in the Diocese to offer support to Bement, with a goal of raising funds to support needed repairs.

            He said that after a year’s worth of study, guided by a consultant, a task force determined that the year-round retreat center at Bement should be closed and that Bement should reach out across the Diocese for support of the facility and its ministry.

            Bob also said that Bement will hire a full-time site manager to work with the camp director to ensure that ministry goals are met. The site manager will also coordinate limited retreat activities for spring and fall. In addition, a consultant will help guide future changes.

            Diocesan Council has also authorized spending $500,000 to bring Bement camp back into a safe and appealing condition. “These steps mark a significant commitment to the spirit life of Bement,” Bob said. “Without them, the camp would continue down a path of decline.”

            After the formal presentation, time was allowed for all delegates to share their postitive experiences regarding Bement and brainstorm ideas for helping it to regain its strength.

The Very Reverend James Munroe, chairman of the Bement Board of Directors.

            Dean Jim Munroe, chairman of the Bement Board of Directors, said, “As we move into a rebirth of new ministry, all of our brothers and sisters in Christ are needed to join in this rebuilding.

            Jim also told delegates that Bement youths are available to visit congregations and tell the stories of Bement’s transformative power. “I’m hoping that each parish in the Diocese will will have one of youth counselors come and tell the stories.”

            After the formal presentation, time was allowed for all delegates to share their postitive experiences regarding Bement and brainstorm ideas for helping it to regain its strength:

• Do an alumni event as a fundraiser. Sing songs from their era and tell camp stories.

• Form an alumni group to draw on skills, such as maintenance.

• Educate congregations about what’s available and what is appropriate for children according to each age of the participant.

• Seek volunteer support from parishes – adults and young people working together to improve and maintain the property. Hold a volunteer weekend or day.

• Designate one Sunday per year at which plate offerings will go toward Bement scholarships and/or a Vestry budget line item.

• Sponsor field trips from parishes to Bement.

• Hold benefit dinners in parishes

• Encourage the youths to spread the word. Encourage young people who’ve attended Bement to speak about it in their parishes.

• Have a bring-a-friend-to-camp overnight or open house

• Create a dinner theater fundraiser, with “Godspell” to be performed on tour at parishes in each deanery in the first year with a different show each following year.

• Sponsor a Breakfast for Bement

• Have each parish sponsor two Bement scholarships, one for a parishioner; another for a child in that community

• Make a DVD about Bement and share it with parishes

• Have a Coffee for Camp fundraiswer

• Put a giving bank, perhaps shaped like a little cabin or tent, in each parish’s narthex all year long for offerings.

• Ask parents of youths who’ve attended Bement to share their stories in their parish.

• Hold family days at Bement, separate from actual camp time

• Reintroduce family camp

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