Campfire Celebration
Come and celebrate some very special people!
Sunday, September 3rd
At Camp Brookwoods and Deer Run
Bob and Debbie Strodel
Bob and Debbie will retire from camp at the end of the year. They moved to camp in 1994 when Bob took over as the Executive Director. Bob grew up at Brookwoods as a staff kid, literally learned to walk on the Front Lawn, and has been roaming camp’s grounds more than any other person in our history. He loves this camp ministry as much or more than any of us. Some of his favorite things are making rockets with campers and shooting them off on the Front Lawn, orchestrating fireworks for the 4th of July, sailing in the cove, and a creative (but always appropriate!) prank. He has also served on countless leadership committees for the greater camp community, including the national level. Bob will continue to work alongside Tim and the team on completing The Next 75 capital campaign into 2024. Debbie has been working in the office since 1997 as the Finance Director. When she was not balancing the books, she was camp “mom”, doing emergency laundry, hosting Whitetail Tea Parties, making time to mentor Deer Run staff, helping in the sewing room, encouraging support staff by giving rides to town (think Craft Fairs!), sending out future camper onesies (her favorite job), assisting the international staff, and, most importantly, faithfully praying for our camps since the day they arrived in NH.
George and Mary Beth Bowling
George and MB are retiring from camp this spring. They moved to Camp in the fall of 1991 when George was hired as the Conference Director and Trip Director and Mary Beth worked on trip staff. It was Mary Beth’s childhood dream to live at camp—she had spent many summers in cabins as a camper, CIT, counselor, and director. In 1993, MB again directed Deer Run, which was her 2nd of many directing stints (totaling 23 years!). It was Mary Beth’s “summer job” as she has worked as a teacher for her whole adult life in various schools and capacities. 2022 was MB’s 50th summer at camp! George has worked at camp year-round since being hired, managing thousands of conference groups at Brookwoods, with over 200,000 conference guests in his 32-year camp tenure. He also gave meaning and depth to our tripping program, having spent over 500 nights in the woods, led 30 Allagash trips, 29 Chibougamau adventures, trained over 200 Trip Staff, and kept us all laughing with his sharp wit. These two will be missed greatly, along with their dutch oven pizza and cinnamon rolls! They will be moving to Wolfeboro in May.
Tim Nielsen
Tim joined Brookwoods, Deer Run, and MRO as our Director of Ministry Services in 2019. He has spent his whole life at camp, first as a camper, including a few summers at Brookwoods, and then on staff at Camp Sandy Cove. Tim directed Camp Sandy Cove for 30 years before he arrived at Brookwoods. During our worship service on Sunday, September 3, Tim will be officially installed as our new Executive Director, transitioning from his role of Director of Ministry Services. In his tenure, he has had a positive impact on our camps—streamlining our hiring process, conducting staff training, keeping our vehicle fleet safe, belaying high ropes, keeping the kitchen going on Jon’s days off, teaching activities, playing guitar, and developing emergency/health protocols, just to name a few. His wife, Adina, is also passionate about camp, loves the outdoors, and is highly qualified to teach outdoor skills and Lifeguarding. Their two daughters, Dagny (10) and Tilba (8), are happy campers.
Sunday Schedule
8:00 Breakfast Cookout at Inspiration Point & Fishing on the Diving Pier
10:30 Worship in the Chapel & Commissioning for Tim Nielsen — Worship Leader: Pastor Craig Higgins
11:30 Lunch – Under the Tent
12:00 Celebration Program for the Strodels and Bowlings – Under the Tent
2:00- 5:00 Open Waterfront
5:30 Dinner on the Front Lawn
6:30 Rocket Launch with Head Rocketeer – Bob Strodel
7:30 Campfire, Singing & S’mores on the Patio
Priority Registration Now Open!