Camp Becket

rdf:langString Camp Becket

rdf:langString 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, 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 continues to teach core values espoused by its second director, Henry Gibson (tenure, 1904-1927). These include the eight Becket Mottos: * Do your best * Play the game * Manners maketh the man * Peace through understanding * I can and I will * Each for all—all for each * Better faithful than famous * Help the other fellow The camp is divided into four units, called villages, that each contain eight to ten cabins. From youngest to oldest, these are: * Iroquois (cabins named after the American Indian tribes of the Iroquois League, and Algonquin and Erie) * Pioneer (cabins named after famous explorers) * Frontier (cabins named after U.S. Forts). It is also known as the Showcase Village because it is in the middle of the camp * Ranger (cabins named after U.S. National Parks). The cabins do not have electricity, and each village has a communal bathroom where kids shower and brush their teeth. Each cabin houses eight campers (nine in Ranger), a program staff member, an assistant counselor, and a counselor. In addition to group activities and team-building, campers engage in numerous individual activities, including sports, arts and crafts, boating, ball and team games and nature activities. During the off-seasons, there are work weekends, during which alumni, staff, and kids participate in work activities, such as wood chip spreading or fixing roofs. An alumni weekend provides an opportunity for alumni to reconnect. All of these events are hosted at Chimney Corners Camp because of the heated and insulated cabins. Camp Becket has recently constructed a new dining hall.