This month Baptist Park in Mapleton will complete 86 years of summer camping and Christian education.
In 1932, Rev. A.C. Berrie founded The Baptist School of Christian Training in Mapleton, which later became Baptist Park.
Adrian Hagerstrom, who has directed the camp for the past 13 years, said, “The goal of the school was to provide an atmosphere and setting designed for fun, spiritual learning and adventure through an outdoor camping experience.”
Hagerstrom added, “Over these many years, thousands of overnight and day campers have enjoyed the traditional experiences of archery, biking, team sports, trail hiking, high and low ropes courses, canoeing, rock climbing, tenting under the stars and campfires.”
For older campers, leadership and communication are encouraged, while younger campers learn independence as well as the value of teamwork. Evening chapel services, daily devotional sessions, talent shows and lots of camping activities are routine events.
New this year was a theater arts camp led by Maureen Seavey of Windham Christian Academy. Campers put on an original play, written by Seavey, at the Caribou Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the camp’s closing chapel service.
During the same week, Josh and Melanie Duncan directed a digital arts camp where campers explored the techniques and equipment used in making video shows.
The following week was a flight camp. Pastor Jim Ackerson and Wayne Kilcollins co-directed this camp, which included work on construction of an ultralight and tours downstate, including C&L Aviation, an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Bangor, along with the Maine Air National Guard Aviation Readiness Center. The campers stayed overnight at China Lake Baptist Camp, then visited Maine Central Aviation in Pittsfield, where they received additional flight instruction prior to taking a flight.
Back at Baptist Park, flight campers flew a small drone and took videos of the camp with it.
-
- Young campers at Baptist Park in Mapleton launch water bottle rockets during an activity taught by Pastor Jim Ackerson on the laws of physics. (Courtesy/Terry Sandusky)
After these special camp weeks, Baptist Park held four additional weeks of camping that involved traditional activities. The zip line and rock wall climbing have become new activities for campers beside the always enjoyable indoor pool, considered by many campers as the best activity of the day.
The park again offered a one-day-a-week Puddle Jumpers Day Camp for children ages 4-6. The children had a full day of activities including arts and crafts, swimming, catching frogs, playing games and listening to stories. Sue Hagerstrom, who led the day camp, is looking forward to next summer and hopes Puddle Jumpers might be expanded to two days.
The season’s final camping session is for middle and high school campers. The Labor Day Retreat starts Friday evening, Sept. 1, and ends Sunday morning, Sept. 3. The high-energy, fast-paced weekend will feature Chaplain James Weatherbee leading the devotional periods. There will be a low ropes course, archery, zip line, sports, tournaments, campfires and much more.
For information, contact Baptist Park at (207) 764-1832.
Fiddlers to Play
The Wednesday Night Fiddlers will return to Mapleton this month. The Haystack Historical Society will host the fiddlers at the Mapleton Lions Hall Thursday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m. At last year’s Wednesday Night Fiddlers evening, spectators filled the museum to overflow capacity, which led the Historical Society to host this year’s show at the Mapleton Lions Hall.
Donations will be accepted and split between the Haystack Historical Museum and the Mapleton Lions Club. The Society appreciates the Lions’ willingness to waiver the hall rental fee in lieu of splitting the donations received.
Meet the Balloon Pilots
On Saturday morning, Aug. 26, the Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will host a pancake breakfast at their clubhouse in Mapleton. The public can meet the pilots taking part in this year’s Crown of Maine Balloon Festival at the annual Breakfast.
Breakfast will be served from 7-10 a.m. and is open to the public. The cost is $8/person.
Summer rec ends
The summer recreation programs end this week in Mapleton. The annual recreation cookout will be held Aug. 10 starting at 5 p.m. at Mapleton Elementary School. The championship game will be played and other awards and recognitions presented. The Lions Club will grill hot dogs.
Soccer registration open
The Mapleton After-School Soccer Program is tentatively scheduled to start on Aug. 29 with assessments for pre-K. Assessments will be held for grades 1-3 Aug. 30 and for grades 4-6 on Aug. 31.
All kids should plan on attending assessments with their age group. A schedule for specific game times will be made following assessment. Each child will be put on a specific team and will follow the schedule for that team.
For more information, go to the Mapleton Recreation webpage at: www.mapleton.me/index.php/town-services/recreation.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
