Beacon Hill Teacher Leads Volunteer Camp Counselors

Katherine Spencer of Beacon Hill, a Science teacher at Boston College High School, together with Sheila Fisher also of the Science department, led 11 BC High juniors on a most satisfying week of their summer vacation as counselors at Camp Susan Curtis in Stoneham, Maine, a town of only 250 residents. The camp, open for four two week sessions in the summer, is a haven for 100 campers who come from families in Maine living below the poverty line. No one pays to attend Camp Susan Curtis; the organization is supported by the Susan Curtis Foundation which works year round to continue the mission of helping the youth of Maine.

Katherine and Sheila urged the boys to build relationships with the campers and counselors alike - through games, conversations, meals, reading time, unstructured activities and cut throat competition.

During the week they supervised the boys in activities with the young campers ranging from archery to bread making to kayaking to ropes course. Boating, gardening, and mountain biking were also very popular choices, as well as arts&crafts, bug hunting and basketball, football, water polo, soccer, tile making, photography, Spanish, sketching, bombardment and frisbee. They played games of breakout, softball, checkers, tug of war and frisbee.  

The boys patiently allowed their nails to be painted, questions to be asked, stories to be read and tales to be told. They sat at lunch tables and camp fires, on bunk beds and steps, and listened to and talked to the youngsters. The BC High boys were given a window to the campers' world, and they had a chance to hear about a different life. All came away more appreciative and willing to continue the work of this Camp. Their mission of "Because Every Child Matters" truly reflects the Jesuit ideal of 'cura personalis' (Care of the individual) and BC High is so excited about this partnership with the camp.

Boston College High School is a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men founded in 1863. The school enrolls approximately 1600 students from more than 100 communities in eastern Massachusetts.