BRPC High School Workcamp 2026

Where: The Carpenter’s Boat Shop – Pemaquid, Maine

When: July 11 to 19, 2026

Departure: 7/11 at 7:30 am from the East Allen Street lot behind BRPC

Return: 7/19 around 9pm to the East Allen Street lot behind BRPC

Sign up & Cost:

Please sign up & complete registration packet as soon as you are able, to help us in planning and preparation.

Early Bird Price (sign up by 3/31/2026)$300 deposit due by 3/31
Total of $600 +
$400 / each additional sibling due by 5/13
Normal Price (4/1/2026 - 5/13/2026)$650 / youth +
$400 / each additional sibling

 ** Scholarships available – Please reach out to Kate Balboni to discuss financial aid opportunities **

Full Payment and all Registration Forms due by 5/13/2026

Registration Process:

  1. Fill out forms, linked below
  2. Make payment, info below
  3. Email a copy (scan or photo) of the front & back of your Insurance card to JanĂŽce Leotti, jleotti@brpc.org, in the church office
Registration Forms

Note: Paper registration packets are available in the Church House or upon request.

Fill out these forms if you’re a youth participant

Fill out this form if you’re interested in being an adult advisor

Payments cam be made online on this website, using Venmo (@BaskingRidgePresbyterianChurch), or by check made out to BRPC, mailed to the office. (Note “Workcamp Registration” in payment comment or memo line)

About Workcamp:

For over 40 years, Workcamp has provided our high school students with a truly transformative experience. With the guidance of a skilled team of adult advisors, work campers will serve those in need by repairing houses, improving home access and beautifying public spaces, while broadening their connection to God, singing, playing games, and experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Maine’s great outdoors.

These priceless experiences are the embodiment of the core mission of the Youth & Young Adult Ministry at BRPC:

“To nurture in our young people a strong faith in and love toward Christ, providing an experience of Christian community where each person is welcomed and accepted, and to create Spirit-filled opportunities to put faith into action by serving our neighbors in need.”

See What Workcamp is Like:

FAQs

What Should Students Bring?

Click here for the full Pack List – and please pack lightly, as there is limited space for luggage.

Packing List for Workcamp

  • Pack lightly! There is limited space for luggage.
  • Label ALL your belongings
  • Duffel bags or soft luggage is preferred over hard cases (due to limited space)

Personal Items – one change of clothes per day (max)

  • High socks for worksites
  • Toiletries/ Clothes – Casual, but nicer clothes for Sunday church, sweatshirt, rain clothes, sleeping attire, and at least 1 pair of work pants/jeans (required)
  • Sunglasses/Hat
  • 2 Swimsuits, 2 Towels and Shoes for bathing (Old sneakers, Water shoes, flip-flops, crocs, etc.)
  • Sturdy shoes for the worksites (Work boots STRONGLY preferred; NO flip-flops or sandals)
  • Sneakers for non-work times
  • Sleeping bag, pillow, pad/air mattress (please only bring twin-size air mattress. There is limited room in the sleeping areas)
  • 100% Biodegradable soap & shampoo/ conditioner (Doc Bronner’s, etc.)
  • Sunscreen and bug spray (VERY important!)
  • Flashlight or headlight (good for bathroom runs at night)
  • $200 – Spending money (4 meals on road, med. insurance copays in case of emergency, 1 lunch, souvenirs, misc.)
  • Refillable LARGE Water Bottle (VERY important!) with name clearly marked
  • Prescription medicines as needed – labeled with name and dosage amounts
  • Phone charger – plan to use phone minimally – we want to be in community with those present

Personal Tools – label all of your tools

  • Hammer: 12 to 16 oz. claw
  • 2 paintbrushes – wide & small, for trim
  • Paint scraper
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Work gloves – lighter gardening & strong leather
  • Dust masks
  • Safety glasses
  • Ear plugs
  • Small duffel or backpack to carry tools
  • Pocket or Utility knife (with replacement blades)
  • Good to bring if you have them: pry bar, screwdrivers, pliers, carpenter’s square, small level, chalk line, tool belt or nail pouch

What About Transportation?

BRPC provides transportation both to and from the Carpenter’s Boat shop. BRPC rents several vans to take students and advisors to and from work sites within the area of the Carpenter’s Boat shop. Only advisors aged 25 and older are permitted to drive the vans, with two advisors present in each van.

What’s the Carpenter’s Boat Shop?

Founded in 1979 by Bobby and Ruth Ives, The Carpenter’s Boat Shop offers apprenticeships in the art and craft of boat building. The Boat Shop offers BRPC workcampers a safe and inviting home base for Workcamp, with several buildings for sleeping and group gatherings, workshops, a chapel, a kitchen and outdoor spaces for recreation.

Recognizing the needs of disadvantaged friends in the community, Ruth Ives created the Community Housing Improvement Project (CHiP inc.) in 1984. Today, CHiP inc. is a team of volunteers who help those in need in the Pemaquid area by improving their living conditions.

How Do Workcampers Help Others?

For many summers since the 1980s, CHiP inc. has worked with BRPC to facilitate home improvement projects for those in need that are suitable for high schoolers. In fact, the CHiP team looks forward to our group of willing and able volunteers arriving each summer!

Improvement projects include trailer skirting, weatherproofing, building wheelchair access and safe entryways, exterior painting, and other repairs.

Workcampers break into smaller teams and receive project assignments, then spend the day at a work site under the direction of experienced carpenters and advisors.

What Other Activities Are There at Workcamp?

Workcamp is not ALL work. When not helping those in need, students and advisors gather in the evenings as a large group to sing and affirm the day’s accomplishments, and gather in smaller groups to discuss topics centered around a spiritual theme.

In between, there is time for outdoor games, visiting the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, swimming in Boyd Pond, and visiting local towns.

What About Meals?

Parents and church members will be asked to prepare main dishes for simple meals (casseroles, lasagna, taco meat, etc.) ahead of time at home, which will be frozen and brought with us in coolers. The advisor team will also purchase supplemental meal items while in Maine. Sign up here to make meals for us to take. 😋

Most meals during Workcamp are eaten outdoors on picnic tables at the Boat Shop.

Students and advisors will be assigned to small groups for the week. Each small group will take a turn serving as the “Martha Crew” for the day. The daily Martha Crew prepares breakfast and sets out items for Workcampers to make sandwiches to take with them (along with LOTS of water and sports drinks) for lunch. After enthusiastically seeing students and advisors off to work sites, the Martha Crew remains at the Carpenter’s Boat Shop to prepare muffins and tea for Boat Shop apprentices and carpenters, clean up the kitchen area and prepare dinner for the returning work teams.

Special occasions… On Wednesday evening several local families in the community open their homes and prepare home-cooked meals for students and advisors as a thank you for our service to those less fortunate. Advisors also occasionally take their small groups out for lobster rolls or ice cream toward the end of the week.

Have Additional Questions?

Please contact our Director of Youth Ministries, Kate Balboni with any questions.

We hope you can join us for this amazing experience!