February 24th, 2011

This past Saturday night, we lost our barn to fire. No people were injured. Our young calf, Rosie, one of our sheep and her two lambs were killed. The Marlborough Fire Department, along with four other town companies, responded to the fire within minutes, but they were unable to save the building. It was a windy night, so the risk of fire spreading to other buildings was considerable. Fire crews sprayed the Rec Hall, barnyard area, and A-Frames with a shower of water for two hours as burning debris had filled the sky. Meanwhile, the staff was accounted for and was able to watch the blaze from a safe distance. The remaining sheep and bunnies were saved. The fire was out by 3am, but the building was wholly destroyed.

The following day Glen Brook staff worked with local contractors to remove charred debris and restore water to the camp, since the pump room, located in the barn, was destroyed. By midday a temporary solution was found, and water was flowing. By nightfall, Grant and a group of volunteers had built a temporary pump house; the cement foundation pad was swept clean; and generators were rigged to keep water flowing. Water was fully restored by Tuesday.

In all, the response was both heartening and inspiring. The level of professionalism by the fire departments, local contractors, and Glen Brook staff was extraordinary. What could have been a tragedy of the highest order was contained to the loss of a single building and a small group of animals. Glen Brook's barn was built in 1978. We expect to rebuild the structure as soon as possible.

Update 04/01/2011: A special Barn Raising Raffle has been organized to support the rebuilding of the barn at Camp Glen Brook! The Grand Raffle Prize is $10,000. Each ticket will be $100 and only 500 tickets will be sold until April 30th. Don't delay, buy your ticket today! Help rebuild the barn and possibly win $10,000 in the process. Click here to purchase tickets and for more details.