Introducing the Beber Land Trust Service Day
Giving Back to the Land That Gives So Much
For so many of us, Beber Camp is not just a place we visit during the summer. It is a place that lives in us year round. The woods we wander, the trails we follow, and the spaces where friendships form and confidence grows all shape the Beber experience.
That sense of place does not happen by accident. Over time, even the most loved places need care.
In recent years, some areas of camp have become increasingly overgrown by invasive plant species, most notably buckthorn. Buckthorn is a fast spreading shrub common in Wisconsin forests. It crowds out native trees and wildflowers, alters soil chemistry, and blocks sunlight, making it harder for healthy ecosystems to thrive. Left unchecked, it slowly changes the character of the woods our campers know and love.
This spring, on April 18th, we are taking a thoughtful step toward caring for that land together.
Introducing the Beber Land Trust Service Day
The Beber Land Trust Service Day is a new off-season opportunity for families, alumni, and friends of camp to come together for a day of learning, stewardship, and connection.
This will be a hands-on service day focused on caring for Beber’s woods, trails, and natural spaces through guided invasive species removal. Participants will spend time learning about the land, working side by side, and sharing time together afterward.
This is not about chores or checking boxes. It is about stewardship. It is about understanding that loving a place also means taking responsibility for it and recognizing that small, hands-on actions can make a lasting difference for future generations of campers.
Why This Work Matters
There is something powerful about pulling an invasive plant from the soil and knowing that native trees, wildflowers, and habitats will have a better chance to thrive because of your effort.
When campers, families, and alumni help restore the environment, their connection to camp deepens. The trails they walk feel more personal. The woods feel more alive. Camp becomes not just somewhere they visit, but something they help protect and shape.
This work strengthens not only the land, but the bond between people and place.
Guided by Experience and Care: David “Swany” Swanson
The Beber Land Trust Service Day will be facilitated by David “Swany” Swanson, whose connection to Beber Camp and to environmental education spans decades.
Swany currently serves as Head of School at the Milwaukee Montessori School, where he leads with a deep commitment to experiential learning, stewardship, and community. While his professional responsibilities no longer allow him to work at camp during the summer, Beber has long been part of his story.
Over the years, Swany held many roles at Beber Camp, including several summers as Waterfront Director, where respect for nature, safety, and thoughtful leadership were central to his work. Even earlier, Swany developed his foundation in environmental education when Beber hosted Nature’s Classroom Environmental Education programs on site more than twenty years ago. Those experiences helped shape his belief that learning happens best when people are directly connected to the land around them.
Swany brings a calm, humorous, and educational approach to this work. Participants will not just be told what to do, but why it matters. Removing invasive species helps restore native habitats, protect trails, and preserve the natural spaces that define the Beber experience.
A Different Kind of Day at Camp
The Beber Land Trust Service Day is not a day of entertainment. It is a service day.
Participants will spend time learning, doing meaningful work, eating together with a bring your own meal or a visit to the Elegant Farmer, and closing with a short reflection. All ages are welcome, and no special expertise is required, just a willingness to show up with rolled-up sleeves and care.
By restoring the land together, we are also fostering a deeper sense of pride, ownership, and belonging. A strong sense of place builds a strong sense of self. This work reflects the values camp has always stood for, care for community, respect for the world around us, and responsibility to those who will come after us.
If this speaks to you, we hope you will consider joining us. Click here to register.