CHESTERFIELD — New accessibility ramps, walking paths, mattresses and running water are among the upgrades underway as the Ashmere Project transforms the town’s former Boy Scout camp into a retreat for people with cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome.
The tender loving care being given to the property, which the Berkshire County nonprofit bought last fall at a foreclosure auction, is being fueled by the efforts of 150 volunteers and countless donations of energy and supplies. For Jakob Palches, the land’s caregiver and the Ashmere Project’s co-founder, it’s just the beginning of plans to remain rooted on Sugar Hill Road for the next 50 years.
“I’d say all the moments of generosity from the community are the big takeaway, and so many moments where I was like, ‘Don’t wake me up — how is this happening?'” said Palches one day last week during a work break at the expansive camp that for years served as a Boy Scout reservation and was used most recently for live role-playing and weddings.
With a foundation for the long-term, the group is gearing up to welcome a two-week retreat beginning June 25. This will be the first on the property since the group purchased it at a foreclosure auction for $1.4 million in October.
Walking through the 186-acre camp early last week — past cabins, a dining hall, walking trails and a swimmable lake — Palches stopped outside the former camp offices to sketch plans for a new accessibility ramp.
The small patch of earth Palches was digging marked a milestone for the Ashmere community. Seven months earlier, the nonprofit outbid a dozen other buyers to purchase the property. Standing on that very spot, community members celebrated as the auctioneer announced their winning bid.
Going forward, when the ramp is in place and connects to the former office’s front deck, it will be the site where retreat members take group photos.
Winning the deed marked Ashmere’s first chance to have its own space after four years of renting in Pittsfield and, before that, operating on Martha’s Vineyard following its founding 20 years ago. The nonprofit, which runs entirely on donations, provides residential summer retreats for adults with disabilities.
In the dining hall, a handful of volunteers sorted through piles of industrial-grade kitchenware, including pots, pans, plates and other essentials. Meanwhile, the sound of aggressive scraping filled the room as Michael Leon and another volunteer cleaned a long-neglected stainless steel table.
A pile of rubble sat outside the hall — a collection of mostly wood and other random items that needed to be hauled away. Old mattresses have been discarded, and in one cabin, new ones sit wrapped in plastic. In a couple of cabins, flooring will be replaced and bathroom amenities will be updated.
Leon, who is also a co-founder of Ashmere, walked the property, pointing out ongoing work and stepping along newly graded paths designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. But, he said, much of the progress is happening underground.
The best surprise of the past seven months, he said, was the ability to get the water running in each of the cabins.
All this work has been was done with the aid of volunteers, including Sarah Donley, who lives nearby on Sugar Hill Road, and Kathy Salvador of Shutesbury.
Donley, a landscape architect by trade, volunteered both her time and her backhoe as she and Palches searched for a septic tank on the property. Though spring is one of the busiest seasons in her profession, Donley said she was inspired by Palches’ personality and wanted to contribute any way she could.
“This guy’s [Jakob] personality — he just seems very genuine and caring and big-hearted — and I thought, I want to be able to be a part of it and help,” said Donley. “It’s such a great property, and it’s nice to see it being brought back to life.”
Salvador stood inside the dining hall sorting through kitchen inventory, deciding what supplies could still be used. Before the Ashmere Project moved to Chesterfield, she volunteered for two years at its Pittsfield site after being invited by her friend Robin Traquina.
“I just loved it, and now they’re even closer, which is great,” she said. “And they own this, so it has an even greater sense of community.”
In addition to volunteer labor, donations and other acts of support have poured in from across the community.
Leon said Ashmere had hoped to purchase a yurt — a large circular, fabric-covered structure considered one of the most accessible cabin options for visitors with disabilities. A new one can cost around $30,000, but the group recently found a used yurt listed for $9,000. The woman selling the lightly used yurt, who has an autistic son, opted instead to give it to the group.
Harry Hale of Hale Land LLC of Bergamont donated plans and labor to regrade the paths, while Bob Romero spearheads the design and building of accessibility ramps. The Conway School of Design will contribute its expertise on how to turn a lawn into a meadow with a brook and native wildflowers.
Members of the Unitarian Society of Northampton will also pitch in for a community service day on May 30. Volunteer weekends continue to take place, and dates are posted on Ashmere’s website, ashmereproject.org/services.
Future and past
Next month’s opening retreat, expected to draw 75 people, will be capped off with a new documentary of Ashmere’s work at the Academy of Music on July 10, followed by a performance on July 11 at the camp.
Leon explained that performative arts are at the core of Ashmere’s retreat experience, which also includes morning swims, yoga, short meditation classes, dance classes, and various other activities.
The group also is excited to be featured in the Chesterfield July 4th parade this year.
Ashmere Project organizers have a vision for expanding, ideally offering 10 weeks of summer retreats while bolstering the number of attendees.
Ashmere is the third owner of the property in the last seven years.
Formerly the Chesterfield Scout Reservation owned by the Boy Scouts of America, the property was bought in 2018 by Tolgy Wood LLC, which hosted live action role-playing games, also known as “LARPS,” before being foreclosed in September. The property also was rented out for a time as a venue for weddings and other special occasions.
Palches has estimated that the complete revival of the camp is expected to be a six-figure project.
