Alumni Profile: Bekir Yusuf

Bekir Yusuf had never entertained the idea of working at a summer camp in the United States until his best friend, known as Chief Junior, introduced him to his brother, who shared his experience of working at Agassiz Village.

Bec, as he is affectionately called, was intrigued by the opportunity to work overseas. But once he connected with other people in the UK who were former Agassiz counselors, he became even more excited about the prospect of traveling to the US. Hooked on the idea, he decided to go for it. So, on a cold day in February 1993, he ventured to the annual Camp Fayre in London not far from his home and met with Don Welch, then the long-time Agassiz Village Camp Director.

“He did scare me a bit,” laughs Bec. “He told me more about Agassiz and what was involved in being a counselor. Then, after a few minutes, he asked, ‘Have you had a look around the fayre?’ On reflection, that was probably the code for he wasn’t sure I fit the bill. But I responded, ‘No, I definitely want to go to Agassiz.’ He reluctantly welcomed me to the team, and that handshake and that moment back in 1993 was the start of an incredible journey that changed my life forever.”  

Not long after that handshake, Bec was on a flight to Boston and then Agassiz Village. He arrived at the camp late at night after the long journey from London and admits to being a bit overwhelmed by the experience. He was, after all, an 18-year-old kid from London who had never been out in the middle of nowhere before. 

“A few of us new international arrivals took a walk around the camp on our first night, taking it all in, and I remember someone heard a screeching animal sound and we all started running like something out of the Blair Witch Project (a popular movie at the time). My mate, Chief Junior, ended up running into the tennis court metal fence. But the next morning, when day broke over Agassiz Village, it truly was like someone had opened Pandora’s box as the place had the feel and awe of pure magic in a setting which still, to this day, is one of the most beautiful places I have been to on earth.”

That first summer Bec—called Chief Bec—worked mainly as a counselor in Voyager Village, then called Indian Village. His first cabin was I3, which he supervised with Chief Executive, his buddy from the UK (Chief Junior’s brother). Although he did not attend camp in 1994, Bec returned each summer from 1995 through 1998. In 1995, he was a counselor that moved across cabins and co-led little rhythm and drama; in 1996, he headed up Little Field and Games; in 1997, he worked for part of the summer as a Section Leader; and in 1998, he returned for a session as a Ranger counselor.

“One of my mottos at camp was ‘it’s all about the kids’ and it really was as everyone wanted to ensure that the children and young people left with positive memories and one day would return to work at Agassiz, which some did,” says Bec. “I knew that most of the children we worked with faced emotional and social challenges and came from disadvantaged areas. My belief was we were all equal at Agassiz, and nothing should block the children from having one of the most amazing experiences of their lives. That meant being ready to sing your heart out at the dining hall, dress up for tacky dinner, perform at staff follies, dance at the block parties, paint signs for Olympics into the early hours of the morning, and sleep outdoors with the bugs during campouts. Those were just a few of the things we did towards creating that magical space for all.”

One of the things he loves in reminiscing about Agassiz is that he can be sitting on his own or chatting with an old Agassiz friend and he can remember a story that feels like it happened just yesterday. He has so many memories that he can easily recall.

“I just loved the variety, the energy, the people, and why we were there,” he says. “I loved the Olympic sessions, Candy Drop 1993 (from a plane), tacky dinner, the block parties, talent shows, soccer matches with the children and the memorable days off—Old Orchard Beach rocked!”

He also loved being involved in skits at staff follies. Two of them stand out to him, the first being the “Cranberries Zombie Skit” in 1995.

“That was very deep,” explains Bec. “It was about a family with two sons who chose different paths in life and, sadly, the brother who chose the positive path got caught up in his brother’s web of negativity, ending in him being fatally shot. The skit did resonate with staff and children as it was a looking-glass moment into what could be.”

The other skit was much lighter in its content—although it did cause some heartbreak and anger at its conclusion.

“I dressed up as a Spice Girl with other counselors,” says Bec. “As we were being hyped up and introduced, the kids were going crazy as they really did believe the real Spice Girls were going to be performing. When we appeared from behind the curtain, there were tears and anger. It was obviously a disappointment when they saw us.”

A letdown perhaps, but Bec wouldn’t change that Agassiz experience or any other if he could. He would, however, if given the chance, do a bit of renaming to the most iconic building on campus—the dining hall.

“I would rename it “The Hall of Dreams,” Bec says. “When you reflect back, it did feel like one long dream made of up of so many things: the great songs we sang outside with the children (Bubble Gum Rap, Sardines, Fred the Toad, I Said a-Boom-Chic-a-Boom); sitting around the table with the children having a chat; tucking into some food classics (sloppy joes, French toast, macaroni and cheese, subs); listening to some tunes (Fugees, Spice Girls); welcoming people to camp who were visiting with the ‘We Welcome You to Agassiz’ song; watching talent shows; performing at staff follies; special event dinners (July 4th, Tacky Dinner, Olympics); and ending it all with the staff banquet. There are so many more memories, and the dining hall really did provide an ‘a la carte’ menu of dreams.”

As for his own dreams, in the years following his time at Agassiz Bec focused on family, career, and community. In 2014, he received a London Borough of Merton Award for his contribution to Merton’s community. He currently manages a Community Grants program that distributes funding to organizations supporting communities in the London Borough of Croydon. “On days I know are going to be potentially challenging, I always put on an Agassiz Village shirt on or wear one beneath my top as I feel like it gives me a bit of a superpower to get me through the day.”

In addition, he fundraises for a children’s charity and works on various Saturdays at a children’s project facilitating organized fun, active games. “One of the things I love about the children’s Saturday project is recreating the Agassiz moments of Capture the Flag and Dodgeball, and being there with my son who volunteers,” he says.

Bec and his wife, Laura, have three children: Hayden, Callum, and Max. Callum, who is currently 14, is planning to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a counselor at Agassiz. Both Bec and Callum will be flying in for the 90th Anniversary Celebration weekend in August. “I did say to myself I would come back to Agassiz in my 50th year, and it is thankfully happening,” says Bec. “What is even more special is I will be there with my son.”

Bec started getting back involved with Agassiz in 2020, pulling together a team of internationals as part of the virtual 5k fundraising event held during COVID. He has also volunteered his time over the last year as a member of the 90th Anniversary Committee, helping to plan the events at the camp, and is hoping to have a smaller UK celebration event to support the 90th fundraising efforts. Over the last few years, he has also helped Agassiz connect with a new generation of camp counselors—more than 30 years after he first worked there. 

“An amazing memory that came out of that connection was visiting them at Agassiz back in 2023 with my mum,” Bec says. “I got the chance to sing again outside the dining hall with the counselors and children and a funny moment was when one of the counselors asked me when I was at Agassiz. I said ‘1993’ and they said, ‘I wasn’t even born then!’”

For 32 years, Agassiz Village has held a special place in Bec’s heart. The lasting impact it has had on his life is why he remains so passionate about the organization and, especially, the kids Agassiz serves. “Agassiz Village, in my eyes, is one of the most amazing places on earth,” he says. “Once you have experienced a summer there, it just remains in your blood forever. A big thanks to Agassiz for shaping me, guiding me, connecting me with lifelong friends, and indirectly introducing me to my wife.”