A Brief History of Berky
1940’s-1950’s
Camp Aquatic is the first summer camp to occupy the property. A boys swimming camp, it operates from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s.
1967-2009
Camp Fire USA purchases the camp in 1967. It operates as Camp Nawaka until 2009. It has approximately 40 staff members and 120 campers. Initially open to girls only, it becomes co-ed in the late 90’s.
1996 – 2009
Dan Zenkel, a lawyer and real estate investor and a group of others join together to form CampGroup, which acquires its first three traditional, overnight summer camps in April 1998. Over the next 11 years, CampGroup, with Dan as CEO, acquires 8 more camps and 3 related businesses, becoming the country’s largest summer camp owner. Dan leaves CampGroup in June 2009.
2009
Dan Zenkel purchases Camp Nawaka in December 2009.
2010
Dan, who’s daughter Nikki loves soccer, recognizes a need for a girls soccer camp offering high quality instruction in a traditional camp setting. He decides to create such a camp on the site.
Fall 2010
Dan recruits Eric Wittenberg, an experienced camp professional, and Liza Wittenberg, a former captain of the Georgetown University Soccer Team, to direct the camp. Dan, Eric & Liza envision and create the Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls (“BSA” or “Berky”).
2011
Every cabin and building is upgraded, and a new turf field is constructed. Liza recruits soccer industry veterans to join the BSA Advisory Board.
July 2011
32 campers and 15 staff attend BSA’s first, four-day session. The all-female soccer staff includes directors, Tiffany Jones and Jenn Plante, Caryn “C-Mac” Mackenzie (far left), Kate Incerto (center) and Kiva Grisham (2nd from left). Campers and staff love it, and Berky is off and running.
2012
Construction and renovations continue. Two camper cabins, Ledges and Bluffs (pictured) are added.
Summer 2012
125 campers attend 2 sessions. Eric and Liza’s first child, Everett, is born at camp on July 24, 2012.
Summer 2013
245 campers attend 4 sessions.
2016
The first TeamFirst week is added. USWNT legends Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Tisha Ventorini Hoch, together with University of Texas Coach Ange Kelly run that week’s soccer sessions. “Bridge” sessions, which run from Thursday night to Sunday morning and enable campers to attend multiple sessions are added.
2016
Evie’s brother Harper is born on November 27, 2016.
2017
Paul Titley, who has ten years of summer camp experience, joins BSA as Assistant Director.
2018
The increasing demands of parenthood compel Liza and Eric to step down as full-time directors. Katy Kreiner joins the BSA team as Assistant Director. Katy’s extensive background as a soccer player, coach, manager and camp professional make her an ideal addition to the Berky team. 2018 is Liza and Eric’s last summer at Berky.
Fall 2018
Katy and Paul take over as Berky’s full-time directors for the 2019 season. Eric forms his own marketing firm and becomes BSA’s Director of Marketing. Liza turns her attention to full-time parenting.
2014-2019
The number of sessions continues to expand from 4 in 2013 to 8 in 2019, and enrollment grows from 245 sessions in 2013 to 960 in 2019.
2020
In anticipation of record enrollments, construction begins on two new cabins. Covid strikes before the cabins can be completed, and camp is cancelled for the 2020 season. During the Spring quarantine, Berky offers an online Clubhouse with Zoom soccer programming.
2021
The new cabins, Wambach and Hamm, are completed and the Academy reopens with Covid restrictions. Berky celebrates it’s 10th summer. Enrollment reaches record levels.
