Camp Howard Updates Paintball and Laser Tag


April 12, 2017 CYO/CH…The lasertag and paintball courses have been redone at Camp Howard this winter by Ashtien King, Assistant to the Property Director.  Ashtien is no stranger to either sport and has put his own personal touch on the stations.

The Paintball range has moved to a location below Aldergrove Unit which will be exciting for the kids.

A new laser tag shed is under construction to store the materials in during the summer.  Campers age 11 and up are eligible to participate in the laser tag program at Camp Howard.

IMG_5028

Above: Laser tag arena at Camp Howard has new areas to hide behind this year.

Whoa…New Zip Line Features at Camp Howard


Parents…before you read this, please know our staff are all certified every year to operate the zip line and giant swing at Camp Howard.  Our program has been built by SYNERGO, a company specializing in zip lines and located here in Oregon.  We think they are the best in the business and that is why we do business with them. OK…read on!

Oh boy…Phase two of the Camp Howard Zip Line was installed in March and it is going to be a crowd pleaser!  The second leg of the line zips from the end of last years ending pointto the platform in the background.  The camper clips to the cable above the bridge for safety and walks along the bridge which is suspended in air with cables.  From the platform in the foreground, the camper zips to….

IMG_4987

This platform which is about a 100′ zip. This will be the new ending of the zip line and the camper will belay to the ground where they will receive a “Courageous Heart” certificate from yours truly! 🙂IMG_4973

Campers will enjoy a spectacular view of the Bull Run and Mt. Hood along the way!

IMG_5010

Top Summer Camp Position Filled With Top Notch Leader


JANUARY 9, 2017 CYO/CAMP HOWARD–Anna McLean will step into the position of Program Director at Camp Howard for the 2017 summer camping season.  Camp administration is pleased to name this position early in the year and look forward to working with her this summer.  The Program Director is seen through the eyes of the summer campers as the “Camp Director”.  That goal of the administrative staff behind the scenes such as Nora Gravengaard (Camp Director), Shawna King (Asst. Camp Director, Leila Blakely, (Health and Safety Director), Jolie Abraham Phanton, (CYO Office Liason), Karen von Borstel, (Camp Howard Property Director), and Sister Krista (Exec. Director) is to promote the youth in the Catholic Youth Organization to leadership roles.

McLean who has been a summer camper, Counselor in Training and on the summer staff for multiple years, brings a lot of “can do” to her role.  She has been around the camp for many years and has a thorough understanding of what works.

Camp Staff positions are being filled between now and June.  Individuals 18 years and older are sought to fill the nearly 60 positions available at the camp this coming summer.  Camper materials will be available very soon.  The snow and ice took a toll on our process at the end of December and early January!

BELOW: Anna McLean, 2016 Unit Director and part of the Big Swing and Zip Line crew, prepares a camper for a ride on the “Big Swing”!

thumb_img_7600_1024

Birdhouse Building at Camp Howard


One of the new additions to the line up of activities was bird house construction Session 6 at Camp Howard.  The bird houses were pre-cut out of 3/4″ pine in a traditional slant box pattern with bevels at the camp.  Campers assembled the houses with screws and glue then painted them in the color scheme of the original cabins at Camp Howard.  The Fircrest Unit of cabins was the original unit with 6 cabins.  The board and bat buildings are painted in a rust red paint with burnt orange trim.  All of the original buildings at the camp are painted in that color scheme.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Last Images of Camp Howard Summer Camping Season


After dinner each night at Camp Howard, Old Glory is lowered and cabins take turns with the honor.  Campers learn to address the flag, proper protocols and folding the flag.  The flag was lowered the last time by the kids on Thursday night.  On Friday, after the busses head back to town, the camp staff lower the flag.  It is raised each morning again by camper groups with the intent of each cabin having the opportunity to participate.  This time honored tradition is an important part of the camping experience at Camp Howard.

IMG_8043 IMG_8046 IMG_8036 IMG_8029 IMG_8019

That’s the End Folks!


All good things must come to an end they say and so it goes with the Camp Howard summer sessions!  The busses will pull out today at around 4:00 and arrive at the Madeleine at 5:00 God Willing.  This will signal the end of another great time honored summer camping season for youth in the Greater Portland area!

Who knows what life altering events took place this summer, a friendship made that will result in some wonderful experience later in life.  One thing for sure, camp does a child a world of good and they are better for it.  Special thanks to all of the parents who trusted us with their loved ones this summer.  We are grateful!

Leila Blakely and Eddy Reyes Making a Difference Behind the Scenes!


Health and Safety Director, Leila Blakely and her very helpful assistant, Eddy Reyes have contributed greatly to the cleanliness of camp, safety in food service, hydration stations around camp and pool safety.  Their daily routines include making sure all of the camp is recycling and composting which includes all of the food at the dining hall.  They gather all of the garbage bins and reline them.  They clean all of the mops in camp keeping them ready for use.  They are in charge of health and safety for food service outside of the dining hall including barbecues and groups that eat outside on the lawn or under the barbecue tents.  This means they deliver the food to the service area and make sure everyone helping with food service is doing it properly all the way down to wearing food service gloves.

They take pool readings and make sure the pool is safe and that it has been cleaned properly.  They make sure groups are showering before getting into the pool!

These positions were added two years ago to ensure that the health and safety of the children at camp was a priority.  The success of these individuals greatly contributed to the outstanding marks received from the Health Inspector last week!

Thanks Leila and Eddy for the great job you have done all summer making great memories for kids!

Eddy Reyes & Leila Blakely

Eddy Reyes & Leila Blakely

Eddy Reyes and Leila Blakely

Eddy Reyes and Leila Blakely

Eddy Reyes and Leila Blakely

Eddy Reyes and Leila Blakely

Leadership Behind the Scenes at Camp Howard is What Makes the Difference


Leadership in my opinion is what makes the difference between a good experience and a GREAT experience!  There have been some wonderful youth leaders employed at Camp Howard this summer and it has been a pleasure to watch them lead and grow these past 5 weeks.

The staff take their responsibility very seriously because after all they are taking care of people’s most prized possession…their kids!  Developing that special eye that looks out for the best in kids and making sure to keep them out of harms way at all times is what the Unit Directors impress on the counselors who are responsible for the cabins of children each week.

Leadership experiences on staff provide young leaders with an abundance of new tools for their personal toolboxes.  Camp work develops great skills in young people.

The camp Howard Leadership Team has done an outstanding job leading the camp, providing excellent experiences for the kids and I am very proud of them!

Front Row: Candi Trapp – Asst. Camp Director, Khaki Anderson – Program Director, Morgan McAllister – Fircrest Unit Director, Anna McLean – Cougar Den Unit Director, Kirsten Klein – Aldergrove Unit Director,  Leila Blakely – Health and Safety Director, Alli Caster – Greenwood Unit Director, Sr. Krista von Borstel – Executive Director, Back Row Left to Right: Bill Fogarty – Summer Program Director “Camp Director”, Karen von Borstel – Property Director, Patrick Laughlin – Sparpole Director, Robert Augar, CIT Director.  Not Pictured: Phoebe Bellisario – Daycamp and Mini Camp Director

Camp Howard Leadership Team 2015

Camp Howard Leadership Team 2015

The Health Inspector Visited Camp Howard this Week and Guess What they Found?


It was a 5 hug salute to Karen von Borstel for an outstanding camp!  Health Inspector said she was going to write an article for their National Magazine citing the excellence she found at Camp Howard!  Hadn’t seen anything that good in her 20 years of inspections!

She was especially thrilled with the hand washing stations newly installed at the camp to get those hands clean!  Everyone washes their hands three times a day at least!

Karen has instilled in the staff the importance of cleanliness in the restrooms, pool and kitchen in particular as these are areas which serve everyone.  The staff has responded to the call to cleanliness and now it is a basic instinct to clean it well and clean it often!

All of the camp staff are to be commended for the excellent job they have done all summer keeping the camp clean and inviting!  Nice job to everyone on the Camp Howard staff!

Girls washing station

Girls washing station

Handwashing station on the boys side

Handwashing station on the boys side

Happy Camper

Happy Camper

Girls ready for lunch!

Girls ready for lunch!

Boys ready for lunch!

Boys ready for lunch!

Update on Camp Howard Basketball Courts Cover


The Structure has been inspected and found to be excellent and ready for the front and top to be applied.  The building is beautiful and fits well, nestled in the forest surrounded by Douglas Firs.  It will be an absolute thrill to use it for camp in the future shading from the sun and shielding from the rain!  Special thanks to the women of the Christ Child Society and Champions of Faith supporters!

Christ Child Basketball Courts Cover Under Construction Summer 2015

Christ Child Basketball Courts Cover Under Construction Summer 2015