Colleen Rooney, Counselor in Training (CIT) Director, oversaw the raising and lowering of the flag this year at Camp Howard. Every day a different cabin had the opportunity to raise and lower the flag, to learn about how it is folded, unfolded, raised and lowered. A time honored learning experience at camp!
The first meal in the new Mary’s Lodge will long be remembered by the campers who ate the last meal in Gimpl Hall and the first meal in Mary’s Lodge! One cabin group helped set up the dining hall for the first meal. The Unit Directors sent the campers in groups by unit after they washed their hands in the new hand washing station! Campers entered the building, eyes wide open looking at the newness of the facility while finding their seats for the morning meal. As we checked on the kids during the meal our expectations were satisfied. They loved it!
Wednesday August 8, 2018 we opened Mary’s Lodge for the first time and served the campers a very special pancake breakfast. The campers love pancakes and it was a great meal to test the new equipment. The pancakes all cooked at the same temperature, the new “combi” oven, a combination of heat and steam made for very moist and tasteful sausage links, strawberries, whipped cream, it was a great first meal. No one went away dissatisfied! Even the dishwashers were happy with their new equipment which includes a pot and pan cleaning station prior to going through the dishwasher!
7
A unit at Camp Howard is made up of several cabins 5 or 6 to be exact. I had the joy of watching the Unit Director (Maddi Parvankin) and her faithful staff go over the cabin rules for their Greenwood campers (boys up to and including 10 years old). They had the drill down to a precision as each member of the unit took on a topic ranging from the buddy system where you always take someone with you anywhere you go at camp to how you treat the cabin. It was wonderful. The boys knew exactly what the expectations were and conducted themselves accordingly the rest of the week. I then followed them to their first campfire of the week. Great group of kids and staff!
One hundred feet of sliding downhill and across the lawn can only spell one thing…FUN! Water soaked plastic on a bed of sand with a super cushion as a coaster enhances the speed and joy as one floats across the surface trying to outdo the distance of the last person!
Your friends help you out by pulling you up to the launch point on the giant swing. You hit the disconnect and are sent swinging into the wild blue yonder at Camp Howard. The spectacular view of the Bull Run along with the impressive location of the giant swing, up against a steep hill, helps add to the awe of the ride! Once is never enough!
The Camp Store is a favored place for campers and this year is no different. The Camp Store Director has changed however as Cheyenne Cunning graduated from college and began her work career, “Sister Mike,” has stepped into the role and has had a lot of fun creating her own vision of the space. Each director brings their own flavor to the store but one thing doesn’t change, it is a daily function for campers to experience the store and find those items that will enhance their camp experience!
Sister Michael Francine is thrilled to be a part of the Camp Howard staff and grateful for the helpful staff who have kindly made her learning experience much easier!
Sister Mike is a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) and has a special devotion to St. Michael the Archangel.
Wowzers! It is clear the mural in Mary’s Lodge at Camp Howard will finish the building in grand style! The dedication on August 11th will show off the new state of the art food preparation and dining facility, a dream come true for staff at Camp Howard!
Wayne Chin is a well known local artist and art instructor. It is a joy to watch him at work!
ps – He moved the raccoons!
Kenna Reid on break from her studies at OSU, is heading up the Archery Range this summer at Camp Howard. A highly popular activity, Reid has plenty of participation from enthusiastic participants!
Kayla Houston and Andreas Markantonakos have spent the summer building courage in young boys and girls through activities on the “Howling Howard” zipline at Camp Howard. The massive fir trees provide a shade from the warm temperatures this summer as the youngsters and their mentors zip across the camp enjoying the features of the zip line and the fantastic views at the camp.
CYO/Camp Howard 