Lisa Sanders, CYO/Camp Howard Development Director, George Weivoda, Co Chair of the 2017 Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner, Dina Marie, Host of the Mater Dei Radio Morning Show and Sr. Krista talk about the upcoming event.
You can listen here!
George Weivoda – Co Chair of the Champions of Faith 2017 event
Lisa Sanders, CYO/Camp Howard Development Director
Dina Marie Hale, Host of the Mater Dei “In Person” Show
CAMP HOWARD SEPTEMBER 2017
Several summer camp staff members stayed on with Camp Howard to tackle projects for maintenance. Each year one of the units of cabins is selected to work on in a scheduled sequence to keep the buildings in good repair. This year, the two original units, Fircrest and Greenwood were pressure washed, stained and trimmed. The roofs were cleaned, boards were replaced as needed and the buildings were readied for another 6 years of service. That is the number of years it generally takes to get back to the unit for another spruce up o the exterior. Other projects are also taken on by the crew to get the camp ready for another year. The staff always do a spectacular job and it is a joy to work with them.
Unfortunately this years work party was cut short due to the Gorge Fire. Hopefully a few more days of work time will be available before everyone heads back to school.
BELOW: Emma Wycoff scrubs on the metal bowl used in the giant wok.
Anna O’Boyle learns to operate the lift for pressure washing and painting.
Emma Wycoff also learns to operate the lift as the two girls take on some major responsibilities during the summer work sessions.
SEPTEMBER 7,2017 CAMP HOWARD
The Gorge Fire of 2017 will be remembered for many years into the future. Camp Howard was affected with loss of rentals, a halt to the end of season work detail and a fear that the fire would make it’s way up the Bull Run toward the camp. A thick hazy smoke engulfed the camp and the smell of burnt wood permeated the air.
BELOW: Heavy sprinkling of water around the dining hall with the big gun sprinkler settles the dust and cools the trees.
The big gun sprinkler doubles as a first line of defense in the event of a fire at camp. The hose and nozzle accompany the sprinkling unit.
Property Director, Karen von Borstel waters Camp Howard Road then back to water the rhododendrons.
Smoke lingers throughout the camp.
The hills beyond the Bull Run River are generally a crisp green blanket. The smoke masks the view entirely.
The trail between Gimpl Dining Hall and Sparpole unit gives evidence of the lingering smoke around the camp.
SEPT. 5, 2017 CAMP HOWARD
I know many of you are wondering about Camp Howard and how we are faring in light of the fire in the Columbia River Gorge. Thank you for your care and concern. It means a great deal to us and we realize the camp is a treasure of the children and those who have been campers and staff in the past!
The fire is burning further North of Camp Howard and we have fortunately not been in the path as of yet. The direction and power of the wind is the big factor in where the fire goes. We have put together a contingency plan in the event we needed to evacuate the camp. As you can imagine it would involve removing all of our vehicles and as much of our camp supplies as possible.
You may be interested to know that in 2011, the Oregon Dept. of Forestry offered to remove the flammable material under the trees and create a 100’ defensible corridor above the Bull Run on camp property. We accepted their invitation and they worked on it for four years to create this space. We have worked to maintain this area over the past several years. We have also created green spaces around our buildings to help in the defense of fire. Additionally, we have set up a fire line through the camp that allows us to hook a large water gun for watering vast areas. God willing, these measures might pay off! We will prepare for the worst and pray for the best!
Please pray for our year around camp staff as some have evacuated from the Corbett area where they live.
I have attached a map for you to see the location of Camp Howard in regard to the Columbia River and the Gorge. You can see we are South of the fire area at this point and the fire has been burning West from Cascade Locks. East Corbett and Springdale have evacuated.
Again, we greatly appreciate your outpouring of concern around the camp. It is heartening to say the least! Follow my blog to stay posted with what is going on at Camp Howard.
The entire CYO/Camp Howard Staff and I thank you for your prayers! We will keep you posted.
Sr. Krista
The second phase of the zip line was added at Camp Howard this past year to add to the experience of 13 and 14 year olds. This phase added two zip features and a bridge extending the total length of the zip line to approximately 500 feet. A third phase is expected to be added in 2018 as the camp works toward four total phases to the line.
The camp makes the zip line available to outside rental groups and several have taken advantage of the opportunity.
The youth leaders at Camp Howard for the summer session 2017 have been one of the very best teams of leaders in my 20 years with the camp. Their development as individuals, willingness to work with one another, ability to lead and inspire have been the ingredients that have made this one of the best seasons on record.
ABOVE Left to Right: Ally Oser, Anna O’Boyle, Natalie Nielsen, Anthony Cioeta, Anna McLean and Lizzy Brown make up the Unit Leaders with Anna McLean being the overall youth leader for 2017 as Program Director.
Camp leadership meetings are held every Wednesday morning with youth leaders and the year around camp staff. ABOVE Left to right: Natalie Nielson, Anthony Cioeta, Anna O’Boyle, Karen von Borstel (Property Director), Leila Blakely (Health and Safety Director).
ABOVE: Ally Oser, Lizzy Brown, Anna McLean, Natalie Nielsen, Anthony Cioeta.
ABOVE: Shawna King (Asst. Camp Director), Shelby Dunn (CIT Director), Ally Oser, Lizzy Brown (Unit Directors)
ABOVE: Sr. Michael Francine (Camp Assistant), Nora Gravengaard (Camp Director), Shawna King (Asst. Camp Director)
We got in trouble on our evaluations Session 1 for not serving cheesy rolls. Cheesy Rolls have become one of the “expectations” at Camp Howard because they are so darn good! The cooking staff made an all out effort to provide the delight session 2 to keep the camp out of trouble with the campers and staff! So far, so good!
Don Patty has been the fire inspector for Camp Howard a long time. He knows the camp really well and often has tips for us on how to make the camp safer. We like it when the inspectors come. They do a good job for us and we are grateful. He did not find anything this time but often he does and we get it corrected asap. Don had some ideas for us in planning for the new dining hall however. We are looking at ways for the fire department to fill the truck water tanks at the camp. That is an important consideration.
Now the Health Inspector should arrive any day…we try to always be ready, not just for the inspection, but for the generally safety of people!
We were brainstorming new camps to offer for 2017 when we came up with drone camp and the sound of it was intriguing. Mark Lee, our resident techie was all over it and began researching it. Then he bought a drone and began testing it and flying it. Then he asked if he could teach the drone camp! “Wow Mark, yes we would LOVE for you to do that!” Well, if you know Mark, he gets into something and drills down to the finest of details which he did for presenting Drone Camp. He had two takers session 2 and they had an absolute blast with it. He has six more coming up session three. The films the kids were able to shoot at the camp were really fantastic and had all of us looking at camp from a new perspective! I think drone camp will be around for a while. Eight campers will get their “wings” this summer! #sistersblogs #cyocamphoward
ABOVE: Mark Lee with the drone controls. BELOW: Phantom 3 Drone – smooth and stable!
CYO/Camp Howard 