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.
Camp Howard will begin construction of a new dining hall this fall replacing the old 1953 building that has been a workhorse. The tired old Gimpl Hall has served well over a million meals and been a source of rest and comfort for many a camper over the years. The facility has had it’s day and is ready for retirement.
Surveyors are laying out the footprint for the new building while excavators are removing stumps. The view from the new building will be spectacular overlooking the Bull Run.
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!
7th Annual Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner Speaker: Oregon Hall of Fame Inductee Nick Robertson!
All families are invited to the 7th Annual Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner on October 17th at the Oregon Convention Center. Join us for our fun, community-building evening featuring Keynote Speaker Nick Robertson.
I had the opportunity to visit with Nick while touring Camp Howard earlier this month. I am delighted that Nick is our speaker for our dinner this year. We are looking forward to hearing his faith-filled speech and lessons learned from his decades of coaching. Nick was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 for his success in coaching High School Basketball.
Be sure to join us for the October 17th Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner! To register, sponsor or donate, visit our website. View our 15 second commercial or video that illustrates how the Dinner funds help families in our community. See our dinner flyer for a quick overview.
May God Bless You!
Sister Krista von Borstel SSMO
Observation is one of my favorite pastimes! Camp Howard is rich with opportunities for observation! The arrival of campers to Camp Howard is filled with emotion. The kids get off the bus, some with giant smiles, others with a bit of trepidation! The fear does not last long however, as the first thing that happens is the staff introduce themselves to the campers and tell them about what their job is at camp. Next, the campers are grouped by gender and age and then called by name to their cabin group. Soon they are in a small group learning about the individuals they will be spending their week with at the camp. Soon, it is all smiles!#sistersblog #cyocamphoward
We all know that summer time can be a sedentary time for kids. Camp is a great way to keep the kids outdoors and moving. They are on the go all week moving from activity to activity and the activities for the most part keep them moving as well. Camp Howard excels at providing activities that keep kids on the move and they LOVE IT!!!
CYO/Camp Howard 