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Category CYO/Camp Howard
CYO Track & Field Week 2 Photo Gallery
APRIL 22, 2017 CYO TRACK & FIELD –
CYO Track & Field is GREAT because it is a very active sport with a lot of choices for kids. Throwing, jumping, putting, running, sprinting, you name it, there is something for everyone! This year nearly 1900 kids signed up for CYO Track & Field. Four meets per Saturday bringing kids from all over the greater Portland area to compete with one another is a lot of fun. #sistersblogs #cyocamphoward
Have You Experienced the “Bus Stop”?
Over the past 20 years, some of my favorite memories revolve around the bus stop. There are many facets to the bus stop! Families arrive at The Madeleine School in Portland to check luggage, paperwork, meds and most important…the camper!
Similar stories are played out year after year as parents bring their child to the bus and in many cases, it will be the child’s first time away from home. Not sure if it is harder on the parent or the child. The parent looks through the window at their child who is either looking forward to the fun ahead or crying their eyes out. Might be Mom on the other side of the window crying her eyes out. Either way, it is a touching moment. If we can get through this part of the trip, the rest will be easy!
Next, we get to camp with three to six busses filled with kids. At the camp, a well oiled machine is waiting to unload the luggage from the luggage truck, sort it and distribute it to the various units before the kids arrive at their cabin.
The campers are welcomed by another group as they step off the bus onto the Camp Howard campground. The children are welcomed with a slap of hands as they make their way, pillows in hand, to the gathering space. The goal for the first hour of arrival is to get the campers situated into their cabin group, engage in ice breakers to get to know one another and make their way to their cabins to choose a bunk.
When the kids get back on the bus to return home, often there are more tears. As they arrive at the Madeleine they are singing the Camp Howard Fight Song as they arrive at the end of the journey. Happy to tell Mom and Dad about their experiences and bittersweet feelings about leaving the fun and independence they experienced at camp.
The bus stop is a very powerful place on both ends of the trip. I can tell you it is true as I have been there for 20 years worth of experiences.
ABOVE: 2005 kids arrive at the Camp
ABOVE 2007 – Bus leaves Camp with a load of campers headed back home!
ABOVE: Sr. Krista visits with some campers getting ready to head to camp in 2008. (Cheyenne Cunning is a camper – the one with the cougar award)
ABOVE: 2009 – Six busses load up as the luggage bus is packed for a trip to Camp Howard.
2010 ABOVE Campers load the bus for a trip to camp at the Madeleine
2010 ABOVE – Parents say goodby just before the busses roll out of the Madeleine for Camp.
2010 ABOVE – Campers express a variety of emotions as they gaze at their parents prior to leaving for camp.
2010 ABOVE – Signage points parents and campers in the direction they need to go at the bus stop
2011 ABOVE Campers arrive at Camp Howard and are welcomed by staff
2011 ABOVE Campers arrive at Camp Howard and are welcomed by staff
2011 ABOVE Campers arrive at Camp Howard and are welcomed by staff
2011 ABOVE Campers arrive at Camp Howard and are welcomed by staff
ABOVE 2016 – busses arrive at the camp to take campers home
ABOVE 2016 Parents wait for campers to arrive after a week of camp.
Camp Howard “Gimpl” Dining Hall Slated for Replacement
The Camp Howard Dining Hall was built in 1953 after the Horton Family made a land donation to St. Vincent de Paul for the purpose of a Catholic youth camp. Archbishop Howard accepted the gift and the Hortons encouraged the naming of the camp after the Archbishop. The camp was first known as Camp Howard of Oregon.
The deed was signed, turning the tree farm property over to Camp Howard of Oregon in January of 1953. In April, the dining hall, a unit of 6 cabins, a showerhouse, staff cabins, a facility manager’s home and a water system were built and installed.
The first camping session began in June of 1953.
CYO/Camp Howard is working on a capital campaign to raise funds to replace the dining hall at the camp. 2.8 million has been raised with a goal of 3.5 million.
The dining hall has served over 100,000 campers over the years and has proved to be the heart of the camp as any kitchen tends to be. The time has come, however, to replace the aged building. The new building will include a foundation and restrooms among other modern conveniences. Due to structural issues that would cost a great deal of money to repair, the old building will be eventually removed.
The dining hall was named “Gimple Hall” in 2002 to honor Father Carl Gimpl, the second camp director at the camp with a record 25 years of service at the camp.
HISTORY IN PHOTOS:
ABOVE: 1953 newly finished Camp Dining Hall. First campers line up for meal time.
ABOVE: 1953 Camp Howard Dining Hall meal time! Half the dining hall used as chapel in early years.
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall. the covered wings were added in 1978.
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall – Note, no windows in the lower part. These would be added in 2001.
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall – Note the ramp added for wheel chair access. The old stairs are still visible.
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall – the building is perched on pier blocks
ABOVE 1999 Camp Howard Dining Hall – Front View
ABOVE 2001 Camp Howard Dining Hall – Windows are added at the ends of the building greatly improving the light inside. (Dick Weigel in pink shirt – Board President at the time.)
ABOVE: Windows are in and now a little trim paint to be introduced!
ABOVE: Camp Howard Dining Hall front view 2008
ABOVE: Camp Howard Dining Hall 3/4 view 2008
ABOVE: Camp Howard Dining Hall freshly stained and trimmed 2011. Looks pretty good doesn’t it?
ABOVE: Camp Howard Dining Hall freshly stained and trimmed 2011 front and side
ABOVE: Camp Howard Dining Hall 2015.
Have You Ridden a “Speed Racer”?
If you are between the ages of 5 and 10, and going to Camp Howard this summer, you are in for a treat! Not only are we offering the new “Corcl’s” we also have new four wheeler “Speed Racers” for the age group! A course will be set up on one of the basketball courts under the Christ Child Courts for the kids to race around. A dozen carts have been ordered and will soon make Camp Howard their new home! Get ready kids! You have a lot of fun in store for you this summer at CAMP HOWARD!
What’s Good about Good Friday?
When you think about the horrible things that happened on Good Friday it makes one stop and ponder the word, “Good”!
For me, the three days leading to Easter are the most important days of the year! I would not have dedicated my life to Christ had it not been for these three days. Think about it, Jesus willingly died, was buried and rose to life on the third day all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3). This was the most momentous event in the history of the world!
Good Friday had to happen in order for the wonderful JOY of Easter Sunday! I hope this is a thought filled and wonderful Easter for each of you!
Zip Line Extended at Camp Howard!
The second phase of the zip line is being installed this week at Camp Howard. It is going to be pretty exciting to zip from platform to platform this summer with the length of the entire line at about 1000 feet total! Campers age 13 and up are eligible to participate in the zip line and big swing programs at camp. We will keep you posted on the progress.
CYO Fourth Grade Girls BXB Championships 2017
Feb 26, 2017 – 4th Grade Girls Championships
St. Matthew (White) Coach: Jeff Tuck
Chanelle, Anya, Braxtyn, Alyssa, Emerson, Natalie, Berkleigh, Isabel, London
Madeleine (Blue) Coaches: Julie Cusumano, Heather Matteri
Katie, Lucia, Nora, Tessa, Isabel, Carlyle, Hailey, Ana
Q1: 3-1 St. Matthew
Q2: 7-5 St. Matthew
Quick back and forth game with girls who have a good understanding of the game and fundamentals. Growth and development will make both teams fun to watch in the future. They play with a lot of passion!
FINAL: St. Matthew 22 – Madeleine 17
St. Matthew 4th Grade Girls win the 2017 CYO Basketball Championship Title.
The Madeleine CYO Club wins 2nd place in the 2017 CYO Basketball Championship game.
Camp Howard Summer Registration Open
On-line registration is now open for all of our general camping sessions, sport camps both in town and at camp, Family Camp, specialty Camps, etc. Join me this summer at Camp Howard for another exciting camping season! Bring a friend! (Or come alone and make new friends)
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”!
CYO/Camp Howard 