Keeping up with Camp Howard

January 3, 2014Sr. Krista von Borstel 3 Comments

Karen (Camp Howard Facility Manager) and I took a tour of Camp Howard this past week and I have to tell you…doesn’t matter when you go up there, the scenes are always different! The Bull Run River lies between Camp Howard and the magnificent view of the Bull Run Reservoir. Mt. Hood is perched above and behind the hills where a partial view is still stunning. On this day, a thick bed of opaque clouds filled the valley between the camp and the other side of the gorge holding the Bull Run River. It was spectacular!

We toured around the camp where she and her trusty helper, Larry Wood have been cleaning up from the fuel reduction project at Camp by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry this past summer which completes 3 summers of work on fuel reduction. What is fuel reduction? It is the removal of the flammable brush under the forest that is the real culprit in the case of a fire. This flammable material helps fuel the fire and destroy the trees.

The result of this process has been a cleaner camp, made it possible to continue the process of cleaning up the forest floor, and increased the ability of the camp to fight a forest fire.

The winter improvement project this year is the renovation of the interior of the Greenwood cabins. We did the interiors of Fircrest cabins last winter so it is time for Greenwood! Little girls up to age 10 stay in Fircrest and little boys of the same age stay in the Greenwood cabins. The little boys will be happy to come to camp next summer and see the improvements made. What are we doing?

All of the walls in the cabin are being repainted and then the bunks are getting a nice enamel coat. The light fixture covers are being replaced which will give the rooms a brighter cleaner look. Mirrors will be installed on the walls. Karen is taking all of the windows out of all the cabins, removing the paint, removing the window pane, putting new windows in if necessary, glazing the windows, priming the wood then putting a coat of enamel on the windows and finally painting the interior of the door.

The Fircrest and Greenwood cabins are the original 12 cabins at Camp Howard. I expect we will get many more years out of the cabins due to the good work done by the staff on the buildings. Last year, Bill Fogarty who runs the camps summer activity programs, stayed on for a few weeks and led a paint crew in staining and trimming the exteriors of the cabins.

Congratulations Central Catholic and Jesuit High School

December 8, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel 2 Comments

Jen Weld Field, Portland, OR

Saturday December 7th was historic in the State of Oregon High School Football due to the fact that the two largest Catholic Schools in the State met for the first time in a State Playoff Game!

If you were at the game you know how bitterly cold it was especially after the sun set behind the tall MAC building! But the faithful from Central and Jesuit were enthusiastic through out the contest!

As for those of us in the neutral section of the facility, we had a wonderful view from an interesting perspective. We were able to watch the interaction between the two teams and the spectators. An emotionally charged game it was but the camaraderie between the two groups was one of respect and I think thoughtful appreciation for this great event.

I appreciated the fact that SEVERAL of the players from each team had been members of local CYO Football teams.

It was anyone’s game practically to the last three minutes when Central Catholic kicked a field goal to go ahead by 10 points. This was a very close game and a fun one to watch. In the end, Central Catholic and Coach Steve Pyne won and for the second time in 60 years they are the best in High School Football!

Jesuit, and coach Ken Potter have certainly had their share of State Championships over the past few years as well.

I am glad I had the opportunity to attend the game and watch one of Oregon’s special sport moments!

CYO Championship Volleyball – A Program to be Proud of!

December 7, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

The 2013 CYO Championship Volleyball playoffs provided plenty of action and excitement for all in attendance. The eighth grade playoff game between St. Matthew of Hillsboro and Christ the King of Milwaukie, was one of the most exceptional CYO volleyball contests I have seen in a long time. The teams each split a game, going into over time and in the final game of the match the teams were nip and tuck to the very end when St. Matthew prevailed. People got more than their moneys worth!

Some 1300 young women participated in this years volleyball program with all but a few teams participating in the end of season tournament.

The teams, coaches, and parents are to be commended for the participation and support they show to one another and to their teams.

Third Grade CYO Volleyball Champions – St. Francis, Roy and Visitation Verboor “The Fighting Dutch”

Third Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Clare

Fourth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions Cathedral School

Third Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Anthony

Fifth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions The Cathedral School

Fifth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. John Fisher

Sixth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions St. Agatha

Sixth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Pius X

Seventh Grade CYO Volleyball Champions All Saints

Seventh Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Cecilia

Eighth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions St. Matthews School

Eighth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place Christ the King

ADVENT…calling us back to reflection

December 4, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

This past Sunday when Father Peter lit the ADVENT candle I had to sit back in amazement at the fact that we are already to December of 2013!!! Advent is a good time to sit back and really reflect on the past and look ahead with hope to the future. I have to sit and quiet myself, break away from the hundreds of tugs and pulls and just get quiet! That feels really good! Try it!

I am enjoying the moment, letting everything go, looking to let my mind settle on what really matters. A story comes to mind! I got an e-mail from Pete Harnish from St. Rose in Longview, WA…

Sister Krista and Jolie,

Just wanted to share some exciting news from St. Rose Longview. We had a new boy, Kellen, join our CYO 4^th grade BB team this year and he is thoroughly enjoying playing basketball and being part of CYO sports. Kellen is new to Longview, attends public school and is non-Catholic. After a couple weeks of practice Kellen started asking his mom if non-Catholics could attend St. Rose School. She replied yes. Kellen continued to pursue transferring to St. Rose and yesterday his mom registered him as a new student in the 3^rd grade. His sister older also was excited about St. Rose School and she registered in the 5^th grade class. This has excited the boys on the team, lifted the spirits of the 3^rd and 5^th grade classes, and created some buzz amongst the teachers. CYO Sports was the only connection Kellen had with the school.

God works in amazing ways! Thanks for letting St. Rose Longview be part of CYO Sports. It is making a difference in the lives of many people in ways I didn’t envision.

Just felt like sharing the love.

Pete

Pete made my day! I am so grateful he shared this news because our relationship with God, our spiritual journey is what really matters. The ADVENT season calls us to reflect on our journey and make appropriate corrections that keep us on the path.

Fr. Peter lights the ADVENT candle at the Convent Chapel of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.

Sandy Macnab (From Sherman County) in the Oregon Stater

September 25, 2013September 25, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Sandy Macnab is featured in the Oregon Stater this month and I would like to draw your attention to the article. As a matter of fact, I scanned it and posted it here so that even the Duck Fans can read it.

Sandy went to the only high school in Sherman County – Sherman County Union High School and I seem to remember that he was Valedictorian of his class! Correct me if I am wrong!

Nice job, Sandy!

Family Camp 2013 Offers Variety of Fun and Entertainment at Camp Howard

August 9, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel 3 Comments

Family Camp 2013 was attended by several families totaling just under 80 people at Camp Howard the first weekend in August. CYO/Camp Howard staff members, Jolie Abraham Phanton, Bill Fogarty, Karen von Borstel and Sr. Krista von Borstel took part in the three day event which included such activities as swimming, arts and crafts, basketball, fishing at the camp pond, trap shooting, campfires, archery and recreational games.

Family camp is generally held the first weekend in august each year and families are assigned to their own cabins.

WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO WITH THE OEHLER FAMILY SINGERS!

Ed Langois from the Catholic Sentinel interviews Family Camper Jenn Robbins. You can find this interview in an upcoming insert in the Catholic Sentinel.

Michael Kirwin and JP Fogarty make it into the finals of the annual trap shooting competition at Camp Howard. Mike Kirwin has bragging rights for 2013-14 after an excellent finals round between the two that saw a dozen clay pidgins in flight before the contest concluded. The competition included 20 individuals- all of whom were sad to be eliminated in the five round competition!

Guess Who Wrote the Camp Howard Fight Song?

August 1, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

L to R: Jean, Fr. Leo Remmington, Fr. Kroll

Fr. Kroll (right) and his blood sister, Jean (left) join Fr. Leo Remington for a tour at Camp Howard with Sister Krista von Borstel. One of the tidbits learned along the way was that Fr. Leo wrote the Camp Howard Fight Song while a counselor/seminarian at Camp Howard as a young man.

Connor Garcia Works on CYO Championship Videos

August 1, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Connor Garcia’s summer is coming to an end as he prepares to return to Carroll College this month. His summer job at CYO has been to download all of the championship events from the 2012-13 year and process them into MP4 format. The Championship games will soon be made available for download onto social media devices through the CYO on line store. In addition to the 2012 – 13 CYO sport year, Connor has been working on previous years as well. God willing, Connor will return to CYO next summer to continue the work and move back to earlier years as well.

CYO Track and Field Program Thank you!

May 29, 2013Sr. Krista von Borstel 1 Comment

Each of the CYO sports is made up of a CYO Sport Director, Sport Commission, and Commission Chair. Mark Lee is the CYO Track and Field Director, Paul Boileau is the Track Commission Chair and six individuals sit on the Commission. Additionally, each of the Clubs that participate in CYO track and field have several coaches.

We are very blessed at CYO to have so many outstanding individuals helping produce the track and field regular season meets and the end of season Championship events for third through eighth grade participants.

These pictures were taken at the 2013 Coaches meeting prior to the final day of competition. Who do you recognize?