6 Part Dedication of Mary’s Lodge – 1 The People – THANK YOU!


Some 250 – 300 people were present for the dedication of the new Mary’s Lodge at Camp Howard August 11, 2018.  The turnout exceeded expectations which thrilled the CYO/Camp Howard staff!

The event was catered for the purpose of allowing the hardworking camp cooks the opportunity to enjoy the day as well!  I might add they were all in attendance!

Special thanks to all of our friends for attending the dedication and sharing our joy!

Scott Family

The Kneefel Clan

McCormicks

The McCormick Clan

Haeners

Sue & Rich Haener

 

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Steve Beaird, (Fundraising helper),  Ed Langois (Sentinel)

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Dan Petit, Site Superintendent and family

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Sr. Adele Marie

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Ann Fitzgibbon & Dina Marie

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Dr. & Mrs. Birkel

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The Haener Clan

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Carol Veranizan and Susan Menendez

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Sr. Krista & Sr. Theresa Ann

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Sr. K and Sr. Theresa Lan

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Sr. Thuy, Sr. K, Sr. Marie Bernadette

 

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Sr. Diana Jean

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Sr. Alexa & Sr. Krista

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Sr. Marcella, Sr. Rita

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The Gentry Clan

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Sheri Dooney (Leonard Adams Insurance)

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Sr. Michael Francine, Sr. Angeline

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Fr. Leo Remington, early staff member at Camp Howard

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Sr. Krista, Sr. Charlene

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1999 camp staff member, Andy Smith

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Mr. & Mrs. Josh Danielson, Sr. Michael Francine

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Sr. K with “The Gravel Man”, Mr. Davis

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Sr. Angeline, Madi Parvankin

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Holy Trinity: Ingrid, Fr. Dave with Sr. Krista

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Ron Hungate, one of the Camp Howard outstanding cooks!

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Sr. Rosemary, Sr. Charlene, Sr. Krista, Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon

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Carolyn Romey, longtime cook at Camp Howard

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Fergie Bush, Sr. Krista

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Mark Gravengaard,  June Gravengaard,  Virginia Martinez

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George & Tammy Weivoda

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Gail Joseph, Sr. Krista, Ann Reinhart (Ann lead the dedication committee!)

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Sr. Michael Francine, Sr. Krista and Judith Winczewski

The Awesome Fishing Hole at Camp Howard


Scads of kids catch their first fish at Camp Howard’s Sporeen Pond!  The pond is stocked once or twice per year with farm trout which are fed daily as evidenced below!  Once the Purina Fish Chow hits the water, the fish are on it creating a swirling frenzy at every feeding!  Sr. Michael Francine fed the fish this summer to take one job off the hands of Property Director, Karen von Borstel.  Feeding time provided some great photo opportunities!

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Gaining Experience on the Job


Every few years, a seasoned group of young camp leaders graduate from college and move on to their careers leaving spaces for new individuals to fill and gain experience in leadership.  The Unit Directors, Program Director & CIT Director make up the youth leaders at Camp Howard and most are pictured below with Camp Director, Nora Gravengaard, Asst. Director, Shawna King and Health and Safety Director, Leila Blakely.

Left to right: Maggie Miller (yellow), Anthony “Fergie” Fergusson (blue), Paige Alie (Orange), Emily Cochran (Gold), Hannah Duffy (Green) and Madie Parvankin (Orange) made up the leadership team.  Not pictured, Colleen Rooney CIT Director)

They all put some new “tools” in their personal toolboxes throughout the seven week experience at Camp Howard!  From the look of the smiles, they had a good time doing it.

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“Leila” Our Camp Howard Safety Monitor!


Leila is a Camp Howard fixture.  She is in charge of Health and Safety which means she and her helper make sure fresh water is put out at several locations daily, checked on, replenished and cups replaced, daily.  She supplies materials to restock the restrooms and makes sure the restrooms are cleaned properly a few times a day.  She and her helper haul garbage sacks from the units and other points around camp to the dumpster daily to keep the garbage in the proper place and away from the pesky crows!  She supplies food from the kitchen to the outdoor white tents where the overflow campers ate until the new Mary’s Lodge was opened.  She oversaw the safe food handling procedures for all outdoor meals.  She checked that the pool was properly facilitated which includes cleaning the filters, checking the ph of the pool, applying the proper chemicals to the pool at the proper time.  She checks to make sure the pool is locked when not in use.  She does much more than this but you get the idea!

Most of the time you are going to get a smile and a genuine laugh from Leila.  If you “done wrong” you are going to get that look over the top of her glasses with a face that asks, what were you thinking?

A precious, no-nonsense, get ‘er done, sort of employee, Leila is the type of person that helps makes things go smoothly, safely and correctly because she is “on it!”

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Raising the Flag at Camp Howard


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!

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Mary’s Lodge First Campers to Eat in the New Dining Hall


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!

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Mary’s Lodge Kitchen…First Meal


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!

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SSMO Jubilee Sunday Celebrated


SSMO COMMUNICATIONS:

BEAVERTON — The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) paid tribute to seven Sisters who celebrated significant anniversaries of their years in committed, vowed religious life during the annual SSMO Jubilee Mass and reception.

The Jubilarians were honored on Sunday, July 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel in the SSMO Motherhouse. The SSMO campus is located at 4440 SW 148th Avenue, Beaverton. Additional information about the 2018 Jubilarians is available on the Sisters’ website.

“Each year we anticipate the celebration with our Jubilarians and honor them for their generous contribution to the life of our Community through their commitment to religious life and God,” said Sister Charlene Herinckx, Superior General of the SSMO.

With a combined 445 years of service, this year’s SSMO Jubilarians are: Sr. Angeline Sohler, celebrating 75 years; Sr. Mary Ann Hathaway, celebrating 70 years; Sr. Catherine Hertel, Sr. Delores Klupenger, Sr. John Therese Miller, Sr. Jean Marie Van Dyke, and Sr. Geraldine Brady celebrating 60 years of service.

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BELOW: Sr. Jean Marie VanDykeIMG_8254

BELOW: Sr. Catherine HertelIMG_8255

BELOW: Sr. John Therese MillerIMG_8256

BELOW: Sr. Angeline SohlerIMG_8257

BELOW: Sr. Mary Ann HathawayIMG_8258

BELOW: Sr. Geraldine BradyIMG_8259

BELOW: Celebrant Archbishop John VlaznyIMG_8283

Laser Tag Director Scores Big Fun for Campers


Gabe Klinger (center) and his companions provide a “blast” of great memories for campers who engage in laser tag at Camp Howard.  The unique lasers are designed for outdoor daylight use.  A computer generates games and  compiles the scores of each team and team member making for a delightful experience!  Laser tag is available to 11 & 12 year olds and older.

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Cabin Rules, a Sunday Night Activity


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!

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