Thank you, Ed, for this thoughtful, articulate article on Religious Freedom.
Grateful to you,
Sister Krista von Borstel, S.S.M.O.
Category Oregon
Champions of Faith Testimonial With Michelle Garcia
Michelle Garcia and her husband Michael have been supporters of CYO/Camp Howard in a variety of roles. Michelle has served most recently on our Capital Campaign Committee while her husband, Michael served on the Executive Board for several years including three years as Chairman. Thank you, Michelle for stepping up and creating this testimonial for our annual fundraiser! We are grateful to you.
https://youtu.be/GYouh0Xzr9w?list=PLn7Z88srUGqA4dJB-oYZ6Uxa6etTrYo4j
Why Contact Flag Football?
CYO/CH OFFICE PORTLAND, OR
Modified Youth Football Game? As concerns over player safety mount, the national governing body for youth and high school football has been working on modifying versions of the youth football game that look radically different from what football fans might expect of Tackle Football for 3rd through 8th grade participants. Unlike sports like baseball – which has progression levels from T-ball up and suited to each age group – youth football has had few alternatives to flag and tackle versions. Now a new game format has been developed, we call Contact Flag, and is a modified youth football game that bridges 5 player Flag with 11 player Tackle Football. Effective Fall 2017, CYO Football in partnership with the Pacific Youth Football League (PYFL), will adopt the new Contact Flag football game format for the 3/4 grade division level.
Above: The Regis Ram CYO Youth Football Team at the 2016 Playoffs.
CYO Youth Football Progression Levels
- Grade K-2 Flag Football
- 5-on-5, 40 Yard Field, Shorts, Flag Belt
- Grade 3-4 Contact Flag Football
- 7-on-7 or 8-on-8, 40 Yard Field, Helmet, Shoulder Pads, Shorts, Flag Belt
- Grade 5-6, 7, 8 Tackle Football
- 11-on-11, 100 Yard Field, Helmet, Shoulder Pads, Padded Pants
Contact Flag Football Overview
- It’s modified to be leaner, less contact-inclined football game, focused on fostering well-rounded athletes and cutting down on the kinds of high impact, open-field contact that injure players and upset parents in the bleachers.
- Players still wear football helmets and shoulder pads. From the waist down they wear shorts, flag belt and cleats.
- The modified game is played on a smaller football field, which dramatically shrinks the 100-yard field to a length of 40 yards. This length allows a typical field to be split in half, so that two separate games can be played on the same surface at once. Hash marks will be the side-lines.
- Seven players on each side. In a tackle football game, 11 players for each team would be on the field at once; in the modified version that number is reduced to seven – though we have not ruled out the possibility of anywhere from six to eight.
- Three offensive and defensive line positions. All other positions (QB, RB, WR) advance the ball or defend (LB, DB, S) against advancement.
- Players at the line of scrimmage are not allowed to be in a “three-point stance” – a body position that allows for great leverage and more power off the line. Lineman are required to be in a two-point stance.
- There will be no special teams. In other words, that means no kick-off, punts, etc. in an attempt to cut down on open-field contact those plays often involve that cause injury.
- Players must rotate positions, rather than specialize in just one. All too often kids lose interest in football because they never touch the ball. This format gives everyone the chance to throw, catch and run the ball.
- Coaches must ensure players of equal size are matched up against each other. Grade divisions, weight and size are all considered for a better and safer game.
The overall aim of the modified youth football game is to create a progression from K-2 Flag Football that will allow young athletes to have a successful and fun experience while being introduced to the fundamentals of Tackle Football at the 5-6 and 7-8 division levels
A New Sister of St Mary of Oregon! Sr. Thanh Pham
Sr. Thanh Pham, asked to join our religious community this summer after discerning this decision for a year. Sr. Thanh Asked the Sisters this morning to help her and teach her as she learns to live religious life. During the ceremony Sr. Thanh received the white novice veil and added “Sister” to her name! It was a joyous occasion for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon!
sr Charlene Herinckx, superior general of the community, welcomed Sr. Thanh to the novitiate.
Bull Run From a Drone’s Perspective
At Camp Howard, Youth Leaders Make ALL the Difference!
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)
An Invitation to ALL of My Friends!
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
Zip Line at Camp Howard…the Best!
JULY 17, 2017 CAMP HOWARD FEATURING THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF CLAYTON SMITH
I was talking to the 13 & 14 year olds at camp who were participating in the zip line. They were pretty excited about their experience and I heard one of them talking to a friend, “I have done a lot of zip lines but this one was the best!” I pardoned my eavesdropping and asked why she thought it was the best. She said the view was fantastic and you could see where you were going and it was “spectacular!” I thought that was pretty awesome. She is right…the view is amazing. #cyocamphoward #sistersblogs
Jenna Bass & Camp Howard BXB Camp
Basketball enthusiasts from around the Greater Portland area joined Jenna Bass for a basketball campout at Camp Howard Thursday through Sunday to add a few skills to their basketball toolbox. Bass, a former Willamette University star, flanked by daughter Claire and co-worker, Connor Garcia, enjoyed their four day experience with the kids under the wonderful Christ Child Basketball Courts at Camp Howard. The kids who attended will return to their CYO teams this winter armed with all kinds of new skills to enhance their games!
The Making of a Summer Camp Director
Nora Gravengaard interviewed for and was hired in the position of receptionist in January of 2014 at the CYO/Camp Howard office in Portland, OR. She quickly proved herself to be a hard worker who did a good job, kept smiling and asked what else she could do!
I moved her into a position to assist with the development of Baseball, Lacrosse and Football. Again, she stayed on top of her work, communicated with her cohorts and delivered to the best of her ability.
An opportunity came forward in 2015 to move her to the position of the Camp Director of the Camp Howard summer programs. She said, “Sister I will do what ever you would like me to do.”
The position of Camp Director for a summer camping experience is a formidable task. It is a position that calls forth all of your skills and then some. It is a position that will take you to new places in your own skin! You are forced to grow beyond your current personal boundaries.
Nora went into her first camping season armed with a team of confident, seasoned team mates, mothers, leaders, friends, all capable hard working ladies in their own right who looked for a leader who would communicate with them, keep them in the loop, treat them as team mates, work with them and laugh with them.
The first season was a season of learning all of the ropes, asking for help, and sometimes just big “deer in the headlight” stares at what could possibly happen next! Her team flanked her and helped her all the way through. During the off season, she attended the Camp Directors workshop and the American Camping Association’s convention in New Mexico. She attended with two of her team and they all learned so much and were excited about it.
Nora is getting ready to start her second season of camp. She just finished staff training and her youth staff were thrilled with it. They have been a big help to her and they realized this year how important their help was last year. Her Leadership Team is grateful for the experience she has developed and look forward to working with her again.
In reflecting on her second year she says she is grateful for her youth staff and the parents who are trusting her and the camp with their children. She is excited and ready for round two!
CYO/Camp Howard 