JULY 15, 2017 CAMP HOWARD FEATURING THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF CLAYTON SMITH
This was the year to add to programming for the 6-10 year olds at Camp Howard. They are the Fircrest and Greenwood campers which means they stay in those units. They watched while the older kids got the zip line, big swing and laser tag. It was their turn this year and they got corcl’s and speed racers. Sounds like it has been a hit so far and we are all pretty excited for them! #sistersblog #cyocamphoward
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
JULY 15, 2017 CAMP HOWARD FEATURING THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF CLAYTON SMITH
WOWZERS!!! the kids have taken to Corcl’s like fish to water!!! 🙂 They can’t wait to get into them! The Camp staff saw them for the first time at the American Camping Association Convention this year and brought the idea home. Looked like fun especially since we were looking for something to excite the little kids in programming. They became good at it to the point it was the buzz at camp!!! Way to go Fircrest and Greenwood campers! (Boys and Girls ages 6 to 10)
What was more fun than a campfire? Marshmallows and chocolate? Skits & Songs by campers and counselors? Yep…great memories. Great memories are being made right now at Camp Howard. Wouldn’t you like to be a little mouse listening in? These kids are having a blast. Maybe you know one or two of them?
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!
2017 Volleyball at Camp Howard was a drastic improvement over 2016 weather-wise. Some of the harshest July rains were experienced last year making great use of the new Christ Child covered courts. This year was a very pleasant change with perfect weather, volleyball on Weigel Field with real grass. Most important however, was the fact that two of the Greater Portland area volleyball icons were on hand to give the girls some good solid basic drills and coaching advice as they worked with the girls over the four day campout.
Anna Maria Lopez, volleyball and basketball star from St. Mary’s Academy in her day and current Athletic Director at her Alma Mater was on hand with her sister, Patty Jane, to work with the girls. Several girls from Central Catholic and LaSalle High School came to assist the women at the camp.
CYO/CH is grateful to all of the women for their service to the youngsters over the weekend.
Imagine what it might be to fish for the first time and actually catch some fish! That was the case for several Camp Howard campers and 22 Chinese students visiting from their homeland. They experienced the worms, the poles, the hooks the tangled lines, bringing in a fish, casting the line and a whole new world! It is always one of my favorite places to go and get a few good pictures! Note the iphones in the pocket along with the headphones! 🙂 Mission accomplished!
After they catch the fish, the fish are cleaned on the spot then taken to the kitchen where they are prepared for dinner and the fishermen/women get to eat their catch. It is a pretty awesome experience to observe! #srkristablog, #cyocamphoward
It was the end of camp 2016 and Mark Gravengaard commented the flag wasn’t folded correctly when we put it away. That remark did not fall on deaf ears. I tucked it away and thought, we need to do a better job because the flag needs to be folded correctly! I asked Mark if he and his troop would consider coming out to the camp and give our new staff a talk on proper flag etiquette. He said he would be happy to do it.
Mark and his son, Eric brought a couple members of the troop along and talked to the staff on all sorts of topics around the flag. I was really pleased they did that and my hope is that when Mark sees us put the flag away this season, he will know it was time well spent!
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!
7th Annual Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner – An invitation from Sr. Krista von Borstel:
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, Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Inductee – High School Basketball Coach (Beaverton & McMinnville), Co-founder of Camps for Kids, and Cathedral Parishioner
To register, sponsor or donate, visit our website. View our video that illustrates how the Champions of Faith Dinner funds help families in our community. See our dinner flyer for a quick overview.
Our Benefit Dinner is the one annual fundraiser which has transformed CYO Sports and Camp Howard. The generosity of donors the past six years at our benefit dinner has made CYO Sports accessible for all who requested assistance and has provided thousands of camp scholarships. Net proceeds from the dinner have also greatly improved facilities and the range of programs for the over 11,000 youth who participate annually.
Contact Lisa Sanders, Development Director, at 503-231-9484 ext. 102 with any questions.
CYO/Camp Howard 