Looks like Corn for Dinner Tonight at the Convent!


One of the things that really pleases the Sisters is their personal contribution for food prep at the convent.  A value to be championed for sure as the preparation and preservation is important to the lifeblood of the community.  The Sisters have a long history of growing and preserving food for consumption.  We have been blessed over the years with help from outside the community as well.  Several individuals and families are recognized every fall for their gifts of food to the Sisters.

Produce brought to the convent is taken to the food prep room where Sisters sit around tables constructed for the purpose of food prep.  Peaches are skinned and sliced, apples and potatoes are peeled, corn is husked and many other actions as well.

An announcement comes over the loud speaker, “Corn Husking will begin in 10 minutes.”  All available hands make their way to the room, sit down or stand and do their part to make it happen.  A time honored tradition that never changes at the convent and one that puts a smile on the face of those who help and those who eat!

Thank you Sisters for the work you do behind the scenes to make food available for great meals!

What's left from a "husking party!"

What’s left from a “husking party!”

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Sister MaryAnn and Sr. Julie work on husking the corn for dinner!

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Sister Paula Fox is transfixed on an ear of corn that she is dutifully preparing.

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Sister MaryAnn Hathaway helps out with corn prep

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Sister Catherine Hertel removes corn from the cob

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Sister Colleen helps remove corn from the cob!

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Sister Marilyn peels the potatoes!

Sister Charlene cuts the ends off the ear of corn!  Look out folks! That's a big cleaver!

Sister Charlene cuts the ends off the ear of corn! Look out folks! That’s a big cleaver!

Meanwhile…Back at the Convent…What’s all that Construction on Campus You Ask?


Exciting times on the campus of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon!  Who can get excited about a renovated parking lot?  When it adds several extra spots and addresses the underground water collection etc. it is pretty exciting huh?  The entrance to the back of the campus is also being changed as Murray Blvd. makes changes.

The old gym was taken down this spring to make way for a much needed campus maintenance facility and space for the maintenance Dept. to call home.  Personally I am very excited about this and look forward to the facility being finished!  It will greatly enhance the campus with the capabilities of really being able to take care of maintenance needs very professionally!

And the Sisters, are doing something fun for the community, putting in a bocce court and patio for outdoor activities.  We will be enjoying the bocce court this next week during community days so I will be sure to share that soon.  Meanwhile, here are some photos from this past week.

Bocce court and patio begins to take shape.

Bocce court and patio begins to take shape.

Walls begin to go up on the new maintenance facility.

Walls begin to go up on the new maintenance facility.

moving dirt around to make room for a new location for the dumpster near the new parking lot.

moving dirt around to make room for a new location for the dumpster near the new parking lot.

Leadership Behind the Scenes at Camp Howard is What Makes the Difference


Leadership in my opinion is what makes the difference between a good experience and a GREAT experience!  There have been some wonderful youth leaders employed at Camp Howard this summer and it has been a pleasure to watch them lead and grow these past 5 weeks.

The staff take their responsibility very seriously because after all they are taking care of people’s most prized possession…their kids!  Developing that special eye that looks out for the best in kids and making sure to keep them out of harms way at all times is what the Unit Directors impress on the counselors who are responsible for the cabins of children each week.

Leadership experiences on staff provide young leaders with an abundance of new tools for their personal toolboxes.  Camp work develops great skills in young people.

The camp Howard Leadership Team has done an outstanding job leading the camp, providing excellent experiences for the kids and I am very proud of them!

Front Row: Candi Trapp – Asst. Camp Director, Khaki Anderson – Program Director, Morgan McAllister – Fircrest Unit Director, Anna McLean – Cougar Den Unit Director, Kirsten Klein – Aldergrove Unit Director,  Leila Blakely – Health and Safety Director, Alli Caster – Greenwood Unit Director, Sr. Krista von Borstel – Executive Director, Back Row Left to Right: Bill Fogarty – Summer Program Director “Camp Director”, Karen von Borstel – Property Director, Patrick Laughlin – Sparpole Director, Robert Augar, CIT Director.  Not Pictured: Phoebe Bellisario – Daycamp and Mini Camp Director

Camp Howard Leadership Team 2015

Camp Howard Leadership Team 2015

The Health Inspector Visited Camp Howard this Week and Guess What they Found?


It was a 5 hug salute to Karen von Borstel for an outstanding camp!  Health Inspector said she was going to write an article for their National Magazine citing the excellence she found at Camp Howard!  Hadn’t seen anything that good in her 20 years of inspections!

She was especially thrilled with the hand washing stations newly installed at the camp to get those hands clean!  Everyone washes their hands three times a day at least!

Karen has instilled in the staff the importance of cleanliness in the restrooms, pool and kitchen in particular as these are areas which serve everyone.  The staff has responded to the call to cleanliness and now it is a basic instinct to clean it well and clean it often!

All of the camp staff are to be commended for the excellent job they have done all summer keeping the camp clean and inviting!  Nice job to everyone on the Camp Howard staff!

Girls washing station

Girls washing station

Handwashing station on the boys side

Handwashing station on the boys side

Happy Camper

Happy Camper

Girls ready for lunch!

Girls ready for lunch!

Boys ready for lunch!

Boys ready for lunch!

Update on Camp Howard Basketball Courts Cover


The Structure has been inspected and found to be excellent and ready for the front and top to be applied.  The building is beautiful and fits well, nestled in the forest surrounded by Douglas Firs.  It will be an absolute thrill to use it for camp in the future shading from the sun and shielding from the rain!  Special thanks to the women of the Christ Child Society and Champions of Faith supporters!

Christ Child Basketball Courts Cover Under Construction Summer 2015

Christ Child Basketball Courts Cover Under Construction Summer 2015

I Could Not Be Quiet About This and I Hope You Won’t Either!


I detest the political season and I can’t stand political advertisements.  It is a shame where we have come to in this country politically.  We are all losers because of it.

Taking the life of a child prior to being born (abortion) is a very sad situation and I know we all have our perspectives on it.  I am obviously against it but at the same time I realize there are a lot of people who have had abortions and most of them suffer the rest of their lives because of it.  I feel for and love those people for the struggles they have been through.

I can’t sit and be quiet about what I understand is going on with Planned Parenthood and the careful killing of babies to harvest and sell body parts.  I called Senator Ron Wyden’s office this afternoon to ask him to help defund Planned Parenthood when they vote at 5:00 Eastern time.  It took about 10 minutes for the whole process and I actually got someone with skin on the other line.

Here’s the number: 1-202-224-3121 (US Capitol)

Capture the Flag…A Camp Howard Highlight Activity


CAPTURE THE FLAG…we could not operate the camp without it…there would be mutiny!!!  Capture the Flag is an all camp event that takes place at the end of the week and all of the camp participates.  Kids LOVE it!  Khaki Anderson shows a map she drew of the camp to assist in explaining the rules of the game to the kids.  Khaki is the Program Director for Camp Howard this summer and has done a first class job in the role.

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Khaki Anderson explains the rules to Capture the Flag at Camp Howard

Khaki Anderson explains the rules to Capture the Flag at Camp Howard

Fr. John Amsberry Knocks it out of the Park at Camp Howard, Corbett, OR


Family campers were treated to a fantastic “family themed” Mass last night as Fr. John Amsberry offered Mass Saturday night during the weekend of fun.  Fr. John shared many wonderful thoughts on family but my favorite was his acronym:

F – Forget

A – About

M – Me

I – I

L – Love

Y – You

The idea of being other centered, communicating and working toward healthy, vibrant families was the message Father John imparted to the Camp Howard Family campers with his wonderfully faith inspiring and motivational delivery.

Mass with Fr. John Amsberry at Camp Howard Family Camp 2015

Mass with Fr. John Amsberry at Camp Howard Family Camp 2015

Family Camp Mass 2015 at Camp Howard

Family Camp Mass 2015 at Camp Howard

Gift of Corn a Treat and Blessing at Camp Howard


Thank you, Margie Haener Barnett for the thoughtful gift of corn for all of the campers last week and family campers this weekend!  It was so greatly appreciated by everyone who was present!   The corn was prepared in the Camp Howard propane-heated wok and served up with hamburgers last night at family camp.  It was a major hit!

Karen von Borstel and Sr. Krista von Borstel open the lid to the wok to show the corn being cooked for Family Campers!

Karen von Borstel and Sr. Krista von Borstel open the lid to the wok to show the corn being cooked for Family Campers!

Morning Meeting at Camp Howard


I started my day with our regular Wednesday morning Core Staff Leadership team meeting at Camp Howard.  Five Unit Directors, CIT Director, Summer Programs Camp Director, Assistant Camp Director, Property Director, Program Director and Health and Safety Director.  It is the core leaders of the camp and the ones who really make things happen.  I really enjoy working with this group because they inspire me and give me faith in the future.  They are tremendous leaders who understand their role, mission and the importance of making sure the campers who come to Camp Howard are to be taken care of in the best possible way.

Candi Trap, Assistant Camp Director

Candi Trap, Assistant Camp Director

Khaki Andersen, Program Director

Khaki Andersen, Program Director

Kirstin

Kirstin

Morgan

Morgan

Alli

Alli

Bill - Camp Howard Summer Program Director

Bill – Camp Howard Summer Program Director

Leila Blakely, Karen von Borstel

Leila Blakely, Karen von Borstel