Tag Camp Howard

Camp Howard Cabin Hit by Tree During Winter Storm – Wow…See What Happened!

Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

You may wonder…”What happens after the summer programs and Outdoor School programs at Camp Howard? You might not know that Camp Howard is open all year round and people rent the camp for family events like weddings, family reunions, retreats, church picnics etc. During January and most of February we do a lot of interior work like painting walls and renovations. Right now Aldergrove Unit is being renovated on the interior. Bunks and walls are being painted, things are being spiffed up so that campers will come to the unit and really appreciate the new clean look.

During the winter we sometimes get strong winds. Generally nothing happens except branches might fall and litter the ground. But every so many years we get especially high winds and these extra strong winds take down trees that are diseased. We lost one tree to high winds this winter and it hit All Saints Cabin in Aldergrove. It knocked the cabin off its foundation and the porch came off. It was a pretty hard hit and I am really glad we did not have any campers in the camp when it happened.

You may be interested to know that most often the trees that come down in the wind storms are the Hemlocks.  Camp Howard is made up of mostly Douglas Fir, Oregon’s most popular crop tree.

The photos below show the damage that was done. We are in the process of fixing the cabins and my next posts will show where we are in that process. Check out these photos of the cabin and let me know your thoughts or reactions.

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All Saints Cabin in Aldergrove unit was built in 1995. It was hit by a tree this winter and knocked off it’s foundation.

 

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The rootball of the Hemlock tree that fell can be seen here as well as the “shadow” of where it lay prior to being sawed into “rounds” and removed to be made into firewood. The shadow is the sawdust!

 

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The front of the cabin shows the porch off to the right, the stairs upside down to the right and the porch sitting at an angle to the front of the door. “Light still works!”

 

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The fascia board hangs from the building by a few nails and the building has a number of issues that must be addressed.

 

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When the building was thrust against the tree and moved off the foundation, it continued its downward movement and part of the foundation came through the floor of the cabin.

 

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Another area where the foundation punched through the floor

 

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Even the garbage can did not escape a “crunch!” Wrong place wrong time!

 

Bill Fogarty Hits the Airwaves at KBVM to Promote Camp Howard Summer Programming

Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Bill Fogarty on air at KBVM

Bill Fogarty on air at KBVM

Bill Fogarty, Summer Camp Director at Camp Howard, shares the good news about Camp Howard and the exciting summer programs available this summer

Bill Fogarty, Summer Camp Director at Camp Howard, shares the good news about Camp Howard and the exciting summer programs available this summer

Bill Fogarty, Summer Camp Director at Camp Howard took advantage of the opportunity to be Dina Marie’s guest on her morning show at KBVM this month during the Share a thon benefitting KBVM radio operations.

Other CYO Staff including Jenifer Kluthe, Jenna Bass and Jeff Sevilla also participated answering the phones and recording donations from generous listeners.

CYO/Camp Howard and KBVM have a long relationship of goodwill which benefits both organizations.  KBVM has been an excellent partner with CYO spreading the good news of activities and happenings through out the year.  CYO is a regular sponsor of the station.

Camp Howard is taking reservations for summer campers.  We are excited about what is happening at camp this summer and it appears that a lot of kids are looking forward to a great experience.  Campers can continue to sign up through out the summer on line at cyocamphoward.org

It is Cold at Camp Howard! Things are Happenin’

Sr. Krista von Borstel 2 Comments

A couple of trees have blown down with the high winds.  One near the basketball courts and one at Cougar Den falling in such a way as to avoid any cabins….very kind of mother nature huh?  The temperature has been in the lower 20’s and a slight accumulation of about 3″ of snow.  The ground is clear now, cold and clear days with the mountain very beautiful.

Winter tree fall at camp

Winter tree fall at camp

Fallen tree near basketball courts at camp

Fallen tree near basketball courts at camp

Candi Trapp painted all of the bunks and walls in Fircrest this fall and winter, working around her other jobs.  She has done a beautiful job.  Additionally she caulked all the cracks in the ceilings and added slats to upgrade the look of the ceilings in these older cabins.

Candi points to the caulking she has done to improve the paint job.

Painted bunk covered while walls get fresh coat of paint in St. Cecilia cabin in Fircrest Unit.

Painted bunk covered while walls get fresh coat of paint in St. Cecilia cabin in Fircrest Unit

DSCN0234Candi points to the caulking she has done to improve the paint job.

Karen Reflects on Outdoor School as they Conclude another Session at Camp Howard

Sr. Krista von Borstel 11 Comments

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One of the best parts about Outdoor School is tradition.  This program has been running for almost 50 years.  It has been a ground breaking pilot program for environmental literacy in the state and nationwide.  What makes Outdoor School special at Camp Howard is that this is the original site, and has been hosting Outdoor School the entire time.

Since 1966, 6th graders have loaded up on big yellow busses and spent a few days exploring the forest and splashing in the pond.  They have had opportunities to get to know students from other schools, to learn outside of the classroom, and in many cases, have been able to simply have their basic needs met, like three balanced meals and a warm place to sleep for the first time.  Outdoor School serves most of Multnomah county, and most schools include it as not only a rite of passage for their students, but an essential part of teaching their 6th grade science curriculum.

Something I have noticed is the sense of community that is felt when Outdoor School lives at camp.  I can hear it in the endless songs that kids sing from place to place, I can see it during mealtimes, when students use table manners, help with chores and show appreciation to not only each other, but to the cooking staff as well.  As kids leave with their arms reaching out the bus windows, promising to return in four years to be a high school student leader.

There are always things I hear or see in passing when running around site.  This week for example, we have a student whose father was on staff when Coho, the Site Supervisor currently, was a high school leader.  And Coho herself was a 6th grade student here at Howard.  Last week there was an exchange student from Indonesia able to be a high school leader that “ just appreciated that everyone here is so positive”.  A student whose “favorite part of Outdoor School was being able to get away from problems at home”.  Students that are not normally successful in classrooms find that being taught in the Outdoors they can be successful.  Every week students plant a tree to commemorate their week, Camp Howard has the very first tree planted by 6th graders for Outdoor School, it lives strong and tall at the far end of the main field near the sand pit over looking the bluff.   All of this happens at beautiful Camp Howard.

Outdoor School can be a transformative process for students and their memories reside here at Howard.  Ask almost anyone that grew up in Portland and they can recall their Outdoor School experience.  They remember their high school student and the place they attended.  Howard lives on in their memories.

It is special to have Outdoor School roam our trails and sit at our campfires.  Outdoor School is a part of Oregon’s history.  Parents, and in some cases now, grandparents, have sent their children off to Outdoor School for the past 50 years, and they have been coming to Howard the entire time. The stories that these cabins could tell! It is so wonderful to have such a rich history continue on here at our site.  My hope is that Outdoor School can live on for many, many more years to come and students can enjoy the benefits of community and education, the splendor of Oregon, and Camp Howard.

Camp Howard Closed for Two Weeks of Maintenance Projects

Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Camp is over and a few staff have remained on site to help with planned maintenance projects.  Last summer we stained and trimmed Gimpl Dining Hall and two of the staff cabins.  The results were stunning!  This year we are staining and trimming the third staff cabin, main shower house, camp store, Greenwood Unit and if time permits, Fircrest Unit.  If all goes well, 16 buildings will be stained and trimmed!

 

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Emma Wycoff Receives her Unique Bead on Her Cougar Award at Camp Howard

Sr. Krista von Borstel 10 Comments

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Emma Wycoff received her “Unique” bead this summer at Camp Howard.  It is the final and most difficult bead to acquire and puts her in the category of legends such as Joey Harrington and Rev. Paul Grubb SJ both of whom received all of the beads over the years at camp.

The beads are part of an award known as the “Cougar Award”, given weekly to generally one camper per cabin per week during the summer.  The award is given to those who best exemplify good conduct, Christian values, camper assistance and good old fashion goodness, all week at camp.

The last night of camp features the Cougar Campfire which, after the songs are sung, the Cougar Award ceremony begins with counselors talking about their award winners and why they selected the person they selected.  The camper stands with their counselor and glows with pride as as the counselor waxes on about their wonderful qualities.

Generally a new cougar award is given in each cabin (as long as a worthy candidate is identified) and later in the ceremony, a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth bead may be given if deserved!

What is this Cougar Award?  After research, I was able to come up with the historical meaning of each of the beads as established in the early 60’s by Fr. Gimpl.  The original Cougar Award was a leather fob with a Cougar image stamped in foil on the leather.  It was later replaced in the late 80’s with a round plastic cougar stamped with foil.  In 1998, we were able to restore the award back to leather and had a stamp made to impress the image of the cougar with the words “Cougar Award” into the leather.

The first bead given today is the red bead which signifies FIRE and has it ties to the Holy Spirit and the fire the Spirit ignites in our being to example the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

The second bead is the green bead, reminding us of the EARTH, and the value of the gift of creation which we have been charged to care for.

The third bead is the YELLOW bead, which reminds us of the SUN and the life-giving qualities produced by the sun which takes us to the

Fourth bead, BLACK in color which signifies DEATH and that through the dying process we enter into new LIFE = the fifth bead, WHITE in color.

The final bead is the UNIQUE bead which inspires us as unique individuals to be faithful to our Christian values in the way God has intended for us to live them.

So you see, the Cougar Award is filled with significant meaning. Congratulations to Emma Wycoff and her cougar accomplishments.

If YOU received a Cougar Award at Camp Howard, please respond to this post, let us know when you received it and how many beads you received! Continue reading “Emma Wycoff Receives her Unique Bead on Her Cougar Award at Camp Howard” →

How Did Amanda Weddle Make the Money to Pay for Camp this Year?

Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Amanda Weddle

Amanda Weddle paid her way to Camp Howard this year by selling soap which her family makes from her prize winning 4-H Dairy Goats!   Not only that, she moved with her family to California so she flies to Portland for her annual week of camp at Camp Howard.  Her good friend, Emma Wycoff from Christ the King, makes plans to attend camp with Amanda as they were pals when Amanda lived in Portland.

Amanda gave me a gift of her soap this summer and I have to tell you, it is pretty special!  It smells good, it feels good and it is really special that Amanda has found a creative way to fund her summer passion!

I would like to invite you to check out the Weddle Family soaps and maybe help Amanda out by trying it!

 

Facebook: search Hapi Capi Soaps or click/paste this link – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hapi-Capi-Soaps

Etsy: search Hapi Capi Soaps or click/paste this link –  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hapicapisoaps

Karen sends Spectacular Fish Story – Camp Howard & Cindy Garcia from Holy Family

Sr. Krista von Borstel 4 Comments

To: Sr. Krista –  That photo is Cindy Garcia with Holy Family Parish Rental at Camp Howard who caught that 22 and 3/4 inch trout this morning.  I told her she might make it into the Sentinel.  I sent it to Jolie.  I told her to look on your blog and maybe it would make it there.  Here is the story, you fill in the blanks: – Thank you – Karen von Borstel

I was a sunny morning at Camp Howard today as some of the Holy Family Parish campers were fishing at the pond.  It was a very relaxing atmosphere with people sitting on chairs and benches catching some really nice 10 inch trout.  Cindy Garcia was sitting in her blue lawn chair right next to the little shed, wearing her frilly purple blouse and peddle-pushers (Cindy is a very stylish fisherwoman), fishing with her little trout pole, 6 lb. test line,  baited with a big fresh night crawler.  She had a little red and white bobber, the type usually used for little sunfish or perch, hooked on her line.   All of a sudden her pole bent half way over and that bobber disappeared.  She stood up and the fish came out of the water and we all knew she had a whopper on.  Everyone started heading toward her to help her land that fish.   That fish kept breaking through the water and it looked like a salmon.  We were all holding our breath. I knew there wasn’t any way she was going to get that thing to shore.  She had way too light of line, we didn’t have a net.  Her drag was set too tight.  I knew the line would snap and that would be that.  It would be the story about the one that got away!  Cindy brought that fish right up and onto the bank.  A huge cheer went up.  The biggest fish to my knowledge ever caught at Camp Howard.  22 and 3/4 inches long.  We got the groups photographer, the tape measure, and Cindy became a celebrity at Camp Howard.  It was so exciting.  Her husband, Alfonso, had to work this weekend.  He is going to be so jealous.  The cooks are preparing a seasoned stuffing to go into that trout and it will be cooked and served for supper, with the other fish they have caught today.  We are at 40 right now and we have one more session of fishing this afternoon.  Everyone should get a trout to eat tonight and Cindy’s will feed several.  Great day for fishing at Camp and it is all verified on film.

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Champions of Faith Making a Difference

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If you attended the first Champions of Faith benefit dinner for CYO/Camp Howard  this past September, please note that thanks to YOU, we were able to accomplish a very important project at the camp.  For fifteen years, the most desired improvement to the camp at the request of the kids, has been to heat the pool.  Thanks to YOU we were able to accomplish that this year and we would like you to know about it!

A pool heater was purchased, ditch dug to connect it to the propane tank, wire cage built around the heater, filled the propane tank, covered the ditches, replanted the grass… just waiting for the kids so we can fire it up and heat the water!  Takes one hour to heat the water one degree, so I am told,  and the temperature will be around 80 to 83 degrees when “up to temp.”

Looking forward to surprising the kids with warm pool water this summer!

Thank you, Champions of Faith!

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Camp Howard…Plenty of Space…But Guess What?

Sr. Krista von Borstel Leave a comment

Camp Howard is a great place for youth to spend time at in the summer.  The camp offers rental opportunities year around and a seven week camping season in the heart of the summer.

After adding an addition 100 bed occupancy to the camp in 2001, there is always plenty of room for campers to attend the camp EXCEPT ONE WEEK.

The last week of camp is an interesting week. Counselors are heading back to college, camper numbers are much lower, so we schedule Joe Bushman’s football camp down at the sport camp.  He and his team take over Cougar Den Unit and Greenwood Unit.  Joe and his team have been coming to camp for several years and they are a great group of guys and gals.

This lowers the number of campers we can take the last week of camp during a session that is normally low anyway.  But believe it or not, this particular session has filled for week long campers.  So check out the other 5 weeks and find the week that will work best for your schedule and get registered for what promises to be a great summer of camping at Camp Howard.