Camp Howard Mini Campers Learning the Ropes at Camp


Camp Howard completed Family Camp July 3, took the day off to celebrate the Fourth of July and are back at it July 5th, 2023 with Mini campers. Peggy English, Camp Director, Shawna King, Assistant Camp Director, Sean Ryan, Program Director, Karen von Borstel, Property Director along with Sr. Krista von Borstel, Exec. Director, round out the camp leadership for the 70th camping season at Camp Howard.

Mini Campers were escorted to Camp Howard by bus Wednesday morning from Oregon Catholic Press facilities in Portland to begin a mini week of experiencing camp. Activities will include The new, Low Ropes Course, Corcls, Arts & Crafts, swimming pool, slip and slide, archery & BB Guns. The pool and slip and slide are proving to be the big draws during this warm weather. Mini campers stay at camp for a partial week. Regular week long sessions will begin Sunday July 9th.

Watch for daily posts about Camp Howard this summer. – Sr. Krista

Part 5 Dedication: The Lodge


Mary’s Lodge is the first component of a four part improvement plan for Camp Howard.  Built in the early 50’s, the major buildings at the camp, dining hall, chapel and adult housing are slated for replacement.  An additional building, the Franz Finley Welcome Center is scheduled to be built in 2019 followed by the Chapel and adult lodge.

Mary’s Lodge affords a variety of comforts and views:

5D3_3271

Welcome to Mary’s Lodge at Camp Howard!  The building was designed by Henry Fitzgibbon of Soderstrom Architects and built by Todd Construction.

5D3_3249

The beautiful mural in the building was painted by well known Northwest artist, Wayne Chin.

5D3_3248

Sister Michael Francine SSMO gazes on the mural as she visits the new facility.

5D3_3263

The new fireside room at the entry to the building adds a remarkable warmth and comfort to the camp.

5D3_3268

The fireside room at Mary’s Lodge includes a meeting space and lounging area.

5D3_3250

The dining hall portion of the facility combined with the outdoor eating spaces will accommodate in excess of 350 individuals.

5D3_3273

The kitchen, designed by the camp cooks, makes cooking for large numbers an enjoyable experience.

5D3_32745D3_3275

New to the kitchen includes two grills, a combi oven and a steam kettle.  Other equipment was brought from the old kitchen.

5D3_3276

The outdoor seating area includes space for 200 guests.

IMG_0816

Outdoor fireplace and patio area makes a wonderful evening party spot!

5D3_3251

Landscaping including grass and rhodies will be added this fall to enhance the facility and provide fire suppression.

IMG_0804

I Drove Back for the Cabbage!


JANUARY 10, 2017 CYO/CH –Did I tell you what I saw this summer on my way to the office from Camp Howard?  The area has some very impressive “truck farms” which means they raise vegetables for local stores and sales.

The daily summer trips to and from camp from the office or from the convent or from the bus pick up and drop off, affords the opportunity to watch the entire process from planting to harvest of the cabbages and it is beautiful.

I am driving one day and I notice halfway down the field that they are planting the field with the cabbages.  I drive a little ways and I think to myself, “I haven’t seen the planting process in all of my twenty years of trips to the camp!  It will take an extra half hour of time but do it!”

I drove back and patiently waited for the men to get all the way to the end of the field then come back to the end I was at.  It was worth the wait and I would like to share my photos with you of what I saw.  Would you go back for the cabbage?

thumb_img_2364_1024

Planting a field of cabbage four rows at a time.

thumb_img_2396_1024

Above: Making the turn at the end of the row.

thumb_img_2425_1024

Above: refilling the containers with cabbage plants.  You can see the black circles with small plant holders in which each individual plant is placed.  With the help of some sort of mechanical mechanism, the plant drops and is guided by the two silver levers and the plant is planted!  The large orange wheels create a “seed bed” for the plants.

thumb_img_2447_1024

Above: four individuals take a seat on the chairs provided and keep the circular mechanisms filled with plants as two individuals follow for quality control.

cabbage

Above: All seven of the workers were thrilled to be photographed.  Their work provided a lot of enjoyment for me through out the summer!