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For Campers
Caring ... Honesty ... Respect ... Responsibility
Tell your friends about Camp Echo!
Campers from 2007 will receive two Camp Echo brochures in the mail in December -- one for yourself, and one to give to a friend.
Help spread the good word about Camp Echo.!
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Registration for our 2008 summer season is currently underway.
Some of our most popular programs and sessions are full, but we still have many openings.
Click on the Summer Camp & Teen Trips link to view available options.
Click here for the complete Camp Echo Calendar.
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Many first time campers worry that they might miss home while they are at camp.
They worry that this might get in the way of enjoying camp.
The fact is, many campers miss home while they are at camp, even experienced campers, no matter what their age!
The trick is to know how to overcome the feeling so it does not overwhelm you.
Here are some tips you can use at camp to help you have a great time ...
- Camp will be fun if you immerse yourself in the activities and keep busy. Camp is a place to try new things and make new friends.
- Everyone has good days and bad days; be sure to tell your counselors if you are feeling "blue" so they can help you.
- Don't worry about making friends; most times, all you have to do is be nice to others and they will respond in kind.
- If you are feeling nervous or anxious, a great way to make friends is by asking questions and being a good listener!
- Missing home means there's something special at home that you love, and that's a good thing! Write home and tell them about camp!
- Set a goal of making it to the end of the session -- then you will be back home, and you will find yourself missing camp!
Remember, there are so many exciting things to do at camp that you can't do at home!
Camp is a great time to be "on your own", making your own decisions, and growing up in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
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Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying Now!
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A lot of young people have a good idea of what bullying is because they see it every day!
Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself.
Usually, bullying happens over and over. Bullying is ...
- Punching, shoving and other acts that hurt people physically
- Spreading bad rumors about people
- Keeping certain people out of a "group"
- Teasing people in a mean way
- Getting certain people to "gang up" on others
There are many ways that young people bully each other, even if they don't realize it at the time.
So what's wrong with bullying?
- It makes the person being bullied feel miserable.
- Bullies are more likely to drop out of school and get into other trouble.
- It scares some kids so much that they are afraid to go to school.
- It happens a lot more than some poeple think!
At Camp Echo, we teach our staff to be on the lookout for bullying and its effects.
We teach our campers to always be sensitive to the feelings of others.
Bullying will not be tolerated.
Bullies will be dealt with in a serious manner.
Bullies are not welcome at Camp Echo.
Take a minute to think about these questions:
- Have you ever been bullied?
- Have you ever witnessed bullying?
- Do you bully others? (Maybe you don't realize you are doing it!)
- Want to learn more?
Click here to visit the Stop Bullying Now! website.
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Friends in the Same Cabin
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When we send out the Parent Information Packet in March or April,
one of the forms is for cabin requests. We will put up to three
friends (in the same grade or the same age)
in a cabin together, provided the requests are mutual.
Groups of four or more are usually broken into smaller groups.
Make sure your parents send in the Cabin Request Form at least
four weeks before your session at camp -- otherwise it's too late!
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We have terrific cooks at camp. Flo and Laurie cook everything from
scratch and they do a wonderful job. We have a good variety of meals
and we try not to repeat a meal during a two-week session.
We have vegetarian options, including a variety of fruit, at most meals.
We have a salad bar for campers at lunch and dinner. And we always have
peanut butter and jelly if the the meal or salad bar doesn't suit you.
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Because water activities are a big part of the Camp Echo program,
we need to know everyone's swimming ability. This is for your safety.
Upon arrival at Camp Echo, campers take a swim evaluation. To qualify as a Blue
(advanced) swimmer, one must swim six lengths of the swim area
(about 240 yards) and tread water for ten minutes. White
(intermediate) swimmers must swim four lengths of the swim area
(about 160 yards) and tread water for five minutes. Red is our beginner
swimmer classification. Blue Circle swimmers have the endurance and the
privileges of Blue swimmers, but need to work on their style.
Blue swimmers are exempt from lessons; all others are scheduled for morning swim lessons.
Campers must be Blue swimmers in order
to water ski or sail. Blue and White swimmers may kayak and canoe.
Red swimmers may go out in a boat or canoe with a staff member.
Everyone wears a PFD (lifejacket) for all of these activities.
If, for any reason, you don't make the swim level you think you
deserve, you can take the swim evaluation over after a bit of practice.
The best thing you can do is practice at home before you get to camp.
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Water at Camp Tastes Different from Home
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Many campers wonder why the water at camp tastes and smells different from
tap water at home. The water at camp is well water, pumped from deep under
the ground. The decomposing organic matter under the surface creates
hydrogen sulphide gas, which gets into the water. This is not a health
hazard, it's just an annoying feature of Camp Echo's well water.
So that's the technical answer. Now, what can be done?
Many campers find that they become accustomed to the water after a few days.
Another very simple solution is to fill an ordinary water bottle up before
you go to bed and let it sit overnight -- that's all it takes. The wrong thing
to do is to bring bottled water to camp. It's heavy to carry,
a hassle to store, and downright expensive.
For those who just can't stand the "egg-water," there are several
brands of personal water bottle with activated charcoal filters. Among them:
They are available at places like Uncle Dan's, REI, and so-on.
Don't spend too much -- the more expensive water filters are designed for
use on extended camping trips where there isn't any clean water.
IMPORTANT: Label all water bottles with your name!
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General
The Packing List is available online as well as in the parent mailing sent out in early April.
Please label all items you bring to camp.
An order form for name tapes will be included in the parent mailing in March or April.
This is the best way to ensure that the items you take to camp come home with you.
You can use a permanent laundry marker to label items but put more than just initials.
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The Camp Echo Summer 2007 Staff
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Goofy
Normal
Click here to see a list of the 2007 staff.
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THE CAMP ECHO SONG
Based on tune and lyrics of the Camp Newaygo Song.
Written by Doug Monahan. (Doug Monahan was Camp Echo Director in the mid-1940s
while serving as Boys Director at the Evanston YMCA. He later became Executive
Director of the Evanston YMCA, a position he held through the 1970s. The "official"
name of the Program Office [PO] is the Doug Monahan Resource Center.)
I want to wake up in the morning
At dear old Camp Echo
Where the sun comes a-peepin' into where I'm a-sleepin'
And the songbird says "Hello"
I want to wander o'er the hillside where the gentle breezes blow
I want to be at -- Camp Echo -- it's the finest camp I know!
(Without a doubt!)
Click here to download the 2007 songbook in PDF format.
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it on your computer.
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Rules on the bus to and from camp
- Remain seated except to use the bathroom.
- Keep legs and feet out of the aisles.
- No gum.
- No throwing things inside or out of the bus.
- No screaming.
- Do not signal to people or other vehicles in any way.
- When we come by with a trash bag, help pick up trash.
- Do not put trash in the toilet.
- If you feel sick have somebody tell us right away.
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Camp Echo Code of Conduct
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Because we care about others, are sensitive to their well-being, and helpful to others:
- Always be sensitive to the feelings of others. If someone is physically or emotionally hurting, seek help from a staff member. We do not tolerate bullying, intimidation, harassment, or conduct or statements that demean others on the basis of their race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other dimension of diversity. Campers are urged to report any instances to their cabin counselor, the Head Counselor or Social Worker, a Program Director, or the Camp Director. Understand that camp will try to stop these things, but only if someone in authority finds out about them from you or someone else, or sees them happen. Never resort to fighting to settle a dispute.
Because we are honest, trustworthy, have integrity, and make sure our choices match our values:
- Always tell the truth. Choose appropriate activities and use appropriate language - no swearing. Theft will not be tolerated. Turn "found" items in to a staff member so they can be returned to their owner.
Because we have respect, treat others as we want to be treated, and value ourselves and others:
- Your cabin is your home for the session. Campers are not to go into cabins that are not their own; not allowed to be in or walk through staff village; and not to enter offices unless invited by a staff member.
- Camp is a community. When a leader is up front and raises his or her hand, everybody does the same; when the hand goes up, the mouth goes shut. Never use booing to express your opinion. Remove hats and remain silent during Morning Reflections, flag raising and lowering, and Taps.
Because we are responsible, do what is right, and are accountable for our behavior and obligations:
- Follow all safety rules. Do not go near the lake except at the designated waterfront areas. Never enter a program area unless the staff is there to invite you in. No bare feet except inside a waterfront area. Staff and campers must wear life jackets in all boats on the lake and on the river at all times. All medications, including self-medications like aspirin, are kept in the clinic; when in doubt, ask your counselor.
- Know what to do in an emergency. If you hear a siren or a continuous bell, move quickly to the Dining Hall and sit at your cabin's table. Rear exits in cabins and fire extinguishers are for emergency use only. Remind your counselor to test the smoke detector every Monday during cabin cleanup.
- Your health is important. Use sunscreen when you are out in the sun. Wear long pants and use bug spray in the evening. Do quiet and restful things during Saska in your cabin. To prevent blisters, wear socks except when you wear sandals or flip-flops. The primary activity that should occur in your cabin after the Taps Talk is sleeping.
- Help keep camp beautiful. Marking or defacing of camp buildings or nature is not allowed. No gum. Do not litter. Eat all your edible TP items near the Social Lodge and put wrappers in the trash. No food or snacks in the cabins; it attracts ants, mice, and other pests. Packages will be opened under supervision and edible items will be removed. Cabin cleanup, service tasks, and recycling are ways for each person to "give back" to the community.
- Enjoy camp, camp activites, and your surroundings while you are here. Attend all your classes, and do fun things outside the cabin during free time. Don't use any portable entertainment devices or electronic games that you bring for use on the bus outside the cabin; use is limited to Saska and bedtime, at your counselor's discretion.
- Camp Echo is a tight-knit community of friends, and communication with other campers or staff members after camp often occurs. Accordingly, any outside-of-camp camper/camper or camper/staff communication (by mail, phone, internet-based, or face-to-face), including communications on social networking sites like MySpace and video sites like YouTube, must be healthy and appropriate. So that your parents can also enjoy and appreciate the strength of the bonds that form at camp, you should let them know about any outside-of-camp communication between you and other campers or staff members, and tell your parents right away if it makes you uncomfortable.
The Code of Conduct is for campers and staff.
Everyone needs to follow the Code of Conduct.
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Good Behavior in the Dining Hall
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Because we care about others, are sensitive to their well-being, and helpful to others:
- Wait until cleanup begins at the sound of the bell to start cheers or songs.
- Always walk when leaving the dining hall so you or others don't fall and get hurt.
Because we are honest, trustworthy, have integrity, and make sure our choices match our values:
- Waiters should not eat before the rest of their cabin.
- Take only your share when amounts are limited.
- Always use a wristband when you get up to go to the salad bar or the specials table.
Because we have respect, treat others as we want to be treated, and value ourselves and others:
- Remove hats upon entering the Dining Hall. Stand until grace is over.
- Always use good manners: "Please" ... "Thank You" ... "You're Welcome"
- Never play with food, pound on tables, or stand on the benches.
- Don't cheer when benches fall; someone could be hurt by a falling bench.
- Don't waste food; eat all the food you take and drink all the drinks you pour.
- When hands go up, every hand goes up, and everyone stops talking.
Because we are responsible, do what is right, and are accountable for our behavior and obligations:
- Waiters must wash hands before setting tables.
- Wear clothes to meals no swimsuits or wet clothes.
- Cabin groups should wait outside, away from the steps, until their counselor says to go in.
- Waiters should ask the cabin group "how many" or "how much" before going up to get seconds.
- "In the In Door, Out the Out Door"
- When announcements are over, turn towards your counselor, and he or she will dismiss you.
- Waiters must stay after, wipe the table, sweep, and check out with the Dining Hall Steward.
- Only the Health Officer may take food or dishes out of the dining hall.
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