Camp Echo Weekly E-Newsletter June 2, 2002 The Camp Echo E-List is now at 437 members. Spread the word! ***** Coming To Staff Training? ------------------------ Main Camp Staff Training starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern Time) on Sunday June 9th. If you arrive before 2:00 stop at the Trip Center Field. If you are attending the CPR and First Aid classes on Saturday June 8th you should arrive Friday night. If you arrive late there will be a sign on the Loading Dock with your cabin assignment. If you are not already here (!) please email me with your expected arrival date and time so we can make meal plans. Staffing Update: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered ---------------------------------------------- SCs: Luke Larmee (EF); Ashley Keith Teen Camp Staff: Tristan Roche; Nate Plotkin; Brent Handy Main Camp Director: James Kinney This Week at Camp ----------------- Last Saturday, Rob G & Rob J attended the annual Lake Association meeting. There was discussion of the DNR's efforts to improve the watershed and control weeds in the lake. The Lake Association voted to fund their share of the Camp Echo Fireworks Show. Lake Rules were discussed. Camp Echo offered to contribute to the annual fund for fish stocking. Nate Baumgart, who will be working this summer with the Horseback Riding program, arrived on Sunday and began fixing up the mountain bikes (one of his jobs in previous years). Replacing tires and chains, re-cabling brakes, and rebuilding derailers, he has been able to put 16 bikes in ship-shape and is hoping to have all 20 ready by the end of this week. Teen Staff Training began Wednesday. The group completely cleaned and organized the Trip Center, set up the tents in Birches and Outpost, and went through many of the Low Ropes elements. On Saturday, Todd Israelite took the group through a High Ropes exercise. Sunday the group began making plans for, and packing out for, their two-night overnight on the Pine River. The Darwin School from Chicago brought their 8th grade for two nights, Wednesday through Friday. The group leader was Fernando Ferrer, a former member of the Payton Y Club (Counselor: Rob Grierson) that attended Camp Echo in 1985. The Outdoor Ed staff ran archery, nature walks, arts & crafts, bike rides, and many sports activities. Unfortunately the night hikes were replaced by a thunderstorm that lasted for a couple hours. Maintenance projects filled the gaps between school groups for the Outdoor Ed staff. The Staff Lounge, Program Office, Coyle's Corner, and Warehouse have been, or will be, completely cleaned. Tony Marshall finished 'mudding' and painting the ceilings of newly-winterized Kiwanis Lodge and Triangle Lodge. Tom Gardner is upgrading all the back boards, resurfacing them as needed, attaching new head restraints, and replacing worn out straps. Computer Area Head Matthew Garrett has been working in the Program Office "Lab" getting a server ready to manage our mini-network. Although the staff is able to check email with a single dial-up, we are still waiting for SBC/Ameritech to install the 56K line that was promised by May 15th. Saturday night the entire group was invited to the Camp Director's House for dinner, which was prepared by Laurie Marshall in the Dining Hall and delivered to the House by Laura Gageby and Sara "Swami" Miller. It was a nice kickoff to a summer that will bring together old staff, young staff, rookie staff, and veteran staff -- all working to achieve our goal of character development. Alumni Opportunities -------------------- Helpers to hand out bus passes: Contact Anne Connelly . Town Run Driver: June 23-June 29 and June 30-July 6 Second Health Officer (MD, RN, LPN, or EMT): June 16-22, June 30-July 6, July 7-12 First Timers Camp (Counselors and Area Heads): August 11-15 Song of the Week ---------------- THE WEENIE MAN I know a weenie man, he owns a hot dog stand. He'll sell you anything from hot dogs on down Boom, boom, boom. Someday I'll join his life, I'll be his weenie wife. Hot Dog I love that weenie man. Hit it! Weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, Hot dogs on down. Boom Boom Boom. Weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, Hot dogs on down. Boom, Boom, Boom. Weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, weenie, Hot dogs on down. Boom, Boom, Boom. Hot dog I love that weenie man. Letters to the Editor --------------------- Dear Editor, Regarding "Small Craft" vs "B & C", remember that kayaks are small craft, but strictly speaking they are neither boats nor canoes. Brian Becharas -- Dear Editor, Regarding "Small Craft" vs "B & C", I'm clear on the names now but I think Tariehk should be brought back to run the area. Jamie Steel Echo History Tidbit of the Week ------------------------------- According to a map of the peninsula published in the May 1956 Live 'Y'er Newsletter: Where we now have ... There use to be ... Outpost The "Knoll" Featherstone Lodge The "Tree Hut" Trip Center Field The "Council Ring" Program Office The "Ice House" Fishing Pier The "Boat and Canoe Dock" Triangle Lodge "Ye Old Swimming Hole" Wally Ford Lodge The "Zoo" and "Aquarium" Arts & Crafts The "Bar-B-Q Joint" Kybo East "Mecca" The bathroom building was called "Mecca" because everyone had to go there. Feel The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org