Camp Echo Weekly E-Newsletter June 9, 2002 The Camp Echo E-List is now at 436 members. Spread the word! ***** Staffing Update: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered ---------------------------------------------- SCs: Gillian Stevens [change] (EF); Jessica Anderson [change] (ABCD) JC: Julie Evans (DE) Arts & Crafts Area Head: Karen Orr (ABC) Aquatic Director: Bob Ettinger Trip Guide: Al Head (D) This Week at Camp ----------------- The Teen Camp Staff went through an intensive week of training. After a three day, two-night canoe trip on the Pine River (in the rain!) they returned to camp and worked out the logistics for the wilderness sites and adventure trips. The group finished the week with a two-day course in Wilderness First Aid, taught by Wilderness Medical Associates. Using realistic scenarios they prepared for all manner of wilderness catastrophes. So realistic, in fact, that the Camp Director approached one of the "victims" at lunch and asked what had happened and if he was OK. On Sunday, Brent Handy and Kiersten Rippeteau headed to Minnesota to scout the Boundary Waters trip; while Gus Granchalek, Tom Hodgman, Emily Kritzler, and Meredith Stevens headed to the Upper Peninsula to scout the Boys and Girls Trailblazers trips. Kudos to Todd Israelite for putting together an awesome week of training. Meanwhile, the Outdoor Ed staff hosted the eighth grade girls from Grayling Middle School on Wednesday and Thursday. Maintenance projects, including clearing horse trails, organizing the craft shop, and cleaning the Staff Lounge filled the beginning and end of the week. A number of new and returning staff members arrived Friday night, and on Saturday, Katie Trippi and Linda Joh taught CPR and First Aid classes. Camp Echo Committee member Gail Ettinger was on hand to help in the kitchen so Florence Allan and Laurie Marshall, our cooks, could take the classes. By Saturday night our numbers grew to include McGaw YMCA Board Member Peter Frankel, who is assisting with staff training and working with the CITs and LITs for several weeks this summer; and Betsy Donohue Allen (along with four-month-old Jack!), who is serving as "Town Run Maven" for the week. On Sunday afternoon, the balance of our summer counseling and program area staff arrived. James Kinney and Bob Ettinger put together a terrific simulation of an opening day for campers. Staff members were assigned to cabins and the groups rotated through swim tests and meetings with the Camp Director, Nurse (Katie Trippi filling in!), Wrangler, and Dining Room Steward -- just as the campers will do on their opening day. Computer Area Head Matt Garrett gave each group an orientation to our computer lab and snapped digital photos of each staff member for the Echo website which will go "live" within a week. Main Camp Staff Training was officially opened after dinner with large group ice breakers, small group activities, and a thought-provoking discussion led by the Camp Director -- which may long be described as simply, "You had to be there." A campfire followed by Taps Talks in each cabin ended the day. Alumni Notes ------------ Carolyn Frazier arrived at Echo late Saturday night and when Todd Israelite returned to his cabin from the Teen Staff closing campfire, she presented him with a ring inscribed "Marry me T." A stunned Todd said ... "Yes!" Congratulations Carolyn and Todd! Emily Steel writes, "The lesser-known sister of the great Jamie Steel has to chip in once in a while and I just want to say, Rob - YOU ROCK! This email list has been so long in written, I have to scroll down and see the song of the week - and then I sing it to myself and anyone else lucky enough to be right around me. I remember being an eight-year-old camper in Friendship and finding an old, very well loved copy of the Echo songbook (was it called that?) on this yellowish paper. This little nerd used to hide it up in her bunk, and read all the songs by flashlight, and listen as carefully as I could to the staff singing them at closing campfire. I'm sure I still have it somewhere! Thanks again for bringing Echo to those of us who aren't there in body any more - we are still with you in mind and spirit." Dick Colberg writes, "Good of you to note that the first horseback riding trail was cut in 1963. I was on that first cutting detail with Chuck Majors. 'Madman' Featherstone was on the old Ford tractor with a Bush Hog. While Neil was on the tractor, he felt that anything the tractor could push over, the Bush Hog could cut. That worked up to a point. Once during the cutting of the horse trail, he pushed over a tree about 2-3 inches in diameter. When the Bush Hog blades struck it, the blades and tractor stopped cold. Chuck and I had to chop down another tree to use as a pry bar to get the mower off of the pushed-over tree. Later that day or sometime the next day Neil drove the tractor and mower into mud so deep that we had to get another tractor to pull him out. Those were the days! I'm writing this while in France on vacation. It's raining today in Normandy, June 5th. If it's nice tomorrow Nancy and I will go to the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach and celebrate D-Day plus 58 years. Love to hear of Echo goings-on. Best regards." Tariehk Geter A.K.A."Shiek" A.K.A The guy at B&C (A.K.A. Small Craft) writes, "I attended Camp Echo as a counselor for seven years from 1990 - 1996. I was also a camper for five years. Most of you will remember me from B&C. After my last year at Echo, I graduated from Howard University and decided to stay in the DC area. I was a consultant for American Management Systems, which is a computer consulting company, for two years and then I was a contractor for MCI Worldcom for two years. While I was working at MCI, I started a web development firm on the side called Omnistar Interactive . About two and a half years ago I decided to go full-time with the company and now we primarily provide web hosting and online web programs to companies around the world. I continued to work with children after I left Echo. For six years, I was Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout Troop and now I tutor at a local high school for at-risk children. I truly enjoyed all the summers I spent at Echo and cherish the many friends that I made. Please write me (see above). I look forward to hearing from you." Joe DeLapp II writes, "The DeLapps were big campers at Echo and also served on the staff. We started at Echo with my Dad's family at family camp, and all five of his kids (Greg, Jackie, Becky, Barb, and me) have since been to family camp with our own families many times. My younger brother Greg and I were on staff in the 60s and 70s; I went through the whole progression from maintenance crew to kitchen crew to counselor. The A&W stand in Fremont, if it is still there, was an oasis once a month or so during the summer when one needed a 'food change.' Love the newsletter. Great idea." Alumni Opportunities -------------------- Town Run Driver: June 23-June 29 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 ---------------- ECHO-I-TI-TI-EH Oh, Echo-i-ti-ti-eh; Oh, Echo-i-ti-ti-eh. Oh, Echo-i-ti-ti, Echo-i-tiki-tiki, Echo-i-tiki-tiki-eh. Oh, we are from Camp Echo; Oh, we are from Camp Echo. Oh we have the pep and fun; We play 'til day is done, We are the kids from Camp Echo! Letters to the Editor --------------------- Dear Editor, [Re: 6/2/02] Why are you putting head restraints and straps on all the bed boards? Is this a new plan to keep kids from falling out of bed? Katie Trippi -- Dear Katie, Look again. It's BACK boards, not BED boards. The Editor Echo History Tidbit of the Week ------------------------------- Having staff speak about the letters E, C, H, and O at the opening campfire each session was a tradition that began in 1985 when Fred Brown was Camp Director. Fred wanted to add something similar to the Spirit, Mind, and Body talks that are given at the closing campfire, to bracket the session. The idea was suggested by Rob Grierson -- at his previous camp in Pennsylvania, the counselors spoke about S, P, E, E, R, and S on opening nights. Feel The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson robgrierson@attbi.com