Camp Echo Weekly E-Newsletter June 16, 2002 The Camp Echo E-List is now at 436 members. Spread the word! ***** Staffing Update: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered ---------------------------------------------- Liza Behles, Senior Counselor Judson Mead, Junior Counselor (ABC) Diane Cavanaugh, Health Officer (B) Betsy Donohue Allen, Town Run (Staff Week) This Week at Camp ----------------- A dedicated group of about 50 staff members worked hard all week to prepare for the summer. Monday featured Lost Swimmer Drills, a discussion on Communication, instruction in Camptivity areas, and a Child Abuse discussion. Tuesday morning brought rain, so we simulated LSDs in the Social Lodge; after a Time Off discussion and more favorite evening program. Wednesday saw more LSD practice and a discussion of Emergency Procedures. Head Health Officer Helene Pochopien showed slides and discussed Health and Safety Issues in the afternoon and evening. Thursday included time for Camptivity Lesson Planning; each "cabin" of staff members then went on an overnight -- including dinner and breakfast -- on camp property. For Friday, there was more Camptivity Lesson Planning time and group-work on the Low Ropes elements; we ended the day by having the entire staff over for beef and chicken on the grill at the Director's House. On Saturday we tied up the loose ends, cleaned camp, and sent the staff on a well-deserved day off. Our goal was to take the staff through camper-like program experiences, giving them as much "hands on" time in the various camp areas as possible. This was supplemented by thought-provoking and sincere discussions of the various policies and procedures that govern the operation of camp. Special thanks to Y Board Member Peter Frankel who was here helping out for six days. Meanwhile, six of the Trip Guides were scouting the sites for the trips they will lead this summer; everyone returned safe and sound to camp by Saturday. Anyone who has ever worked at Camp Echo knows how exciting it is to have that first group of camper buses pull in on Sunday afternoon. We went through swim tests, health checks, rules meetings, horse tests, tours of camp, and dining hall procedures for 18 groups of campers with only minor glitches; dinner at 8:30 was followed by the traditional Camptivity Assembly and opening campfire. As the campers and cabin counselors headed to their cabins, the program staff met to schedule the Camptivity classes for the first week. The Camp Echo website should be "live" by Monday night; if not then, within a day or two. Go to to see pictures and biographical sketches for each 2002 Echo staff member. Alumni Notes ------------ In the weird world of coincidences, on the same day Carolyn Frazier was proposing to Todd Israelite [Echo E-Newsletter June 9], Sunny Neater proposed to Shane Dubow . The four of them are best friends, have been dating eight and five years respectively, and live next to each other. They never shared their plans to get engaged, yet, amazingly, they did so on the same day! "A group had gathered at Todd's house to decorate to surprise him and Carolyn upon their return from Echo. Shane and Sunny dropped by, saw the decorations, and they couldn't figure out how they knew about THEIR engagement (assuming the decorations were for them.) When Todd and Carolyn announced their news, Sunny and Shane were bewildered (Todd likened it to when you come upon a couple that had just been fighting). They ran out of the room to decide what to do and returned to announce their engagement. Steve Newman arrived to congratulate Todd and Carolyn and was told 'just continue those congratulations'." Dick Fischl writes, "Your recent newsletter describing the Sheriff showing up to look for a raccoon in the dining hall reminded me of an episode in 1948 when I led the Junior Camp (9 & 10 year olds) on an overnight camp out to the dunes at Silver Lake. It was a great place where you could run down a dune and dive into crystal clear Silver Lake. That evening, being aware of the current war in Palestine, the campers devised their own game of Arabs vs. Jews running up and down the dunes shouting, " 'Chaaaarge' followed by 'bang, you're dead.' "After breakfast, we took the campers on a swim. It was a last chance to clean up and swim before being picked up to return to Main Camp. When we returned to our campsite, we were met by a Deputy Sheriff who told us that a local character that lived about a mile away had accused our campers of breaking into his shack during the night. He knew it happened during the night because 'he had a pan under his water pump that had a leak in it, and there was water in it this morning.' "So instead of returning to Main Camp for lunch, we all went to the town of Hart to see the Sheriff. We scrambled around to buy bread, peanut butter, and jelly for lunch, and waited to be interviewed by the Sheriff. When finally questioned, the Sheriff found no cause for action, and sent us on our way. "We got back to Camp late in the day, sandy tired and hungry. Much to our dismay, the Main Camp program was "Backward Day". Instead of supper, we were served breakfast!" Alumni Opportunities -------------------- Town Run Driver: June 23-June 29 First Timers Camp (Counselors and Area Heads): August 11-15 Song of the Week ---------------- SARASPONDA Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret-set-set Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret-set-set Ah doe ray o, ah doe ray boom day o, Ah doe ray boomda ret set set, ah-say-pah-say-o Boomda, boomda, boomda ... Feel The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director