Camp Echo E-Newsletter September 25, 2002 Back issues are archived at The Camp Echo E-List is now at 518 members. Spread the word! If you want to be removed from this list, reply and let me know. ***** Next issue: mid-to-late October ***** Camp Echo E-Newsletter Evolves ------------------------------ The E-Newsletter will change from an every-other-week mailing to a monthly mailing. It will continue to go to everyone currently on the list (unless you ask to be taken off). It will continue to carry general news about happenings at Echo, songs and other nostalgia, and updates from alumni all over the world. We hope that this list continues to grow to include many more of the thousands and thousands of people who attended Echo as a participant or worked on staff. Starting in November, a second list will be created. Everyone who worked or volunteered at Echo in 2002 will automatically be added to this list (unless you ask to be taken off), as well as anyone else who asks to be added. Members of this list will receive the Camp Echo E-Bulletin. These bulletins, directed primarily to 2003 staff, will be shorter and sent out more frequently, probably weekly. They will carry news about the specific procedures, deadlines, paperwork, staffing, programs, events, and training sessions related to working at Echo in 2003, including information about CPR, First Aid, Lifeguarding, and other classes that are being offered over the winter. To summarize: Everyone will continue to receive the monthly general newsletter; candidates for the Echo 2003 staff will receive a more specific weekly news bulletin with dates, deadlines, and details. Looking Towards 2003 -------------------- Often, when I tell people that I am the Director of a summer camp, their first question is, "Oh, so what do you do in the winter?" I smile and remind them about marketing, registration, recruitment, hiring, ordering supplies, and so on. Managing Camp Echo truly is a year-round process, and we've already begun planning for 2003. Many exciting ideas are "on the table." For the past season, we asked you to "Feel the Spirit." For the coming year, we ask you to "Share the Spirit." Our most valuable promotion is word-of-mouth. Tell a friend or neighbor about Camp Echo. Get them thinking about it now so they can register early, once registration opens. Here are some areas where we need your help: - More campers that represent the diversity of the McGaw Y community - More 4th and 5th graders for the regular camp sessions - More 7th-12th graders for the Teen Adventure Project (trips) - More families for all Family Camps, especially additional family members and close friends who can share and fill existing cabins - More boys of all ages Recent Happenings at Echo ------------------------- September 13-15 we hosted a small group for our first Alumni Weekend. The food was delicious, there was time to play and time to relax, and everyone had a great time. We hope to see more of you next year. Fremont Middle School brought one-third of their sixth grade each day for three days. We taught them how to canoe; took them through group- building team elements; and provided some orienteering (compass) exercises. Thank you to our die-hard crew of Rob Johnston, Dawn Summers, Laura Gageby, Stretch Waeny, Josh Newman, Dan Gageby, and volunteers Simon Goldberg and Leah Bass. Rob Johnston applied a second coat of paint to the floor of Kybo Way North and has just today finished two coats each in Kybo West and Kybo East. He also spread fertilizer and grass seed on the sparse areas of the peninsula between the Dining Hall and the soccer field. It won't be long before we batten down the hatches, close up camp for the winter, and turn the property over to the deer, the raccoons, Ruby, and other creatures of the woods. Alumni Notes ------------ Peter Frankel writes, "Tracy and I are pleased and proud to announce the arrival of Simon Frankel (6 pounds, 7 ounces, 18 1/2 inches long) on August 30th, 2002 at 8:58 pm. Mom, Dad, Joe and Simon are all doing fine!" Pictures at: Jeff Peterson writes, "Hello all, I just found out about this great newsletter and really enjoyed catching up on the camp happenings. Camp Echo was a very big part of my life and a lot of who I am now comes from my experiences and the friends I made while spending my summers on Long Lake. As Rob Grierson said in one of his articles, the best jobs I ever had at camp were working with Rob Johnston on the maintenance crew. I have told him before, years ago, but just want to publicly chime in with heartfelt thanks, for all he did in teaching me how to work hard, be creative, and take pride in my work. I know that many of you have been fortunate enough to experience his wisdom, expertise, and sense of humor, but if you haven't yet -- just do it. "I have just recently had a major career change. After working as an elementary school teacher for 16 years, I was asked, and have taken a job as the Programming and Media Director for Granger Community Church , just outside of South Bend, Indiana. I worked for the church for many years as just about a full time volunteer during the wee hours of the night/morning while still doing my full time teaching job, and am now enjoying one full-time ministry position. "In my new job I produce videos for the services of about 4500 people on the weekends and help plan the music, drama, and any other arts elements that may fit with our service topics. There is no question that all that time with Jeff Campbell and the famous (to at least some of us) BooB Tube Olympics, and other fun projects we did, contributed to a lot of what I do now. Yes I still have all those old videos from that entire summer. Remember that great joke with the drinking of the pop Steve Newman? And what about the now-famous Tariehk Geter who was once a young camper of mine, whom I have video of from when he was "King of the Boat Parade!" Terry Hanson Brenner, I know you are laughing now. I wonder what I could get for that video on eBay? And Emily Steele I remember you as my first camper (at Family Camp), and have one of those old songbooks you mentioned -- don't tell anyone. "If I may tell a little more ... my wife Leslie and I are happily raising our 7 year old daughter Samantha who is just a gem (aren't all parent's kids?). I look forward to being able to take her up to camp to show her around and tell her some of the stories we shared together. :) I'm still in contact with our good friend Dan Turek, but I look forward to hearing from more of you in the future." John Donohue, contributed the following story, which he had recently written for another listserv (E-newsletter): A Grandfathers Joy Last week I had an experience sufficiently nautical as to think it properly be shared with [other readers of this list]. Each summer I go up to our YMCA camp in Michigan for a week or two, and work as a volunteer counselor and sailing instructor. The season ends with a series of Family Camps, and my daughter and her family came out from Massachusetts for a five-day period, during which I was the Sailing Area head. Last Monday I took my 7 year old grandson Emmett and one of his camp buddies out on a Sunfish and taught them how to sail it around our inland lake. Following my usual practice I introduced them to beating, reaching, running, getting out of irons and the other basics of sailing a small (or any) boat. After they demonstrated to me that they could do all these, and after they successfully righted the boat after a deliberate tip I had them head back towards the sailing area. As I do with all other polliwogs, I inquired whether they thought they could sail their boat across the lake and back. When they responded (with just a touch of tentativeness) that they thought they could I said "OK, guys, go do it!" and rolled off the boat. As I swam to shore I watched them struggle a bit to get complete control (some of the S turns they were making were not totally planned,) and then grandly head straight for the turning mark. Rounding successfully they headed back, and when 100 yards from shore I shouted to them to tip the boat. With a noticeable lack of great enthusiasm, and following a first failed attempt they finally did so, and then were able with their combined weights to get it back up as well. After a lesson on how to put the boat away (this is a camp, after all, not a resort,) I awarded them the rank of "Joint Skippers," and we proceeded to apply the "SAIL" tattoos which all Skippers are given, a proud proclamation of their achievement. Two days later we held the Annual Family Camp Regatta. You can faintly imagine my pride as Emmett and his friends Jim and Grace finished first in the Novice Heat. They had managed to defeat not only other kids much older than they, but also three boats skippered by adults who had also learned to sail that week, or who still could legitimately be classified as Novice sailors. John Donohue Still smiling to himself in Evanston by the Illiwimichiana Sea Letters to the Editor --------------------- Dear Editor, Did anyone from Echo take that job at O'Fischl Sports? Just curious -- Yes! Graham Golbuff, who worked as a Junior Counselor this summer. -- Dear Editor, Did the Black Sheep Inn in Ecuador get any takers for their job? Just curious -- I don't know. Andy? -- Dear Editor, When will you send out everyone's email address to everyone? Just curious -- You will soon be able to go to the Camp Echo website and enter your own name and email address as a password and view everyone on the list. Be patient ... Song of the Week ---------------- ALIVE, AWAKE, ALERT, ENTHUSIASTIC I'm alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic! I'm alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic! I'm alive, awake, alert; I'm alert, awake, alive; I'm alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic! [Motions: toes, knees, shoulders, up in the air] Share The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson, Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org