Camp Echo Monthly Alumni E-News February 25, 2003 Back issues are archived at The Camp Echo E-List is now at 571 members. Spread the word! If you want to be removed from this list, reply and let me know. ***** Next issue: "around" March 24 ***** Table of Contents ----------------- Camp Echo Website Reunion Photos Donations Sought - car, movies, computers, cameras, camping gear, etc Winter News from Fremont Camper Registration Update Alumni Opportunities at Echo 2003 Camp Echo Song CD - Call for Performers Spring Alumni Event - April 4 or 5 - Seeking Coordinator Alumnni Notes - Pat Downing Announcements - Play for Peace, Shane & Sunny, Brillianteen Lost Alumni Camp Echo Website ----------------- Have you seen the sunset pictures and the winter pictures? Now, help us with our new section -- "Echo Around The World". Send in pictures of alumni in Echo-wear taken in locations all around the world -- JPEG format, please; I'll crop as needed. The best pix have backgrounds that are clearly somewhere special! Also -- go to the Facilities section and scroll to the bottom to see a panoramic view of the peninsula taken by Mike Salvatore in 2001. Reunion Photos -------------- Reunion photos are at http://www.ymcacampecho.org/reunion.html Please help me with IDs where information is incomplete. (There's no link to this page -- you have to enter the URL.) Donations Sought ---------------- This month we're looking for a vehicle we can use for Town Run: Something in good shape, with trunk space for large items being picked up or dropped off. It also needs to be appropriate for taking several campers to town to see the doctors at the clinic. Forget about the $500 the dealer will give you in trade -- donate it to Camp Echo and you could see tax savings on the full Blue Book value. Dig out those G or PG videotapes your kids no longer watch and send them to us for use on the bus rides to and from camp! Is your business retiring any computers? We need at least two for the Trading Post. Pentium II 500 MHz or better would be preferred. We're setting up a darkroom in the "boat house" basement of the craft shop. Nancy Hoffman and the Carrington Family have already donated some darkroom equipment. Do you have any you're not using? How about that old 35mm camera you have on the shelf? We need it! We're always in need of equipment for our program areas. A few of the items that we will be purchasing this year are listed below. If you would like to donate towards a specific item let me know. - 4 pair youth or trainer water skiis - 8 rescue tubes for various waterfront areas - 8 four-man tents - 6 camping/cooking stoves - 8 walkie-talkies for intra-camp communication Winter News from Fremont (by Rob Johnston) ------------------------ This has been an unusual winter here at Camp, weatherwise. It was unseasonably warm right though Christmas and there was very little precipitation. January temperatures were cold as one would expect, but again, precip was minimal. February has been a different story. We have received an abundance of snow and cold weather. The cross- country ski season which would normally be winding down now is going great guns. Work has begun on a third War Canoe. I just picked up the canoe from the "boat builder" in Northern Michigan. The dismanteling, interior varnish stripping and old canvas/fiberglass skin removal is beginning in the workshop. This canoe is in bad repair compared to our other War Canoes and the project isn't slated to be completed before the summer of 2004. The new sinks/countertops for Kybos North and Way North have arrived and are beautiful. Their installation along with the installation of new stall dividers on the women's skde of Kybo North are underway. Designs for the "Hygenic Staion" or "Hand washing Hut" outside of the Dining Hall are on the drawing board. Also, new swings overlooking the swimming area at Lakeside are emerging from the conceptual to the actual. Spring is right around the corner and it won't be long before the ol' bell will be ringing and we'll all be singing ... "I wanna wake up in the morning at dear old Camp Echo ..." Camper Registration Update -------------------------- After three waves of camper registration (returning campers, new camper Y members, new camper non-members) many sessions and programs are full, but we find that we still have spots at camp. Please help us spread the word to your extended family, neighbors, and friends at work. Here's what we're looking for: Boys entering grades 6 & 7 for one week camp June 15-21 or 22-28 Boys entering grades 4 & 5 for one week Pathfinders June 15-21 Boys & girls entering grades 4 & 5 (Patfinders) for June 29-July 11 Boys & girls entering grades 4 & 5 (Pathfinders) for July 13-26 Entering 8th grade boys and girls for Trailblazers June 29-July 11 Entering 9th graders for Outpost July 13-26 or July 27-August 8 Entering 10th graders for the Minnesota Canoe trip July 13-26 Entering 10th/11th graders for Isle Royale and Georgian Bay trips Entering 11th/12th graders for Taste of Southwest & Oregon Bike LITs (entering grade 11) for Session 1 June 15-28 Interested persons should call the Program Support Office at the McGaw YMCA, 847-475-7400, then enter extension 287 at the prompt. -- Staffing for regular camp Sessions 1-4 when there are plenty of high school and college students available is falling into place. But there are still many ways for alumni to get involved: Alumni Opportunities at Echo 2003 --------------------------------- There are many ways that alumni can work or volunteer at camp this coming summer. For some jobs, you only need to take a long weekend or a handful of days off -- Family Camp and 5th Session come to mind. If you are "between jobs" there are support staff openings that offer a chance for an extended stay at camp. Even something as simple as helping at a bus departure (two hours on a Sunday morning) would allow you to reconnect, and help us too. Don't be shy -- and don't wait too long! Email me now and let's start thinking of a way to get you back at camp. Meanwhile -- mark your calendars for the Adult Alumni Weekend at Echo September 12-13-14. Details will appear in future newsletters. Of course, many alumni will be returning for one or more of our four Family Camps; for adults who want some time for themselves we have Hobby/Craft Weekend May 17-18, and a revival of Women's Wellness Weekend September 18-21. Camp Echo Song CD - Call for Performers ----------------- Thanks to everyone who sent in lists of favorite Echo songs. Chuck Heisinger has divided the list into "oldies" and "current songs" and is now researching the licensing situation for each song. Although we are still not sure how this will all come together, we'd like to hear from anyone interested in performing a song or songs on the eventual CD. Write to with the subject line "Song Performers". (Don't hit reply to do this!) Spring Alumni Event ------------------- If you have a suggestion for an Echo Alumni event we could have here in the Chicago area on April 4 or 5, let me know. Rock-a-Bowl? If you'd like to arrange and coordinate the event, let me know. Whatever we decide will be announced in the March E-Newsletter. Alumni Notes -- Send 'em in! Tell us what you're doing!* ------------ Pat Downing writes, "I'm doing well, loving life in California. I'm married with two kids and of course Riley the Wonder Dog my Irish Setter. I worked for Echo and the McGaw YMCA from 1984 till 1989, then worked with Fred Brown and Steve Will in NJ for a while. After that, the YMCA of LA ... all doing camps. I'm currently working for the City of Santa Clarita as the Recreation Supervisor." * wedding plans, travel, new jobs, camp memories, whatever! Announcements ------------- Play for Peace-Chicago Coordinator Sought for 2003-04: Work in Chicago's inner city high schools, elementary schools and community centers to coordinate Play for Peace activites. Train High School students in cooperative games, leadership and peacebuilding. Recruit additional schools and community programs as host sites. Assist in organizing leadership camps and other special events. Lead teambuilding sessions for schools within the Chicago Public Schools. Maintain records of schedules, contacts and play sessions for quarterly reports. Participate in basic office managemnt. This is a Healthcorps/Americorps position beginning in September 2003 and ending late June 2004. Our website is Questions? contact Jessamay Kroth or 312-733-7330 ext. 483 -- Shane DuBow and his finace' Sunny are featured in an article entitled "Why I Love Her" on page 247 of the March issue of Glamour Magazine. Great pictures, wonderful article. Check it out if you get a chance. Way to go, Shane! -- Don't miss the Brillianteen Show for 2003! Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Friday February 28 and Saturday March 1 Friday March 7 and Saturday March 8 Call 847-475-7400 x277 for ticket prices and availability Lost Alumni - (email bounces) ----------- Megan Burke is not at meganburke@aol.com Sean "Stretch" Waeny is not at stretch_01@hotmail.com Share The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org